To ask my neighbour to not hoover after 8pm

[chewiecat]

New neighbours just moved in upstairs and they love a good hoover. Almost every alternate days. Not a problem usually but they are starting to do this later and later and waking DS up.

It's 9.30 pm now and she's banging and crashing around and DS is crying

Wibu to ask them to refrain from hoovering after 8pm?

Afraid so

You WBU to ask but unfortunately I don't think they'd be obliged to listen to you!

Not if you explained it was waking your DS up and upsetting him. I am sure most people would understand. She probably does not realise.

That’s a tough one, if they work long hours and weekends they may say this is the only time they can do housework/hoovering. But maybe get friendly with them and then mention it.

9.30 is taking the piss but I’m not sure you can do much

Also, DS might get used to it given some time

Argh they love a good hoover! It's 2 girls who live upstairs and they are forever hoovering! Who does that?! Who has the time? It's every other day

From their perspective their not having wild parties or doing anything abnormal. They should be free to do as they wish in their own home. U could mention it but they might be annoyed and u certainly can’t force them. How old if your DS? Could u play white noise and see if that helps?

Since when is hoovering every other day seen to be loving hoovering? I Hoover daily and I really don't love it. I just have a dog, cat, child and hard floors that show up all the crumbs.

However I Hoover before 7pm, never after in order to not disturb my neighbour downstairs. She doesn't even have a young child! I would ask very nicely, explaining that your child is asleep at that time and see what she says.

@Kit1411 but we live in London! We don't get friendly with neighbours

Hi OP
Could you pop round with a cake,or wine or a new home card and getting chatting,asking if they needed any local knowledge or just chatting,maybe introduce your dc and then raise the subject?
Hopefully they will be understanding,especially if they can hear your dc crying.
Good luck

Yeah I expect it's because they probably don't know as they have just moved in
I know IABU .. sigh

So.. seeing as I have never met them.. should I knock on the door? Drop a note?

In fairness , they are much better than the previous tenant who used to walk around like an elephant

I really think you should write a really nice note, welcoming them to neighbourhood and explaining the situation. Say you know they would be well within their rights to refuse but you just wanted to check if they could hoover earlier. I think a lot of reasonable people would try to do it earlier if they could. I certainly would, especially if new and wanting to make a good impression on the neighbours. Obviously they can ignore it!

I had to do very anti social hoovering the other night , I’d smashed a glass which went everywhere , didn’t have a dustpan and brush but did have an inquisitive jack Russell who’s feet would have been in peril if I hadn’t cleaned it up. There may be a reasonable explanation.

I am sure they have no idea that it’s causing your baby to wake, have a friendly chat and explain, I hope you get it sorted.

They probably have heard my DS crying at night and maybe might ask me if I can keep the crying down (he's still not sleeping through the night)

Ok I might try to knock over the weekend but I think I won't have the guts so will
Just end up huffing and puffing here on my own 😤

Very unreasonable for you to ask.

Maybe there is a lot to hoover up because of the mess from unpacking things, hopefully it will get less frequent very soon.

You could ask nicely, hopefully they just haven't realised how much noise they are creating.

There are a lot of nice people around, it's a shame others do not comprehend that you have to be considerate when you live in a flat. Hoovering, having the washing machine on etc. before 9am or after 7pm is just rude when you have neighbours.

I'm surprised you're saying every other day as if that's a lot!

I hoover several times a day

I've got young dc and we often Hoover in the evening - probably up until 9ish. It wouldn't wake my 3 and 5 yo so I suppose I wouldn't think it would wake Anyone else.

It's not unreasonable to explain the problem and ask them. They can then choose how to respond - hopefully they'll be kind. As long as you're not all guns blazing and are aware they can hoover if they like (as you are) it's not unreasonable to ask.

YABVU it's normal household activity at a normal time.

I must admit I'm not the tidy type so hoovering in our household takes place once a week

Llangollen

When the fuck am I supposed to do the washing and hoovering then?

If they work long hours or shifts that’s probably the only time they can hoover, so yes, YWBVU.

They probably don’t like hearing your kid scream in the middle of the night or when they’re trying to sleep or relax.

Living in flats you need to expect this sort of thing, and if I received a note I’d roll my eyes and chuck it, continuing as I was (especially if I was already annoyed at being constantly interrupted by said screaming kid).