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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:
Amdone123 · 19/05/2021 05:49

I would just turn it off. You've got an alarm system after all.
I get the impression she's a moaning Minnie though, so I wouldn't tell her I'd turned it off and see if, or what else, she complains about.

Lemmen · 19/05/2021 05:54

Poor woman.

SpilltheTea · 19/05/2021 05:58

Turn it off. It's absolutely pointless.

MrsBungle · 19/05/2021 05:59

Turn it off. You’re being very inconsiderate. She can obviously hear it or she wouldn’t have known about it to complain. A constant droning radio up to 11pm would be well annoying - different to normal everyday different types of noises.

MrsEricBana · 19/05/2021 06:06

I feel sorry for her, how irritating.

Cuntryhouse · 19/05/2021 06:08

Just here to say: turn the fucking radio off.

LakeShoreD · 19/05/2021 06:09

Turn off the radio!

Shopgirl1 · 19/05/2021 06:12

She got your number to ask you to address an issue you are causing her in her own home.
Your response is completely unreasonable - I think it’s perfectly acceptable she got your number, and completely unreasonable on your part to continue leaving the radio on. You should turn it off and stop being so selfish.

Selttan · 19/05/2021 06:12

Why should she turn it off? It's her property to do with what she wants as long as she's not breaking any noise ordinances.

How will the neighbour cope if people lived there and had actual conversations?

I'd do as someone suggested and turn it off temporarily and see what she says.

insancerre · 19/05/2021 06:12

I would find that really annoying
Just turn the radio off

justanotherneighinparadise · 19/05/2021 06:17

I think pulsed just block her number. But I’m a nasty cunt.

justanotherneighinparadise · 19/05/2021 06:18
  • would just
MySocalledLoaf · 19/05/2021 06:18

She may have better hearing than your previous neighbours. I don’t have perfect hearing and am less bothered by noise, of course.
You could get LED TV simulators for rooms at the front and back of the house, that would be more effective.

Undertheoldlindentree · 19/05/2021 06:20

Turn it off please.

Frazzlefrazle · 19/05/2021 06:22

You need to turn it off. Get security cameras or movement sensor flood lights if you are that worried.

LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 19/05/2021 06:22

Oh for goodness sake just turn it off. Just imagining what it must be like for your neighbour makes me mad at you. The fact you can’t hear it is irrelevant. She obviously can. Yes, it’s possible she has got a bit fixed on this and is listening out for it. I would too I think.

It would drive me mental hearing a low hum off and on like this throughout the day. Not having other, everyday, noises to take the edge off it and a house full of possessions to absorb the noise will exacerbate it.

Putting up with the noise of people living their lives is one thing. Putting up with this is quite another. Just ensure you have proper insurance.

The timer thing makes no sense either; if your biggest attachment to this plan is if someone breaks a window they will hear voices - that’s as likely to happen when the radio is off than when it’s on.

The discomfort (ascertained) to your neighbour in this plan far outweighs any benefit (unquantifiable) benefit to you.

Bluntness100 · 19/05/2021 06:24

Wow. This is so unreasonable. She can clearly hear it or she’d not have raised it, as she’d not have known. So logically she can hear it. Switch it off, that must be infuriating for her.

Pancakeorcrepe · 19/05/2021 06:25

Your poor neighbour! Just turn it off and have a good look at yourself.

Theunamedcat · 19/05/2021 06:27

Tell her its off

She is never going to cope when real people move in

MrMucker · 19/05/2021 06:28

@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
You mean the previous neighbours who had to complain to you more than once (as implied by your post) and then decided to move away from living next door to you, and who were also happy to give your contact details to your new neighbour even though it would usually be out of order? You seem to be resistant to reading a situation through the eyes of others. You don't care that your new neighbour is WFH. You are more bothered about how they address you in a message than what they are unhappy about. You work very hard to describe how you cannot be making noise, even though the one person in a position to know that says you are making noise. And you are determined to persist in making that noise and then leave that person to put up with it in case somebody busts in the back door, which you could prevent far more easily with a security light. So maybe your old neighbours moved because of your insensitivity-harsh, sorry, but perfectly imaginable. If I were you I'd ditch the radio, take over an "Im sorry" bottle of wine, and then wait for the day when you need help from that neighbour for whatever reason.
Shoxfordian · 19/05/2021 06:29

Turn it off, it’s not even a deterrent
Get some security lights or cctv if you’re worried

Chickenlickeninthepot · 19/05/2021 06:29

Just switch it off. That sort of low level noise drives me nuts. She's going to have to put up with all sorts of refurb noises in the next few months, the least you could do is be considerate of her request now.

ceilingsand · 19/05/2021 06:30

MrMucker has it.

Motnight · 19/05/2021 06:30

Op I would turn off the radio. It is obvious that the neighbour can hear it or she wouldn't have complained about it.

She might get a shock when people are actually living in the house again, but in the meantime what's the point of deliberately annoying her?

NowtSoQueerAsFolk · 19/05/2021 06:33

Nobody mentioning the fact that op has clearly copied an email for this post?

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