NDN’s Strange Behaviour

[Bronxer]

Apologies it’s another boring neighbour dispute thread but I’m really at this behaviour.

My NDNs have their bedroom on the same floor as me (loft conversion). Our stairs are quite squeaky so can hear when each other goes up and down the stairs. I got up at 6 to get ready for work which is a reasonable time to me. I collected things from my bedroom and sat on my bed for a while. They got up around 7am. I heard them go down the stairs, stop halfway and repeatedly knock on our adjoining wall. The walls are very thin so was easily distinguishable as them knocking and not anything else making a noise. They did it around 10 times and stopped. Now 10 minutes later I can still hear them hovering on the stairs and they have knocked again a few times. It’s definitely not a hammer or anything like that so they are purposefully doing it to be PA because I woke them up or something? Or they think I’ve gone back to sleep and they’re trying to wake me up. Not on good terms with them due to other weird and instrusive behaviours. Have made a few threads under a NC before. I’m the only person living here, no pets, no friends over or any music. My house is pretty empty most of the time so minimal normal noise levels.

AIBU to think this is really strange behaviour? 6am is the time most people will be up for work and not really something I can avoid. It’s very PA and just downright immature. Not something I expect from a couple 40 years my senior They’re early retired and rarely ever leave the house so I don’t see why they can’t just go back to bed if it bothers them. I will speak to them if they do it. Really at the end of my tether, don’t want to drip feed what else they’ve done. They wouldn’t be able to cope if I had a baby!

Stop making useless suggestions that aren't helping the OP.

My suggestion to fix the squeaky stairs would help the OP and alleviate this problem at least, if she would be bothered to do it. It’s not time consuming or costly; OP is refusing on the basis of another, separate issue.

I shan’t be watching the clip, OP, s it is irrelevant to what you have posted here. You asked about a specific problem, I’ve given you advice which you are refusing to take.

There’s nothing more to be said.

It’s really awful that the council won’t do anything as it’s the loudest bark I’ve ever heard, it’s surely got to go over the limits. It makes what they do even worse because what is squeaky stairs a couple times a day on a large dog barking constantly? It’s really nothing in comparison and it would be hell to live here with a baby. I can move just not for another year at least as it’s not practical financially so I will have to put up with it all unfortunately!

😂😂😂😂😂 this is too much. It’s completely relevant what are you talking about

I didn’t ask for advice so I don’t need to take it thank you I asked if I was being unreasonable to think them knocking on my wall when they’re the ones who break the noise laws is strange behaviour?

It could be heating pipe related - its the time of year where people switch their heating on after the summer. I've got one place where the pipes bang loudly when they heat up - I checked with a heating engineer and its basically because when the system was installed two pipes were put too close together. I can solve it by turning down the closest radiator, but the noise is so loud that it must be heard by my (lovely) neighbours. So it might not be them being arses - wait and see if it carries on?

If the stairs are an issue to the neighbours they can pay to fix them or hassle the LL themselves. It is not my problem I’m afraid as the stairs have been squeaky for 7+ years according to the EA.

WhatToDo

OP wasn't being "disingenous" - she was being sarcastic. And I think most people would be a bit pissed off at someone knocking on their walls in the morning

But I am interested in hearing what you think she should do? Levitate out of bed and down the stairs?

No alarm clock, no thumping about, no loud music or TV...just getting out of bed and going downstairs. And you'd be annoyed at your neighbour doing this? Really?

And, ffs, no she shouldn't have to do anything about creaky bloody stairs. Her neighbours ought to be relieved that's all they hear.

OP...I would drop a note to them saying, "I hope everything is OK. Please note, though, if I hear you knocking on my wall like that again, I shall be calling the police as I'll assume you need assistance*"

*Obvs don't actually call the police.

Have you thought about installing Tongue and groove cladding OP with accoustic sound proofing behind it? TBH if I was early retired and got a wake up at 6am each day I'd be pissed off but would probably think about moving house not passive aggressively harassing the young working people next door.....v petty and socially inept of them. Also, yes. Get the bloody stairs fixed.

I've given you advice

No you haven't.

Ha i would probably knock back or shout something.

I’m not fixing my stairs until their dog stops barking😂 I’ve got bigger things to be spending my time on. Please watch the video on the previous page if you’ve missed it. I should have started with it in my OP as it may have altered some poster’s views

A bit of early morning noise is unavoidable if you work. I have taken early retirement but my DH still works. He gets up every morning between 5-6am and it always wakes me. Then around 6-6.30am the green keepers who work on the golf course by me whizz by my window on their noisy buggies. I would like to sleep longer but it cannot be helped - people have to work.

No, don't get the stairs fixed. Or try to soundproof your home.

You are not creating noise nuisance - just noise, as ALL neighbours do in some capacity. If the dickheads don't like it, they can move out to the sticks.

Www.ikoustik.co.uk do some very interesting board products that are just surface mounted onto the walls and don't look too dear. I'd go down that route. Obviously if an adult conversation about the matter was possible and they did the same on their side, then everyone could live in blissful harmony, you'd be improving and adding value to your home.

Thanks to all the posters that are helping me make light of the situation, some hilarious responses ‘Levitate out of bed and down the stairs’ I love that LongPinkBanana. That is how they want me to live. Floating about silently whilst I tame my gardens to their standards every single day!

I’ve been looking at soundproofing for a while but don’t want to damage the walls as it’s rented. Does it tear the plaster off when removed? I’ve seen some use quite strong glues

If it wasnt the stairs it would be something else. If I were you I would move, live it too short.

Hopefully they get a very loud family next time!

TBH if you and they take the view of "they need to do this before I do that" etc etc ....there will be no winners and you'll all just be miserable & continue getting on each other's tits. I'd just focus on my own comfort and sanity. You can't change others OP, just yourself.

So they get up to knock on the wall to let you know that they've been woken?

Carry on as usual. You're entitled to get up and go about your day - if they feel the need to emulate the Edinburgh Tattoo on the wall it's not going to affect your working day.

If they ever mention it, deny that you hear any knocking. Play with their minds as much as they're toying with you.

Do not, whatever you do, get an air horn and blast it every time they knock.

The panels would be permanent - they're like plasterboard, there'd be there for good. But could you ask the landlord to fund or part fund given the problem?

Do some people come on here just to play devil's advocate? Nobody could think the OP is being unreasonable here, the neighbours are clearly twats.

If you do make any changes to the property, OP (although heaven knows why you should unless it's for your own peace of mind), make sure you get permission from the landlord because they can use it to not repay your deposit, even if it improves the place.

When does the dog bark OP? is it when they are not at home?
I am assuming that the dog has insufficient exercise/stimulation as that sounds like "boredom/I need attention" barking to me.
Poor dog and poor you!

Just ignore them OP, they're totally unreasonable. If your perfectly reasonable morning noise is bothering them then let them knock, I can't see how it affects you.
They sound oblivious to the fact their poor dog is making noise which might bother you.
I'd be reporting the dog noise to council, did you say you had and they're not interested? I though this was exactly what environmental health was for? Otherwise yes, call police non emergency and ask their advice. Don't bother mentioning the knocks, they irrelevant

That’s very loud barking

We've had repetitive issues with one of our NDN over the years we've lived here that are similar. I say one, I mean several all from the same family.

First was the initial owner - she complained regularly that we were making a lot of noise. At that point we it was only DH and I and unless someone was sleepwalking we certainly weren't at the times she was complaining about. She often started banging on the walls at 3am waking us out of bed when she claimed we were making noise, so I doubt it was anyone sleepwalking. Turns out we were the 5th set of neighbours (2 houses each side, 2 owners of other side and we were the third at this house). All receiving the same complaints but only banging coming from her property at random times. Then neighbour set 6 moved in the other side and she tried with them. She was told where to go rapidly quickly as we'd managed to get them into the loop before it started.

Then her son moved in and we got the dog issue, like yours. Several neighbours bombarded the council with noise diaries and they did get involved. But the son never complained of any noise from either side.

House was let out last year and the tenants never complained of noise either - though they did show us that the walls were stripped back to the brickwork in several areas. They said they could hear a lot of our footfall in those rooms.

Now we have the daughter and her family of the original owner in. They're like a heard of elephants on the staircase. We can hear lots that they do, where we can't hear our other side as much. Assume its because of the lack of plastering in many areas thing.

Can you talk to the council about it? They'll probably suggest you fill out a diary of noise issues.