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?

I'd report to the council it sounds as if they are running a business

If the flats are leased then also complain to the freeholder.

1. Antisocial noise and cooking smells during nighttime hours.
2. Intimidating behaviour.
3. Possible/ probable preparation of commercial food in a domestic setting.

Do they create a lot of waste? Did environmental health get involved? And yes, report intimidation to the police on 101.

Sod the principle, help her move out. Life is too short to be intimidated in your own home - I can't see them shouting at her to wake up every morning as anything but scary.

The noise complaints team at the council can help. Start the ball rolling asap.

The landlord doesn't have to and clearly doesn't care.

Demi is totally wrong. You can't do whatever you like even in your own home. It's antisocial.

demirose87 full of the milk of human kindness aren't you? Consideration for other people and how your behaviour may impact on them obviously means nothing to you, I agree with the OP I would hate to have someone like you for a neighbour.

For 5 months, it's not worth the hassle. By the time anything gets done ASB-wise, she'll be moving out anyway. Just move her out.

Wow OP, they sound terrifying! I'd be feeling the same - as you say, it's the principle of the thing. Your mum sounds just like mine too, very liable to come out with sweet but bonkers things like "what if they're cooking for a shelter".

As well as police and council get Age Concern involved to help you through legalities.
As neighbourhood disputes are notoriously difficult and time consuming to solve, I’d also be looking elsewhere (not next to people who think they can do what they like in their own homes regardless of the impact on others)