Hi all
We live in a block with tiny 2 bed flats. The neighbour above me was playing for 3-6 hours a day - usually 2-3 hours in daytime and again 2-3 hours between 5-8pm.
I spoke in a friendly way after a few weeks of them moving in and took a cake explaining I work from home and asking politely for him to use headphones or other suggestions. In that initial friendly chat, He refused but said he wouldn’t play during the day as I explained I use noise cancelling headphones for work and can still hear the piano. I am on calls with clients and a number have complained asking if I can turn down my radio but it also impacts my ability to concentrate on my job.
My neighbour reduced it down a few days then amped up again. When I went to speak to him and mentioned that he had agreed to not play in the day he shouted at me saying “I can play when I like and you can’t stop me.” Amongst many other rants. He and his family are new to the country and I said will he tone down if the council explain the rules around noise disturbance he said he doesn’t care about the council or rules as he knows they have to prove it with a noise device and they can’t (due to Covid the council are not entering homes - I didn’t know that until he was shouting). He was very aggressive and has left me feeling very fearful. My flat is worst impacted due to being below his but the neighbours above him have also complained. As I work from home during Covid (and now DD does schoolwork from home) I am concerned about my job as now as soon as the piano starts my concentration disappears (incl when I wear headphones).
I have asked my landlord for help and they have spoken to his agent who said he reduced his noise by half and placed a carpet beneath the piano plus cardboard boxes (from 5/6 hours to 3 hours a day) however this still does not make a difference. I suggested Max an hour a day during these times or using headphones and he obviously refused
It is always in the daytime as he has 2 young kids. I feel there is no chance for any peace as during the day I work until late and then the piano is played until my DD bedtime again, which she has complained keeps her awake. I am too terrified to approach the neighbour again after he became agggressive (with his wife standing next to him) and they have 2 young kids. I am a non conflict person in my personal life and now too afraid to speak to them again.
We are very quiet and considerate neighbours, get on with all the flats - for the first time I have started to dream of making a noise to wake their kids but I don’t want to live like that - I simply want to do my job and have an hour of peace in the evening with my child. For my work if I could work out of home I would however now my DD also has to be home as schools are closed. I have also asked my council however all their noise services are suspended and they cannot assist. I do maintain a log however as I cannot afford a lawyer and the council noise services are not working they have said there is nothing they can do.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Is my only choice to move? In the meantime any suggestions for managing the noise as am starting to worry about my mental health as am getting upset . I can’t walk around with noise cancelling headphones on the whole day - partly as amazingly I still hear the piano noise but then can’t hear my DD. There are no rooms immune to the noise including the bathroom as the flats are tiny 2 bedrooms.
I am also a single mum and worried if I lose my job due to the current impact on my work.
Please can you make any recommendations as to something I may be able to do to help.