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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:
Twinkie01 · 19/05/2021 07:42

This is hilarious. Did you get the idea from Home Alone? Why do you think a radio which can only be heard a couple of feet away and most certainly not from next door is going to deter burglars.

Nothingyet · 19/05/2021 07:43

@Soubriquet

For heavens sake just turn the damn radio off

Leave the lights as it is, but turn the radio off

If she doesn’t complain, you know it bothered her. If she does, you know she is making it up

If I was your neighbour I'd break in and smash the radio!
Goldenbear · 19/05/2021 07:45

Turn it off, you are being inconsiderate and it is unnecessary. It is not just about the noise, it will be slightly tortuous as normal radio use and noise would not come with this repetitive occurrence that she will be anticipating every 2 hrs!! How horrible.

Tumbleweed101 · 19/05/2021 07:45

This would drive me mad if I were next door to you. I hate being able to hear my neighbours Alexa/game station/TV through the wall and I am noise sensitive so get bothered by quite low level noise.

Level 3 Alexa in an empty house will be very loud and come through the wall.

Blerg · 19/05/2021 07:46

That would be enraging. People can accept necessities from actual neighbours but the idea of a radio with no one there is not that. I have very good hearing and can hear all sorts my DH can’t.

Absolutely YABVU. Turn it off.

Crispychillibeef · 19/05/2021 07:46

I'm in the 'turn off the damn radio' camp too. It does nothing but piss off a neighbour. If I was her I'd be thinking you were cheeky as fuck - leave your house empty but think it's OK to make noise constantly all day.

Soubriquet · 19/05/2021 07:48

OP is gonna come back and tell us she isn’t going to switch the radio off because of the area is rough and the previous neighbours never complained isn’t she Hmm

CaptainMyCaptain · 19/05/2021 07:49

If (you think) it can't be heard from next door how can it act as a deterrent?

Geriatric1234 · 19/05/2021 07:49

Lights = sensible.
Radio = ridiculous. Especially until 11pm.

YABU. Switch it off. Maybe your last neighbours weren’t as sensitive to noise. Then if she moans you can tell her it’s not you.

Just feels like you’re being a bit pointlessly difficult and power trippy because you were there first.

category12 · 19/05/2021 07:50

A radio on to a talk channel, not music, is fine, even if it’s on all day.

No, it's not - talk channels are actually more irritating because if you catch the sound of voices you have to work out if it's the radio or someone there and it kind of scratches at you. If it's music, at least you know what it is, it has a rhythm and personally I find it easier to cover with other noises. We're tuned in to speech in a different way.

Sparklingbrook · 19/05/2021 07:51

Turn the radio off. Block the number. Job done.

Ariela · 19/05/2021 07:51

Rather than radio on so low can barely be heard, you may be better off with TV on but zero volume, as the TV throws light about of varying intensity as the pictures change - after dark especially

chesterelly · 19/05/2021 07:52

Turn it off. You're going to start renovations which will presumably be even noisier. Then you're going to sell. You need her on side before she makes things official and you have to warn prospective purchasers of a neighbour dispute.

Wrongsideofhistorymyarse · 19/05/2021 07:53

Turn it off.

TheNoodlesIncident · 19/05/2021 07:53

For those asking what burglars would steal in an empty house, the answer is "the central heating system". Yes, in some areas people will break in to strip out as much copper pipes, boilers and rads as they can. Empty houses in Liverpool often had ELEC OFF sprayed on the front doors to tell any potential thieves that the electricity supply has been disabled too. I imagine OP's property is in similar bandit country.

The radio is not helpful though, an alarm system that connects to a company in the event of a break in would be more use and less likely to annoy the hell of an neighbour who doesn't want to hear a pointless radio on and off all day. I would not want to antagonise someone unnecessarily, it's very inconsiderate.

I don't think the neighbour expects silence per se, but a noise like that in an otherwise silent property is much more noticeable than ordinary living noises, especially in the day. You can filter out "pottering about" noise more easily than a single intrusive noise, surely?

YABU, insurers will prefer a property to be secured with a decent alarm system rather than a radio coming on randomly. It's obvious to anyone looking out for such things when a property is empty! A radio will not make any difference.

ifonly4 · 19/05/2021 07:53

I ask her if it's ok to go into her house so you can listen, with a view to turning it down if you can. For context, we live in a semi, have a lovely neighbour but can hear when he wakes up, always has a morning cough around 5.30am, if he's got the racing on we can hear it downstairs, tv noise often carries up into our bedroom for some reason if he's got it on 11/11.30, we know when he's got neighbours etc. He must be able to hear us as well. DH wants to move for this reason.

Imaystillbedrunk · 19/05/2021 07:54

If your house is empty, what are the burglars going to steal? Turn it off!

Geriatric1234 · 19/05/2021 07:54

@Soubriquet

OP is gonna come back and tell us she isn’t going to switch the radio off because of the area is rough and the previous neighbours never complained isn’t she Hmm
Almost certainly 🤦🏻‍♀️
PegasusReturns · 19/05/2021 07:56

Why would you do this?!

It serves no purpose. Neighbour can clearly hear it.

Beyond unreasonable!

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 19/05/2021 07:57

i wouldn't be making a single effort to do anything about it. regardless of whether she works from home or not you are entitled to hoover or watch tv during the day.
Has she not heard of noise cancelling headphones if she wants complete silence.
I would also block her from your phone, there is simply no excuse for handing out your personal and private number.

C8H10N4O2 · 19/05/2021 07:58

Just turn it off.

JustJoinedRightNow · 19/05/2021 08:00

@viques

Is the house empty of people or furniture? Sounds get absorbed by furnishings etc, but echo off walls which might affect the quality of the sound passing through to next door.
I was going to mention this exact thing. It could actually be quite loud for her. Agreed she shouldn’t have gotten your number off a neighbour though. I think you’re being unreasonable leaving a radio on in an empty house which doesn’t affect you, and then complaining that she’s bringing it to your attention.
Ellmau · 19/05/2021 08:01

Were Old Neighbours older than New Neighbour? If so, then they possibly had poorer hearing.

isthismylifenow · 19/05/2021 08:02

Turn it off is the new cancel the cheque.

Twiglets1 · 19/05/2021 08:04

11pm is unreasonable, so is keeping it on all day when you're not even there. If it wasn't a problem for her she wouldn't be complaining so turn the thing off when you go to work and when you go to bed.

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