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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:
Ilovelove · 19/05/2021 08:28

On another note - because someone has bothered to be direct and communicate an issue - it seems to illicit a reaction in some posters to find ways to make the person even more upset - an 'well I'll show them' attitude.

Just find a compromise, communicate rather than retaliate and be an adult.

apalledandshocked · 19/05/2021 08:29

"Also, if the property is completely empty, what are burglars going to steal?"
The radio!

FatherDickByrne · 19/05/2021 08:30

What you’ve done is completely anti-social. Turn it off!

Douchebaggette · 19/05/2021 08:30

This is a 'if a tree falls in the wood, does it make a sound?' scenario Grin

If a radio cannot be heard by anyone until they are already in the property, what bloody good is at preventing people entering the property?

C8H10N4O2 · 19/05/2021 08:30

She’s going to have a fucking breakdown when someone actually moves in and she has to deal with much louder noises

Random voices from an empty house next door are likely to be far more bothersome than normal noise of a resident family.

The OP has admitted you can't hear it from outside the house so its utterly pointless other than to annoy the neighbour.

Sweak · 19/05/2021 08:31

@Winkywonkydonkey

Other pointless things you could do to dissuade burglars:
  • ice on the outside steps
  • broken christmas baubles on the floor
  • manikins rigged up to dance around on a small train track
  • sit inside and pretend to be a voice off an old gangster film
This made me laugh out loud! Love that film
merrymouse · 19/05/2021 08:32

Normal family noise from next door is very usual.
A constant burrrrr/muffled talk radio is awful.

Agree.

There is a difference between normal household noise and constant talk radio all day until 11pm. Even within a household it would be anti-social.

LordEmsworth · 19/05/2021 08:32

I live in a terraced house. I can tell you, noise carries.

At least when it's conversation next door, I know it's going to finish at some point, it's not endless.

If one of my neighbours left the radio on in an empty house, I would be breaking in to switch the fucker off. It is cruel of you to insist that she can't hear the thing SHE CAN HEAR. Just because you can't and the old neighbours couldn't, does not mean she is lying, which is very clearly what you are implying. Why would she lie about this? Take some responsibility!

Palavah · 19/05/2021 08:32

@Winkywonkydonkey

Other pointless things you could do to dissuade burglars:
  • ice on the outside steps
  • broken christmas baubles on the floor
  • manikins rigged up to dance around on a small train track
  • sit inside and pretend to be a voice off an old gangster film
Brilliant
myfuckingfreezer · 19/05/2021 08:32

Why don't you turn it off, don't tell her, and see if she still complains. That'll tell you what you're dealing with!

FlossieTeacakesFurCoat18 · 19/05/2021 08:33

Cancel the cheque
Turn the radio off!

Your house is empty so there's not much to steal (and your neighbour would probably hear it anyway... and might be more inclined to check it out if you have a good relationship rather than one where you tell her she can't hear the radio she.. can hear.)

Also if you can't hear it from outside but could hear it once you'd, say, broken a window - how long do you think it would take burglars to realise it was a radio and not a real human conversation?

Aprilx · 19/05/2021 08:34

@MusicWithRocksIn1t

Turn it off, don't tell her and see if she keeps complaining, if she stops she can obviously hear it. I do think having it on until 11 is ridiculous
Is it not already obvious that she can hear it? You know, because she has reported hearing it and OP has confirmed that she has a radio on all day.
TheQueef · 19/05/2021 08:35

Just think.
This new neighbour may not be as forgiving as the old lot.
The old ones only passed the OP's number to new neighbours...new neighbour could post the number on dogging.com etc.
it's what I would do

mainsfed · 19/05/2021 08:39

Just increase the number of lamps on a timer - so one in the living room, one in the dining room, one upstairs.

If you're worried about cost, change the timings, as it's lighter now they only need to come on at 8pm or so.

If you really want the radio, time it to come on for an hour a couple of hours, maybe once at lunchtime and then again at 6pm, when she's probably not working.

Is there anything valuable in the house? Are the wardrobes empty?

Youdoyoutoday · 19/05/2021 08:39

You're being unreasonable, I have sensitive hearing and can hear a pin drop over the chaos of 2 children. Your radio would drive me nuts!

Abetes · 19/05/2021 08:39

Please turn it off. You are being very unreasonable

Folklore9074 · 19/05/2021 08:40

WWYD? You get the radio turned off and keep it off. Stop pissing your neighbour off for no reason.

Why on earth have you got a radio playing at all hours in an empty property? This would drive me crazy too. Its not going to be a deterrent to burglars (that would be a security light on a timer) and of course she can hear it, why would she complain about something she couldn't hear? Just for the craic?

At the moment you are trashing what could be a useful and cordial relationship absolutely no reason. Just sort it out and apologise to her.

Bluesheep8 · 19/05/2021 08:42

Also, if the property is completely empty, what are burglars going to steal?"
The radio!

Maybe the neighbour will break in and steal the radio Grin

tillytoodles1 · 19/05/2021 08:42

My neighbour went on holiday and left her radio on a timer from 7am until 11pm. It drove me mad.

TirisfalPumpkin · 19/05/2021 08:43

Was already to say yanbu as some people are weird about everyday living noises.

But a radio on at random intervals of the day - until 11pm? That's really anti-social, you should turn it off. It doesn't even make sense as a theft deterrent either. People using their house and making normal everyday TV/washer/stairs noise is not the same as a radio just creepily talking to itself for no reason.

I really think one of us ought to publish the 'terraced house code', as many of us live in them but it seems there's still a wide gap in understanding about how to be a decent human while your house is connected to others at the sides.

Hereslurkingatyoukid · 19/05/2021 08:43

This would really annoy me. Just turn it off.
Just because you can't hear it, doesn't mean she can't. We all have different hearing sensitivity.
You're saying if someone was living there, there would be TV/talking sounds to live with - but not ALL THE TIME. 9am til 11pm, every single day?!
YABU.

mainsfed · 19/05/2021 08:44

@Folklore9074

WWYD? You get the radio turned off and keep it off. Stop pissing your neighbour off for no reason.

Why on earth have you got a radio playing at all hours in an empty property? This would drive me crazy too. Its not going to be a deterrent to burglars (that would be a security light on a timer) and of course she can hear it, why would she complain about something she couldn't hear? Just for the craic?

At the moment you are trashing what could be a useful and cordial relationship absolutely no reason. Just sort it out and apologise to her.

A radio can be a deterrent. When we were burgled, they climbed over the back garden wall and broke through the window. They would have turned back had they heard the radio.

But we actually live in the property and use the radio when we have to rush out and can't hide all the tablets, laptops etc.

Swimmum78 · 19/05/2021 08:45

Why do you leave it on until 11pm! Sound travels much more at night, I go to bed around 10pm most nights and knowing some idiot has left a radio on in an empty house would give me the rage! It's totally unreasonable. Daytime wouldnt bother me so much. Also I really dont think it will make that much difference to security. I've had my house robbed whilst I've been in it.

LIZS · 19/05/2021 08:45

Random noise and voices would really irritate me. How long has the house been empty, did previous owner say anything? How often do you visit?

3Britnee · 19/05/2021 08:46

I wouldn't turn it off if I wanted it on. She'd have to listen to worse if the property was occupied. You can bet your life that if you fold to this there will be something else she's complaining about within a week.