Accept this as part and parcel of living in a flat or not?

[KnobZombie7]

DM recently sold flat and moved into a rented property on a short term tenancy before deciding if she wants to stay in a new area. Have been staying with her to get her settled.

Neighbours in the flat next door, in the same converted property, have woken us up between 4.30 and 6.00 AM 6 out of 8 mornings since she moved in. They cook during this time; it's very spicy/ chilli-based food and the smell as well as the clanking around- and what sounds like hammering nails into the wall but is probably tenderising meat- in the kitchen wakes us up as their kitchen shares a party wall with the living room and part of the bedroom.

Their cooking smells and accompanying noise can last for two or three hours. Is it unreasonable to approach their LL? (Different LL to DM's) We introduced ourselves and asked them if they could refrain from cooking at night as it's waking us up, but they said they have a lot of food to cook and need to get started early, so 'no', basically.

It's a couple, no kids, probably in their 50s. They cook during the day too - we appreciate this is not unreasonable!

Was our request of not cooking at night/ early hours of the morning unreasonable? Would it be unreasonable to approach their LL or should she just put up with it for the next six months?

Our local Chinese used to cook food at home and then bring it in to the 'restaurant'. They've recently been shut down as the restaurant was so disgusting and they didn't even know about the cooking at home part

I don't think she's that bothered but I am!

So... why? If your DM isn't bothered and you're going home, why are you actively doing something about it?

I'm not convinced the LL will be of any help. Provided they are paying the rent and not trashing the flat he/she isn't going to be particularly bothered. He/she may speak to them, but they won't get evicted for refusing to comply.

They could possible be cooking for a local restaurant . Not quite sure what the food is but smells strongly of chilli, garlic, quite spicy. Their extractor fan is on pretty much all day but does absolutely no god whatsoever. I'm pretty sure if the building was properly converted we wouldn't have so much of a problem.

Weird, as I had neighbour trouble in my last flat. Didn't want to complain as we were moving out shortly, but DM was insistent we should.

TattyCat because although she says she's not too affected by it, each morning, when they start, she's been up and huffing and puffing and coming in to me asking, 'Can you hear them again?' She's looks exhausted and is sleeping during the day - she never does this. She's worried about repercussions as I'm going home tomorrow; wants an 'easy life' and she'll be on her own - that is until her boyfriend moves in (!).

She's also a bit scared of them - her words - as they're younger than her. She's a funny one...

I lived in a flat (which I owned) for many years with various problem neighbours, and would never have thought about approaching someone’s landlord - how would you even find that out unless it was Council or social housing? I think your mum needs to speak with the occupiers directly. (I used to have a man live below me who prayed at sunrise/sunset which was really noisy in the morning, but I just accepted it as part and parcel of living in a flat.)

They dont live there. They are using it as a business premises.

Report to environmental health also.

It's a difficult one especially with older conversion flats that don't conform to the current regulation standards. Definitely worth reporting to council but in reality the most they probably will do is write your neighbours a letter saying there's been a complaint but unless you can prove "nuisance" they don't tend to do much. They can advise how to do this though. Offensive smells, loud and antisocial noise etc need to be recorded (literally if possible!) sadly certain buildings and neighbours are worse than others and it can be a pitfall of flat life unfortunately.

Hello
update on situation and again, looking for some advice on how to proceed.

Spoken with the neighbours' landlord who has said they can cook whatever and whenever they want even at 4.30 AM. He did remind them, however, that they shouldn't be cooking commercially from their flat.

DM knocked on their door wanting to chat, they wouldn't answer. She then wrote them a polite note asking them to chat, she found it torn up and pieces strewn down the communal stairs.

Since then, neighbours' behaviour has got worse and they are (in my opinion) harassing my poor DM. Each morning, they stand outside her door, in the communal hallway and shout 'Wake up KnobZombie7's mother' then leave, go downstairs or go back inside their flat and close the door. It's loud enough to wake her up. What to do now? Their landlord won't do anything.

Council. Possibly police as that’s definitely harassment!

You mum is renting yeah? She should just move! And complain to the LL that they are harassing her.

To be honest, I think you were pretty uptight to complain in the first place though. People can cook at whatever time they bloody well like. It isn;t their fault the conversion is shit.

I'd be waiting to confront them in the morning, but thats just me.
I would contact the police for advice if she's scared of them.

Who tenderises meat at 4 in the morning?

You didn't seriously think that you can tell people what to do in their own homes? People can cook and do whatever they like at any time. To be honest, it sounds like you are the one harrassing them OP. The most you can reasonably complain about is the noise levels and ask them to keep the noise down, but you cannot ask them to stop going about their business.

Bullshit. People can’t make excessive noise at 4am, even if it is their own home. It’s out of order. Harassing them? They tried to discuss it.

I would call the council although you often have to keep a log for several weeks. If they’re harassing her then call the police.

Call 101, deliberately scaring an older lady like that is nasty.

Can she afford to lose a months rent and move elsewhere? No one should have to live with being sleep deprived.

Demi, you are wrong. People who live in flats are not supposed to bang about at 4am. It’s anti social behaviour.

I second the vote for informing the council and police, and moving out!
Your DM should tell her LL exactly why she is leaving.

Council. And police 101 (I called this recently and they couldn't have been nicer; didn't feel as though I was wasting their time at all, which I had been worried about).

It is harassment.

See if you can get it filmed. There's cameras now in things like coat hooks, doorbells etc. Maplins might have them. Get it filmed and phone 101.

Even if they are cooking commercially why at 4am?

If she is renting then just move.

Report to your local council for running a business from home at unreasonable hours/disturbing you. Look under environmental health to see if they have something like "reporting antisocial behaviour" or something.

Filming them is the option I like best. It gathers evidence against the neighbours and they can't deny it, neither can their landlord who seems to be burying his head in the sand over this.

DM's moving out in five months, obviously can move sooner though doesn't want to, but it's the principle; people like this drive me crazy and I hate to think they're getting away with this behaviour time and time again.

Thank you to all of you for constructive advice, and, demirose87, my god am I glad that you're not my neighbour