Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

New neighbour, terraced house, seems to expect silence

779 replies

Bahhhhhumbug · 19/05/2021 01:34

New neighbour to my empty (atm) terraced property. As soon as moved in started sending me texts (got my number by asking previous neighbour she bought house off but that's a whole other thread) informing me there seems be a tv left on in the property.
She said l hope l didn't mind her texting me and she askedfor my number.
I texted prev. neighbours and queried whether their buyer knew my house was empty and she said yes as she had told her.
I have always got on very well with former neighbour so didn't 'pull her up' on giving out my number as was very out of character and just figured she got caught on the hop in what was a very stressful house move for unconnected reasons to this tale.
So l text back to new neighbour that yes l was aware and it was a radio left on a talking channel as the house was empty but thanks for letting me know.
Next day l get a phone call from her and she's all 'Hi (insert very shortened version of my name, which even the old neighbour never called me) and she tells me again the radio has been on all night (it hasn't its on a timer goes off about 11pm and a lamp comes on) because she ' can hear it ' l was l admit a little frosty with her as l was annoyed at these chummy texts and calls from someone who shouldn't even have my number and shouldn't have even asked for it imo though l accept old neighbour partly to blame.
I had to read between the lines at this point that she found it too loud so l said (without being asked) l would call next day, (which l did) and turn it down and move it to the far wall in the kitchen (no neighbours that side).
I've had another long text off her today after ld done all that saying can l please answer and confirm that l am going to turn it down (she wasnt in when l went round and obliged so obviously at this point didn't know l had already done so
) Whilst there l also checked upstairs l couldn't hear it wafting up the stairs which l couldn't whatsoever and l have good hearing. It is quieter than a normal volume speaking voice and you can only hear it after you've gone two doors into the house, it's about a volume 3 on Alexa equivalent.
Old neighbour when asked said couldn't hear it when l was in there and neither could l.
Shes rang me twice again now and l just ignored her in the hope she will text me and tell me what the fucks wrong now. She did then text saying she wants it switching off as she can still hear it.
She keeps bringing up that she works from home and l get impression she seems to think that means should be almost silence from neighbouring properties. Or maybe because the vendors told her my house was empty she had an expectation of it being completely silent.
If people moved in they would be entitled to watch tv, talk, have radio on etc and all at a higher wolume than one quiet radio. WWYD as she is really getting on my nerves now.
If l was a rude person l might suggest she should've bought a detached house maybe, but lm not.

Subject:
New neighbour, terraced house, seems to expect silence

Message:
New neighbour to my empty (atm) terraced property. As soon as moved in started sending me texts (got my number by asking previous neighbour she bought house off but that's a whole other thread) informing me there seems be a tv left on in the property.
She said l hope l didn't mind her texting me and she askedfor my number.
I texted prev. neighbours and queried whether their buyer knew my house was empty and she said yes as she had told her.
I have always got on very well with former neighbour so didn't 'pull her up' on giving out my number as was very out of character and just figured she got caught on the hop in what was a very stressful house move for unconnected reasons to this tale.
So l text back to new neighbour that yes l was aware and it was a radio left on a talking channel as the house was empty but thanks for letting me know.
Next day l get a phone call from her and she's all 'Hi (insert very shortened version of my name, which even the old neighbour never called me) and she tells me again the radio has been on all night (it hasn't its on a timer goes off about 11pm and a lamp comes on) because she ' can hear it ' l was l admit a little frosty with her as l was annoyed at these chummy texts and calls from someone who shouldn't even have my number and shouldn't have even asked for it imo though l accept old neighbour partly to blame.
I had to read between the lines at this point that she found it too loud so l said (without being asked) l would call next day, (which l did) and turn it down and move it to the far wall in the kitchen (no neighbours that side).
I've had another long text off her today after ld done all that saying can l please answer and confirm that l am going to turn it down (she wasnt in when l went round and obliged so obviously at this point didn't know l had already done so
) Whilst there l also checked upstairs l couldn't hear it wafting up the stairs which l couldn't whatsoever and l have good hearing. It is quieter than a normal volume speaking voice and you can only hear it after you've gone two doors into the house, it's about a volume 3 on Alexa equivalent.
Old neighbour when asked said couldn't hear it when l was in there and neither could l.
Shes rang me twice again now and l just ignored her in the hope she will text me and tell me what the fucks wrong now. She did then text saying she wants it switching off as she can still hear it.
She keeps bringing up that she works from home and l get impression she seems to think that means should be almost silence from neighbouring properties. Or maybe because the vendors told her my house was empty she had an expectation of it being completely silent.
If people moved in they would be entitled to watch tv, talk, have radio on etc and all at a higher wolume than one quiet radio. WWYD as she is really getting on my nerves now.
If l was a rude person l might suggest she should've bought a detached house maybe, but lm not.

Back to top

OP posts:
Flowers500 · 19/05/2021 09:26

The biggest security risk you have right now is your neighbour smashing the windows and stealing the fucking radio.

OneinNine · 19/05/2021 09:28

It is one thing putting up with the noise of a radio when you know some-one is listening to it. It is entirely another when you know no-one is. Intensely irritating. Turn it off!!!!

Allwokedup · 19/05/2021 09:32

Why on earth do you have the radio on all day? That would drive me bananas.

CheshireCats · 19/05/2021 09:33

I can't actually believe how selfish you are. You don't even live there and you are knowingly causing noise issues for your neighbour.
Turn it off.

theresstardustinmyhead · 19/05/2021 09:34

Persistent radio babble for 8 hours a day every day playing to no-one is far more disruptive than the sound of every day family comings and going's. It would drive me insane.

Very very selfish OP. Turn out off and sell the empty home ASAP.

idontlikealdi · 19/05/2021 09:38

I'm waiting to hear all the Home Alone type traps you've set. What d you think a bloody radio will do to deter burglars?!

Hallyup6 · 19/05/2021 09:38

If I were your neighbour I'd break in and steal the bloody radio. Turn it off.

CooperLooper · 19/05/2021 09:38

If the house is empty then burglars can't steal anything anyway can they....

I'm in the camp of turning it off, she wouldn't be complaining unless it was bothering her.

Flowers500 · 19/05/2021 09:39

I would be totally raging if I lived next door. The thing about noise is you put up with it because it’s necessary, a neighbour deciding to just subject you to that for no reason? Would be raging.

I would be fine with building works—they are fine limited, they are required. Where as you are just taking the piss.

Gunpowder · 19/05/2021 09:39

Hard to tell who is being unreasonable but given you want to sell the house relatively soon I would suck it up and turn the radio off. You don’t want to have to declare a dispute with a neighbour to your buyers.

k4523 · 19/05/2021 09:39

Yabu. This would do my head in!

FantasticButtocks · 19/05/2021 09:43

Gosh, you are knowingly and repeatedly causing stress and upset to someone who has politely asked you to stop.

This radio timer shenanigans in an empty house is NOT equivalent to normal noises made by people living there.

It's upsetting her. It's stressing her out, and you simply don't care.

She is actually living in her house and you are making her life a misery from a distance, and you are determined to keep exercising your right to do so.

Her new home. And you are ruining it for her with this ridiculous behaviour.

Nothing anyone says on here will have any impact on you or give you cause to stop and think whether your absolutely laughable anti burglary strategy is actually worth upsetting another human being for.

When the burglar comes and your neighbour hears the smashing of your back door, she won't be ringing the police for you, she'll be weeping with relief, she'll be cheering them on, she'll be calling out the window 'make sure you take that fucking radio!'

Yes, you are being unreasonable.

But you're never going to agree. Because it's more important to be right isn't it.

Horrible.

NotJustAnyOldDog · 19/05/2021 09:43

What a horribly selfish person you are. I’ve lived in a flat where the downstairs neighbour used to leave the radio on day and night for her cat and it drove me absolutely insane. If the neighbour can’t hear it she wouldn’t complain. Clearly she can hear it. Turn the radio off. It’s like a form of water torture. And yes, I would expect silence from an empty house. I don’t think that’s unreasonable.

garlictwist · 19/05/2021 09:44

YABVU.

What is the point of leaving the radio on to deter burglars if it can't be heard from outside?

And your neighbour can quite clearly hear it so it's too loud. I would be very annoyed with the constant droning through the wall, especially if I was working from home.

And 11pm is very late.

Fine, leave lights on timers etc like normal people but not a radio.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 19/05/2021 09:46

Turn it off for the love of God.

I live in a terraced house and I don't mind hearing my neighbours at all, but your radio is annoying me from here.

FantasticButtocks · 19/05/2021 09:47

@TheYearOfSmallThings

Turn it off for the love of God.

I live in a terraced house and I don't mind hearing my neighbours at all, but your radio is annoying me from here.

Me too!
skirk64 · 19/05/2021 09:47

If you're concerned about people breaking in the three biggest deterrents are:

  1. Visible CCTV
  2. Visible burglar alarm
  3. Have the lights on a timer or preferably controlled remotely (you mention Alexa so I assume you have an Echo, you can use this to operate lights remotely)

And turn that fucking radio off.

Graffitiqueen · 19/05/2021 09:47

Turn the bloody thing off FFS!! This would drive me absolutely mental. Give the poor woman some respite.

FishyFriday · 19/05/2021 09:47

What do you imagine people are going to steal from your empty house?

NotJustAnyOldDog · 19/05/2021 09:49

I know I’m a spectacularly petty person but as soon as your for sale sign went up I’d be tap dancing, running naked around the front garden screaming and playing loud drill music every time I saw the estate agents car!

Graffitiqueen · 19/05/2021 09:50

And btw leaving a radio on didn't deter burglars from breaking into my friends flat (and stealing my brand new expensive trainers, still bitter about that!!)

DblEspresso · 19/05/2021 09:50

YABU
You are implying that the neighbour has nothing better to do than to complain to you about radio sound which she supposedly can't hear.
Sounds completely odd to me. She might be a bit more sensitive or maybe her work place is right adjacent to the radio.
And having it on till 11PM is actually quite late, especially if you are an early riser.
You should talk to the neighbour face to face and suggest placing the radio in some other part of the house, where you expect a burglar to hear it (not your neighbour).
Its better to maintain a good relation with your neighbour and ask her to keep an eye out for your house, than to annoy her.

Nomorepies · 19/05/2021 09:54

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on the poster's request

thebabessavedme · 19/05/2021 09:55

why do your needs to see off some imaginary burglers in a house no one lives in trump the need for a woman to enjoy her home without having to listen to your noise?

what a very selfish person you are OP

I'm astonished she has shown such restraint so far, frankly I would have broken in and smashed the bloody thing.

Dentistlakes · 19/05/2021 09:55

YABU, just turn the radio off. It’s inconsiderate not to.