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Original poster

Neighbour noise - just don’t know what to do

21 replies

DustyLola · 28/05/2021 12:04

About 9 months ago new neighbours moved into the rented house next door.

The attached a television to the chimney breast wall which is shared with my house. The noise coming into our house as a result I’ve found really hard to cope with. I spoke to them about it and they tried to improve the situation by buying a large soundbar, now also attached to the wall. This, not surprisingly, has not helped.

I’ve spoken to them on several occasions again and they have tried to keep their noise down (though clearly not always).

In fairness the noise isn’t always loud as such, just penetrating (and cannot be blocked out by turning up my tv). It’s like wall mounting the soundbar has turned the entire shared wall into an extension of their speaker. It can be heard in the room upstairs as well due to the way the sound travels.

I am aware I have very low tolerance of noise being on the autistic spectrum, but it’s just heartbreaking having this source of noise. I’m in tears several times a week and have had two panic attacks as a result.

I just don’t know how to approach the situation anymore.

OP posts:
Gizlotsmum · 28/05/2021 12:06

Tricky as it sounds like they have tried to be considerate. Could you look at soundproofing?

OrangeRug · 28/05/2021 12:11

I know how awful it is having noisy neighbours - I have problems with mine too. Unfortunately it's really difficult to get anything done about it. Your options are:

  • Report to council, although you would have to declare this if you sold and would make things awkward. They might send you recording equipment and then assess it.
  • Try to use a different room. Chill in your bedroom instead?
  • Noise cancelling earphones
  • Retaliation (probs not a great idea although I am at this stage with my own neighbours after trying everything else)
  • Moving
  • Complain to their landlord if you can find out who it is.
endofthelinefinally · 28/05/2021 12:17

It is really selfish to put a tv on a chimney breast. I am sorry you are having to put up with it. Maybe they just don't realise how bad it is? Could you ask them to come round and listen? Or put your own tv on the other side.

murbblurb · 28/05/2021 12:18

the TV and soundbar need to come off the wall. They can buy a TV stand.

selfish pigs.

TheoMeo · 28/05/2021 12:24

A lot of sound is more bass vibration - the last thing you do is fit the speakers to a shared wall. Offer to buy a table for their sound bar.

misspattylacosta · 28/05/2021 12:24

@murbblurb

the TV and soundbar need to come off the wall. They can buy a TV stand.

selfish pigs.

basically that.

You should ask them to that, it's really not an unreasonable request.

Iwantcauliflowercheese · 28/05/2021 12:28

The landlord shouldn't have allowed them to do this. I wonder if they had permission. My new neighbour, also renting, asked to put
hers on the wall and he refused in case it disturbed us. In fact we have a built in cooker and fridge freezer on that wall so I don't think we would have heard it. Is is worth checking with the rental agency?

Bythehairywartsonmywitchychin · 28/05/2021 12:30

If it’s a rented property speak to the landlord, if no joy from them contact the council.

Original poster
DustyLola · 28/05/2021 12:30

It’s hard trying to frame complaining again in terms of noise sensitivity. To them (and maybe a lot of people) noise has to be blasting to be a problem.

I’ve thought about retaliating, but my anxiety works the other way and I can’t bear the thought of them hearing me.

OP posts:
KatherineOfGaunt · 28/05/2021 12:32

Invite them come and hear what it sounds like from your house. Or take a video. Or find a sound level meter.

They should know that a wall-mounted TV and sound bar are going to cause sound to travel through to the adjoining house.

Ostara212 · 28/05/2021 12:38

@KatherineOfGaunt

Invite them come and hear what it sounds like from your house. Or take a video. Or find a sound level meter.

They should know that a wall-mounted TV and sound bar are going to cause sound to travel through to the adjoining house.

This

What a horribly selfish thing for them to do.

randomkey123 · 28/05/2021 12:41

I'd go to the Landlord. That's what my Mum had to do when her NDN's put their tv and soundbar on the shared wall. It drove her absolutely mad as he was a gamer and it was BOOM BOOM BOOM all evening.

PhilCornwall1 · 28/05/2021 12:43

- Report to council, although you would have to declare this if you sold and would make things awkward.

You're meant to, but who honestly would declare it.

Notavegan · 28/05/2021 12:44

I went to the landlord when this happened to me, plus building regs as it was recently converted.

earlydoors42 · 28/05/2021 12:46

Oh what, my TV was on the chimney breast, I never thought twice about it (pp saying "they should know that..." sound will travel through).

Our houses are quite solid 1930s terrace, we don't get a lot of noise through, so I'm hoping the neighbours don't hate us! We moved it but it's in the alcove next to the chimney breast on the same wall. Is that better?! Just as bad? Luckily we go to bed early, don't watch tv loud and don't play games on it.

pooonastick · 28/05/2021 12:48

So sorry to hear this. I suffer from this too and find this type of noise unbearable. Low, vibrations coming through wall. You are not alone. Sorry this doesn't help you though

TiltTopTable · 28/05/2021 12:48

No advice, but I feel so bad for you. I would also find the situation intolerable. We used to have a neighbour who played the bagpipes (to a high level, he was in a marching band). He practised every evening, so most of our tv viewing was accompanied by bagpipes.

I just don't understand the mentality of people like your neighbours (or our bagpipe player). They know their noise is distressing you but won't take the simple step of taking their TV off the shared wall? That's arsehole behaviour.

Tabitha005 · 28/05/2021 12:52

The GOOD thing here, is that you have more of a measure of control over them being told to move the TV and sound bar off the wall because they're renting, as opposed to being the homeowners of the property next door.

If the property is managed through an Agent, then make a nuisance of yourself as far as the Agent is concerned - they won't want you ringing them multiple times to have the issue resolved.

TV noise is one of the banes of modern life, in my opinion. No-one needs cinema-style facilities in a house that's joined to another and likely to cause a nuisance to their neighbours. Fine, if the neighbours don't care, but when the issue has been raised and addressed with the neighbours and they've done nothing to alleviate the problem, the solution needs to come someone with the authority to rectify it.

WhenwillSleephappen · 28/05/2021 12:53

It’s an awful noise when on a shared wall. Our old lovely neighbours attached a sound bar to the wall and it sounded like they were coming through it. It was a small house so inescapable. Suddenly it stopped (without us mentioning it) so they must’ve moved it

Original poster
DustyLola · 28/05/2021 13:04

Thanks for all the comments and sympathy 😌 I was worried I was being unreasonable.

I’ll try explaining to them again. As a couple, she seems more sympathetic so will try and speak to her. When I spoke to her partner he said he had a right to watch tv in his house…

I do have the landlords number so will try that if speaking again doesn’t work.

OP posts:
Chloemol · 28/05/2021 13:10

Can’t you ask them to take it off the wall? I would, and if they won’t do you know the landlord could you speak to them direct?

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