To ask for what would you do re neighbours?

[JoannaCuppa]

My next door neighbours started renting the house next door about 2 years ago.

The man loves to play music during the day so loudly that it can be heard at the top of the street. We cant hear our own TV or have a conversation without shouting, when the music is playing.

The neighbour says his sound system is meant to be for nightclubs but if we ask him to turn it down he will. Problem is, I am disabled and can't always get round to ask him to turn it down.

After having an hour of ear splitting reggae this afternoon, I went round. I said that every time we ask he turns it down, but then plays it at the same volume next time. He said he had contacted the council and they were doing nothing wrong as it is within daytime hours. I thought it now went on the decibels rather than time of day.

They have three children under 4 in the house and I am worried about their hearing. I told him that this was a safeguarding concern and I hadnt taken it further so far, but would be forced to take it further whenever they played music that loud again and felt I had to ring social services if they continued.

The man then physically threatened me by telling me to get out his garden "or else" and raised his fist to me. I asked if he was threatening me and he told me I had picked the wrong person to get on the wrong side of. He continued to say get out of his garden "or else" and waving his fist.

I have logged the threats with the police who will be round to discuss it with me in the next few days. In hindsight, saying what I said about the kids hearing being at risk was probably stupid of me, but I am really concerned as it is so loud and can be heard over 100 yards away up the road. I also hear his partner literally screaming (kind of as if being attacked type screaming) at the children during the day, and then the children screaming and crying as a response. I didn't tell the neighbours I could hear this though. I did tell the police.

I have contacted the council re the noise but don't know what else to do.

I don't want reprisals, I just want to live in peace and not feel under siege in my own home.

Can you find out who the landlord is and complain to him/her?

Oh sorry - just realised the council is the landlord
They can come and test the decibel level - noise is taken seriously

I am trying to find out. She owns a few properties in the street so I will try to track her down.

I just cracked today after a year of it. I would move but I own my house so it isn't a quick process.

Sorry, I meant it is a private landlord but I have complained to noise pollution etc

Yes ring the council and log the noise

Get a book and write down day time how long for etc

Yanbu. Don't go back or near him again, just keep at the council and police. If he approaches you or your home to intimidate/threaten/harrass you, log this and try to get an order against him that he can't come within so many feet of you or your home. But hopefully it won't get to that point and the police will scare some sense into him.

Screaming at kids is not good. You might want to mention that to the police too.

YANBU about the noise and you need to keep on to the council.

I can understand why he got angry when you mentioned social services and told him it was a safeguarding issue.
But you'll probably find they're already known to social services if he's that kind of bloke...

I have now found out from nice neighbours across the road that they can hear the music in their house too. I have also found out that the neighbour has been in prison twice for arson. He set his mum's house on fire. I am now scared.

He said he had contacted the council and they were doing nothing wrong as it is within daytime hours. I thought it now went on the decibels rather than time of day.

Well that isn’t true.
Our opposite neighbour in our last house used to play his music so loud that it made the windows at the back of my house rattle.
The council said that we could report him for that even though it was three in the afternoon.

Try contacting your local councillor. They might be able to help. Also, talk to other neighbours, you won’t be the only one being disturbed by this.

Thanks to those who answered.

I have been phoned back by the police. The stuff about noise being fine during the day is bunkum. We are entitled to quiet enjoyment of out homes according to the police.

The police are very concerned re the threats and are coming out to take a statement next week. The neighbour is known to them apparently.

I have told the police about the children in the property with the music and their mother screaming at them. It is now out of my hands as the police are making a social services referral as they find it concerning. Particularly as the neighbours boast about their sound system being for a nightclub, which the police says shows awareness of the noise levels they are exposing their children to.

The Police have also said that reporting was the right thing to do and to keep logging incidents with the council.

Thanks for the advice and support. I feel less unreasonable now.

Who the absolute crap would think that music that loud plus threats would be reasonable? 6% of votes here apparently.

I know. Who is hag 6% who think having nightclub levels of music is fine.