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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.

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OP posts:
Zelaidee · 20/05/2021 19:00

It would drive me crazy to have to hear someone else radio almost round the Clock. So selfish

MakeMathsFun · 20/05/2021 19:02

As per several comments above, I would do this:

  1. Switch it off for three days o see if she "still hears it". Maybe its not your radio she hears, it could be something else.
  2. Buy a new electronic timer for £8 on ebay. There are several with free delivery.
  3. After 3 days, put the radio near the front door. It is a good security deterrent, place it on low volume and set the timer to switch on no earlier than late breakfast, and several times during the day, but to switch off at 9pm.
  4. You can also have lights on a timer for night time. Obviously its helps with your peace of mind that burglars are less likely to break an entry and cause costly damage, if they hear sounds in the house. Also, it is better security for your neighbour too. They wouldn't want squatters moving in next to them. By using the timer, you are switching it off at unsocial hours. If you were in the house, voices plus a radio, a TV and washing machine would all be much louder, so occasional radio low volume is not a nuisance. Its a fine balance of respect for your neighbour vs home security. I think what I have collated above is perfectly reasonable. Also, once you've done it, tell your neighbour that there will be no radio between the hours of A and B. If you live nearby, you could visit regularly in the day time and be deliberately seen/heard by her. Once she gets used to that, she won't know whether she is hearing you present or a radio with you absent. You coud also try to find out what music she likes. Perhaps she hates Country and Western and that's what keeps coming on? Also, if your neighbour is Autistic, she may have super sensitive hearing and different social skills. Although she has p*ssed you off as described, keep up that smile and thank her for keeping an eye on the property. Make her feel like a good neighbour. Even though you don't like her having your number, its good that she could contact you easily if there was an emergency (broken window, loose rooftile, flooding, gas leak, etc.). Whether you are in the property or out of it is not her business. All that matters is a question of how reasonable is the noise. It sounds to me from your description that there is no noise.So point (1) above is the way to start. Good luck!
Zelaidee · 20/05/2021 19:03

People life is a thing a constant noise is a torture

Singlenotsingle · 20/05/2021 19:04

If you move into a flat or a terraced house you're always going to get noise from neighbours. The woman needs to move into a detached house. Is she complaining to the neighbour on the other side too?

ilovesouthlondon · 20/05/2021 19:05

This would drive me mad, especially if you're not even listening to it. Your ears are probably dead to that noise by now and until 11pm...r u serious! If I was her I'd call noise nuisance. If she can hear it they will. That sort of thing every night will make her anxious. It's like a biscuit crumb in the bed each night that u can't get out till 11pm. Unacceptable.

Quaggars · 20/05/2021 19:08

@Whitchurch

Hey Op - you're not being unreasonable. The ones who think you are either a) can't read or b) haven't read all your posts or c) are making "their truth" up as they go along. Your neighbour is going to get quite a shock when people move in isn't she?
I can read I have read all the Ops posts Not making any ''truth up' 'as I go along Hmm If you had bothered reading other posts, you'd see people have said there's a world of difference between actual living noises from a family and a constant, white noise or radio playing in an empty house. Not sure why some people are finding that so hard to grasp.
Scubadivinginabox · 20/05/2021 19:09

Turn the damn radio off! You are being totally ridiculous.

Mumof5x · 20/05/2021 19:13

You are being totally unreasonable! That would drive me mad. Nothing worse than back ground noise like that from a distance. She obviously heard it in the first place to have known there was a radio one?! I have slight sensory issues and this would really distress me. Just turn it off!!!

ProbablyAboutTime · 20/05/2021 19:15

Haven’t RTFT so maybe already mentioned, but I told my DH about this last night and he couldn’t stop laughing for about an hour.

Why? Because the only thing to steal in that apparently empty house is the radio... for some reason that really tickled him (and me).

I wouldn’t be surprised if the NDN breaks in and nicks it tbf

HannaHat · 20/05/2021 19:17

Not sure why some people are finding that so hard to grasp.

Clearly ignorant/rude themselves.

Jem57 · 20/05/2021 19:20

My friends next door neighbour knocked and complained about her clock that chimed on the hour,not loud at all I must add 2 days after she moved in.

Fairfatandforty · 20/05/2021 19:22

To all those who are saying 'turn it off' - what is New Neighbour going to be like when an actual PERSON moves in? They may listen to the radio or watch TV until the early hours. What would you suggest then??

Mangofandangoo · 20/05/2021 19:29

Just turn it off, it's pretty selfish really that you would even need to question it

Babymama76 · 20/05/2021 19:30

YABU

HPFA · 20/05/2021 19:31

To all those who are saying 'turn it off' - what is New Neighbour going to be like when an actual PERSON moves in? They may listen to the radio or watch TV until the early hours. What would you suggest then??

When it's an actual person you accept it.

I live in a terraced house and at one time both houses on either side were unoccupied. The total quiet was absolute bliss! Of course when people eventually moved in we accepted that couldn't continue but it would have been very annoying if there'd been a radio chuntering when the houses were supposed to be empty.

Merchymor · 20/05/2021 19:31

@Fairfatandforty

To all those who are saying 'turn it off' - what is New Neighbour going to be like when an actual PERSON moves in? They may listen to the radio or watch TV until the early hours. What would you suggest then??
My NDN has a really irritating voice, it's like nails on a blackboard for me. But I put up with it because I have to.

What if she made a recording of her voice and set it to go off at random times for a total of eight hours a day from morning to late at night and did that knowing it caused me annoyance, would that be a sane thing to do?

The radio is patently useless if it can't be heard above a burglar alarm and if it can be heard then it's patently too loud.

Ergo YABVFU

Definately · 20/05/2021 19:40

@Fairfatandforty

To all those who are saying 'turn it off' - what is New Neighbour going to be like when an actual PERSON moves in? They may listen to the radio or watch TV until the early hours. What would you suggest then??
My neighbour watches TV until the early hours. It's irritating because it keeps me awake but I accept that it's not his fault the walls are paper thin and he has to live his life too. But if he had the TV going constantly when he wasn't even in the house I would be beyond furious. There's a difference between the noise people make in life and noise for noises sake.
AnnieSnap · 20/05/2021 19:45

OP, are you going to post again to let us know your reflections on the thread?

Leedsfan247 · 20/05/2021 19:47

Fairly pointless idea of the radio if it’s empty it’s normally obvious, plus do you actually have anything in the property to steal?

It would annoy me, have some consideration.

harisonsmum · 20/05/2021 19:52

What will the woman do when shock horror someone actually moves in there and she has to cope with everyday noise from a family. She should have bought detached if she wanted total silence from next door.

TinselTinsel · 20/05/2021 19:57

If your radio is on as low as you say then none of her business . My new neighbours tv can be heard over my own and he often turns it on at 3am but I have never complained because o believe he is partly from when I have spoken to him .
As a pp said , try turning the radio off without telling her and see if she still complains .

pennylane83 · 20/05/2021 19:59

The previous neighbours might not have heard it because they were out at work during the day and pottering around the house making their own noise when they were home. If your new neighbour is wfh I imagine she won't have much, if any, background noise on during the day to distract her from your radio so will likely hear it more.

AngusThermopyle · 20/05/2021 20:11

@llizzie That's commonly know as 'The hum'. It occurs in many places all over the world and is attributed to various things. I can hear it where I live. Have a google, it's quite interesting. Smile

strangeshapedpotato · 20/05/2021 20:11

You have to read between the lines with posts like this as the OP is BOUND to be putting a very one-sided story forward.

So first up, the OP claims the radio is so quiet she can hardly hear it IN the house - yet the neighbour OBVIOUSLY could hear it - sound travels much better within a house, than from one house to the next, so the OP is lying. Clearly the intention of the radio is to give the impression the house is occupied so it wouldn't make sense for anyone to put it on so quietly it could only be heard in one room in the house.

The texts and tone from the neighbour are perfectly reasonable - how else would she get in contact with a non-habiting neighour??

All the requests are perfectly reasonable - the attitude shown by the OP is "How dare anyone criticise me!". I've known a few people like that - no matter how wrong they are, they're right in their mind, and get angry with you for daring to suggest they may not be.

Now if it was me, after finding out that it was a radio left on, and that the OP had no intention of turning it off, I'd be breaking in and smashing the bloody thing.

mamabear715 · 20/05/2021 20:15

I lived in a terraced cottage next door to one that a single woman owned. Most of the time, she preferred to be at her mother's, down the road, but sometimes she'd bring a bloke back to hers. Then she'd be off back to mummy's without unplugging the damn radio alarm.
I got woken about 6.30am every day, then inane jingles all the time.

It is NOT normal living sounds.. I could hear when the kettle was switched on in the kitchen, loo flush etc - THEY are normal living sounds & I didn't mind those at all, but the f*cking radio.. like water torture.. please turn it off before she loses the plot & comes round with an axe..

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