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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Lovely day, neighbours playing music in garden

315 replies

WilsonMilson · 30/05/2021 12:15

Live in a detached house, so it’s not as though we have anyone too close, and reasonable sized gardens, but we do have other houses around us, so don’t expect silence.

Neighbours over the back are in their garden as it’s a lovely day, fair enough so are we, but they have also got their music playing. Loudly.

Aibu to think it’s the height of rudeness to have music blaring in the garden knowing full well others around can hear it too? It’s Christian easy listening type of music.

Tempted to put a bit of Motörhead on the Sonos, but that would be a bit passive aggressive. So I’m just stewing in silence and posting here instead - it’s certainly not making me feel very Christian!!

OP posts:
Vodkaandballoon · 30/05/2021 18:15

@MaMelon

Yeah, that’s two fingered response I knew you’d have vodka
I'm just messing with you.
MsTSwift · 30/05/2021 18:17

Special place in hell for cretins who play music in their garden so neighbors can hear. There’s this thing called headphones 🙄🙄

Shinypie · 30/05/2021 18:18

Forget Motorhead, try Behemoth or Cattle Decapitation.

In all seriousness, my headphones are a blessing. Blocks out the screeching children, dogs and bloke who perpetually does DIY. I like having agency over what I listen to.

Grapewrath · 30/05/2021 18:19

Get some gangsta rap up load to drown out the Jesus tunes and enjoy your day Wink

SchrodingersImmigrant · 30/05/2021 18:20

There is a big kid party nearby. No issue with them (just pure envy about the bouncy castle😂). The difference is that I know they won't have same noise levels tomorrow, or day after tomorrow or in near future. But radio players are always there

HollowTalk · 30/05/2021 18:22

I think it's pretty easy to deal with it if it's Christian music, though. Ask them to turn it down and if they refuse, talk to them about the irony of playing Christian music while acting in a non-Christian way.

TheNestedIf · 30/05/2021 18:23

I've got a business idea whereby I buy the best, loudest soundsystem one can get, and a cd of breeze and birdsong and rent it/myself out over the summer to people whose neighbours like to make everyone suffer their music. That would be turned up all the way to 11 for as long as it took to make them buy some earphones.

I say "rent". I hate people who force other people to listen to their music, the odd party aside, so much that I would probably do that for free, all day long.

Lesartisansetlessansculottes · 30/05/2021 18:24

You're right, it's rude and inconsiderate. There is no reason for it. I feel your pain.

OhDearMuriel · 30/05/2021 18:25

Time to borrow my DH's hammer-drill and start drilling some holes in a brick.
They'll be in their house like a shot with all the windows closed :-)

Lesartisansetlessansculottes · 30/05/2021 18:25

@SchrodingersImmigrant

There is a big kid party nearby. No issue with them (just pure envy about the bouncy castle😂). The difference is that I know they won't have same noise levels tomorrow, or day after tomorrow or in near future. But radio players are always there
I think that makes all the difference. If you know it is only going to happen once in a blue moon, you can put up with it. If it is going to ruin every sunny day, it's much harder to deal with.
SchrodingersImmigrant · 30/05/2021 18:28

Actually I just remembered someone who can be pretty annoying about music😂

www.gov.uk/licence-to-play-live-or-recorded-music

SchrodingersImmigrant · 30/05/2021 18:28

@Lesartisansetlessansculottes exactly. That's it

MakeMineAdoubleChocolate · 30/05/2021 18:29

I hate blaring music. Also hate blaring TV!

ToffeePennie · 30/05/2021 18:29

We have Alexa in our garden who has been on at a reasonable (low but high enough to hear it) level all day. One neighbour one side is working out in his garden and we’ve never had issues, the other side have gone away, the end of the garden were very noisy a few weeks ago with their music. We all live so close it’s impossible no to hear others music. I guess we all just listen to our own stuff and ignore everything else.

woodhill · 30/05/2021 18:33

@Notimeforaname

Had a great time in my garden yesterday listening to my neighbour blasting the Beatles. He's making a habit of it recently as his wife just died. He gets out to the garden every day and puts on her favourite musicSmile I dont find it rude. People are enjoying themselves. Ive heard him and other neighbours sing along to my garden music at times.
Sounds great. I often have radio on in kitchen which can be heard slightly outside but would never have it loud
EmeraldShamrock · 30/05/2021 18:36

Tbf the want for silence is as annoying for those who like some noise.
Living in a housing estate everyone have consideration while enjoying their thing at certain times.
The bloody birds are very noisy ATT.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 30/05/2021 18:37

@EmeraldShamrock

Tbf the want for silence is as annoying for those who like some noise. Living in a housing estate everyone have consideration while enjoying their thing at certain times. The bloody birds are very noisy ATT.
Have you got sparrows😂 They are mating again and even without that they can cover up any music around with that noise
Reiningitin · 30/05/2021 18:39

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow that really really made me laugh!!! Sorry you have to put up with it though!! I wouldn't mind experiencing this for about 5 minutes for a laugh...

Dentistlakes · 30/05/2021 18:43

The only acceptable way to play music in your garden is through headphones imo. There’s no need to subject your neighbours to it. The only exception to the rule is if you’re having a party to which all your neighbours are invited and that should in itself be a rare occurrence. Playing music in your garden so your neighbours have to hear it is rude.

LilMidge01 · 30/05/2021 18:45

I love it when my neighbours get the bbq out in the good weather and start blasting Latin music. It makes me feel happy and pick up on the happy vibes too. If its during the day and not at night...really not sure what the problem is. Are we all meant to live in deathly silence?

SchrodingersImmigrant · 30/05/2021 18:49

@LilMidge01

I love it when my neighbours get the bbq out in the good weather and start blasting Latin music. It makes me feel happy and pick up on the happy vibes too. If its during the day and not at night...really not sure what the problem is. Are we all meant to live in deathly silence?
Again. There is lots between blasting music every day, all day and deathly silence. Most people are reasonable and don't mind it occasionally, but I think lots of people here can't imagine there are genuinely people doing it everyday, all day, from April to October, unless it's proper pissing down. Or they are them😂 It griiiinds.
whosappleman · 30/05/2021 18:59

I never realised until I was on MN that it was considered rude to have music on in your garden. Obviously mega loud or every day is inconsiderate but the odd day in the garden enjoying music is surely one of life's pleasures and one I'd not deny anyone of having from time to time. Especially if you have people over.

It's made me feel sad for the times I've done it wondering if people have been judging me as a bad neighbor.

If I hear music go on around here I always look out to see who's having a nice time and feel pleased for them. Especially with the weather turning this weekend. It's a happy sound! Same with kids playing or whatever. Lawn mowers piss me off but obviously that's part of life too. Live and let live.

LyndaLaHughes · 30/05/2021 19:00

@mrstt89

People are perfectly entitled to listen to music in their garden. It would only become a problem for me if they started playing it at unreasonable hours. If you don't like their music, put your own on. It's not passive aggressive.
Actually this isn't true. People have a right to peace in their own home and neighbours must be mindful of this. There is a common misconception that only noise during night hours is actionable but that isn't true.

English private law defines a nuisance as "an unlawful interference with a person's use or enjoyment of land or of some right over, or in connection, with it."

People are not allowed to play loud music that disturbs neighbours at any time.

Under the provisions of the Noise Act 1996 and other associated legislation, your local authority has a mandatory obligation to deal with any noise which is deemed to be a ‘nuisance’. It’s not simply at night where the act might come into force, nor is it restricted to common complaints like music and loud parties – general traffic noise, DIY/construction projects and use of other kind of machinery is also incorporated into the legislation.

It's selfish and inconsiderate and there is no excuse for such inconsiderate behaviour. Turn it down or use headphones. It's not difficult.

catfeets · 30/05/2021 19:09

It's rude and inconsiderate. I don't think it's ever acceptable to play music in the garden (or as my previous neighbour did, blaring loudly in the house so they can hear it down the bottom of their garden - leaving me with nowhere to get away from it).

I'd rather listen to Christian easy listening though, OP, than my neighbours' choice (and my last twatty neighbour) which is dance music AngryAngryAngry

SavoyCabbage · 30/05/2021 19:13

We had new neighbours move in and they blasted music all of the time.

Then one day I was listening to 'the goldfinch' through my portable speaker in the house and took it outside with me to hang out the washing. I didn't even know they were in their garden because they didn't have any ridiculously loud music on.

So I'm merrily hanging the washing on the line with background of a graphic description of children being blown to smithereens by a bomb and the next thing I know pandemonium breaks out next door as the neighbours were out there with their young grandchildren. They bundled them back into the house and whilst they do play music still sometimes it's not constant.