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Original poster

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.

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OP posts:
FuriousCheekyFucker · 19/05/2021 09:56

Are you actually insane, how can you think this is reasonable behaviour?

Turn the fucking radio off.

PickleSarnie · 19/05/2021 09:56

@FantasticButtocks

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.

Exactly this^^

I'm stressed just thinking about it. Other people making noises can be annoying but people have to make noises to get through the day so you just deal with it. But there are NO people in your house. So your poor neighbour is having to deal with a pointless noise that doesn't stop and is entirely unnecessary (burglars aren't total imbeciles) It would be like the chinese water torture and would drive me round the bend.

Stop being such a selfish arse and turn the bloody radio off.

GilbertsLuckySocks · 19/05/2021 09:57

If the neighbour is being intrusive now she may become worse when building/refurb work starts.

You can either ask to hear the noise from her house, or

Block her number then get a local signmaker or chippy to board up all the doors and windows. Much better security than talk sounds inside, if the area is that prone to break-ins.

Thelnebriati · 19/05/2021 09:58

@FishyFriday

What do you imagine people are going to steal from your empty house?
In some areas you'll lose the copper pipe and electrical wiring, and someone will shit on your floor to show you who's boss.
BestOption · 19/05/2021 09:58

@Gymsmile21

We can’t hear the neighbours normal sound leave tv. However when everyone in my house is out and everything switched off and sitting in total silence you can hear their tv.

It’s not realistic for her to want silence. She is purposly listening out for it to make a complaint, unless she does normally live in total silence?

She's allowed to be silent in her own home. She shouldn't have to drown the neighbours radio playing to an empty house out

I live alone. My house is quiet. It's allowed.

AlmostSummer21 · 19/05/2021 10:00

@PinkSatinMoon

Turn it UP, then she will appreciate how low it actually was. Flowers
Yeah behave like a total TWAT

That'll really help the OP going forward

Grow up

Chemenger · 19/05/2021 10:02

@Wiredforsound

Just turn it off. It’s completely pointless having it on.
It is pointless, no burglar will be put off by it. It's just a waste of electricity and your neighbour's good will.
MsFogi · 19/05/2021 10:02

Turn the bloody radio off, it is not going to stop a burglary and is clearly driving your neighbour mad.

Puffthemagicdragongoestobed · 19/05/2021 10:03

Gosh, this reminds me of a rental we once stayed in. It was the lower ground floor flat of a town house in the middle of London. The landlord had converted it into four tiny flats, one on each level. He kept the ground floor flat for himself but was never there. He left the radio on permanently and it was horrible. When it's quiet all around you in the night that's all you can hear. Really affected my sleep and general well-being. Obviously worse than your case as it was on 24 hours a day. Eventually we told him and he turned it off straight away, he had not been aware of how much it affected others

Please turn the radio off OP, especially at night time.

AlmostSummer21 · 19/05/2021 10:05

@ThinWomansBrain

If she is like this over a quiet intermittent radio, and you turn it off to suit her, WTF will she be like when people are living there? Needs a detached house or padded cell
Not necessarily true at all

People living there will have soft furnishings absorbing a lot of the noise AND it's one thing to accept the sounds of people living there and quite another to hear a radio playing to an empty bloody house!!

FishyFriday · 19/05/2021 10:06

In some areas you'll lose the copper pipe and electrical wiring, and someone will shit on your floor to show you who's boss.

I'm not sure those are the kind of thieves who'd be put off by a radio on a timer. You'd be looking to properly secure the property in that kind of area.

Rosehip10 · 19/05/2021 10:08

Turn it off - how selfish imposing unnecessary noise on neighbours when you aren't even living there.

AlmostSummer21 · 19/05/2021 10:08

@justanotherneighinparadise

I think pulsed just block her number. But I’m a nasty cunt.
Clearly
Darkstar4855 · 19/05/2021 10:11

Another vote for turn it off. Why would you male someone’s life unpleasant when you don’t have to?

If you are considerate to your neighbour she is far more likely to keep an eye on your house and call you if she hears or sees anything concerning.

LalalalalalaLand123 · 19/05/2021 10:12

The radio is serving the purpose of making the house seem occupied to would-be burglars (same with the lights). We always leave a radio on when we are out, it is common sense and a basic recommendation for anyone leaving a property unattended in order to deter burglars.
So it is perfectly reasonable for you to have it on (at a reasonable volume) to protect your property. Your neighbour is being ridiculous. If someone were living in your house, the neighbour would probably have more noise than a single radio to deal with. We live in a terrace, and you can hear talking, tv, radio etc through the walls, so expecting silence is totally unreasonable.

cadburyegg · 19/05/2021 10:15

YABU!!

Family noise is one thing - I have 2 kids and I try to keep the noise to a minimum but yes I accept my NDN may hear SOME noise. They have dogs who I hear sometimes. The point is that it’s SOME noise SOMETIMES and it’s not constant! Think about it - kids playing in next doors garden in nice weather can be a bit noisy or annoying for a couple of hours but you deal with it as long as the parent is making an effort to curb volume. You’d like it less if the same kids were playing in the garden from 9am-11pm every single day, all year round!

The point is that it’s excessive

Henio · 19/05/2021 10:16

You're making life difficult for yourself, turn it off and get some security cameras if you're that worried

cadburyegg · 19/05/2021 10:17

And I disagree with people who are saying that there would be more noise from the house when people moved in. It’s unlikely that they would play the radio for 14 hours a day. Any noise would be intermittent. There might even be less noise particularly if they don’t work at home

EuroTrashed · 19/05/2021 10:18

someone will shit on the floor to show you who’s boss
Sounds like my cat is in this empty house

IND1A · 19/05/2021 10:18

@1frenchfoodie

Having this neighbour onside and watching out for any suspicious behaviour will be more valuable for crime avoidance than a radio that cant be heard from outside the property. So turn it off.

I’ve lived in plenty of terraces and semis, some with shockingly thin walls (think hearing neighbours plug something in or move hangers in their wardrobe) but hearing a constant faint noise from an empty property would still piss me off.

This.
Basecamporbust · 19/05/2021 10:20

Unless radio can be heard from outside then it serves no useful purpose.

It's annoying neighbour who is WFH and can't get away from it. She can hear it or couldn't have complained about it.

Why create an unnecessary problem.

Bibidy · 19/05/2021 10:22

What's the point in having the radio on if you're having it quiet enough that she can't hear it? Surely no one outside the property can hear it either then?

I'd just stick to the lamp on a timer, ditch the radio.

AlmostSummer21 · 19/05/2021 10:22

@Bahhhhhumbug

Previous neighbours were lying in bed next door though every night and weren't backward in coming forwards if there was a problem as lve said
@Bahhhhhumbug. And the relevance of that is???
Bluesheep8 · 19/05/2021 10:23

someone will shit on the floor to show you who’s boss

Someone like the neighbour? Grin

mam0918 · 19/05/2021 10:25

If she was complaining about daily noise its unreasonable but there is zero reason for the radio so honestly your out of line.

Thats on par with putting music on and going out which was a common trick in the old days to annoy your neighbor if you had had a falling out.

At first I thought you where going to say its on because you have dogs on the property while at work or something but just having it on for the sake of it is bizarre, rude and useless.