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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Neighbours hammering on adjoining wall

12 replies

Wishbub · 08/02/2021 00:57

Hi,

Just after some advice as I'm at the end of my tether. First of all, we are in the process of selling our house though we are in a lengthy chain and I don't know when we will complete.
Our current house is a small terrace with neighbours each side. Pre-lockdown and DC we spent very little time at home. Now we have DC and are unable to leave the house, we have incurred the wrath of our neighbours on one side. They bang on the adjoining wall day and night, I'm lying awake in bed now (almost 1am) after a recent spate of banging and am too anxious to sleep. Luckily DC didn't wake but normally does (and is hard to settle again). They are a family of 5 adults, and they seem to hardly ever leave the house, even pre-lockdown. They will bang on the wall at the slightest noise e.g. chopping vegetables or even when we are making no noise e.g. in bed asleep. They bang on the wall if DC cries or yells (we hurriedly quieten DC) or even if there's noise from outside e.g. another neighbour doing roof repairs. I don't know what to do, I'm tempted to involve the police but am afraid it will mean losing our seller. I'm also tempted to go and live with family but that would be disruptive. Any ideas?

OP posts:

Original poster

Wishbub · 08/02/2021 01:01

That was meant to be buyer

OP posts:

Smallonesaremorejuicy · 08/02/2021 02:26

I would bang back , but far louder . Don’t involve Police otherwise you have to declare it to buyers . Have you asked them why they bang for everything? Surely they are quite noisy with five adults living in one terraced house .

BluePeterVag · 08/02/2021 02:39

Learn morse code. Maybe one of them is sending you a message? If you they aren’t then at least you will know Morse code, then you can bang back a message to them telling them to shut up (polite) or shut the fuck up (not so polite).

SD1978 · 08/02/2021 02:47

Have you ever spoken face to face with them? Is it one adult doing the banging, or all of them? It's tough, and horrible. Would you be able to talk to them at all do you think? Noisy through walls is to be expected, and whilst you can try to minimise it, they sound utterly unreasonable. Do the own or rent?

englishroseamongstirishthorns · 08/02/2021 03:14

I would bang back until they stop. No need to go round as they will probably be intimidating and aggressive - much better to just show them what eth problem is by banging back.

if they try to come round to intimidate you make sure you call 101 and log it with the police.

Original poster

Wishbub · 08/02/2021 06:45

Thank you for the messages, they are not reasonable people and they have called the police on me a few times during the years. The police were really nice and didn't think we were making any excessive noise.
Not sure who is doing the banging, could be one or all of them. They started again just after DC woke up so I've been banging back for the first time. DH has gone to work so its just me on my own. We've been banging back and forth for about 10 minutes and I've broken the TV remote but it was worth it!

OP posts:

Original poster

Wishbub · 08/02/2021 06:47

Oh and I believe the parents own the house, I've only heard bits from other neighbours, they don't interact with anyone on our street, have no visitors, so nobody knows them.

OP posts:

Spaceman1 · 08/02/2021 09:46

I would ignore the banging and don't bang back, this is just likely to cause things to escalate. In the meanwhile just bite your tongue and wait for the sale to go through. I feel sorry for the buyers...

Zofloratheexplorer · 08/02/2021 09:53

.I don't know what to do, I'm tempted to involve the police but am afraid it will mean losing our seller

If your neighbours have already called the police on you, don't you have to declare that anyway so what difference will it make?

Ifonly86 · 08/02/2021 09:57

I’ve been going through the same thing with my neighbours. They bang all day and night to the point where I have severe anxiety from it. I banged back but this made it worse and they started doing it through the night to wake us on purpose. We are moving house now because I can’t stand walking on eggshells to avoid them retaliating. As you have a buyer lined up I would try and block it out for now and focus on moving. You can plot your revenge on moving day . I sympathise because it really does affect your quality of life living next door to nasty people.

BlackCatShadow · 08/02/2021 10:02

I think you need to call the police and report them for harassing you. I agree that you should have declared this anyway as they have previously involved the police. I’m sorry for you. They’re arseholes.

noctu · 08/02/2021 10:13

I feel your pain as we have gone through similar. Bite your tongue and hold on until your house is sold. This is your ticket to escape this situation and you really can't jeopardise it. Police involvement etc won't change their behaviour anyway so what's the point?

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