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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour’s children being loud

62 replies

IzzieStevens · 02/06/2021 15:50

I work from home, in my living room to be precise. With the gorgeous weather we’ve had for the past week, I’ve had my windows open for air.

I live at the end of a cul de sac and everyday at 3.30pm like clockwork, a group of 5 kids turn up to play with the children who live on the house opposite me. Which would be lovely if they weren’t so loud - shouting, screaming, kicking balls around etc. They play in the road so it’s right outside my house.

Is it unreasonable of me to ask their parents if they could keep the noise down during working hours, or play in the garden?

I’m fully prepared to be told I’m being unreasonable, I’m just at the end of my tether with them today.

OP posts:
PleasantBirthday · 02/06/2021 15:51

I think it is a bit unreasonable. Children need to let off steam. It doesn't sound like they are doing anything unusual.

ColaOlaLa · 02/06/2021 15:52

Change rooms

MrsAudreyAlfredRobertsOBEHmm · 02/06/2021 15:52

It's not unreasonable to ask them, they may not realise you are working from home
How long do they play out for?

chickenyhead · 02/06/2021 15:54

You can ask but be prepared to be blasted.

ApolloandDaphne · 02/06/2021 15:55

It isn't unreasonable for children to play outside after being cooped up in school all day. They are doing nothing wrong and it is not their fault you are working from home. Move to a room at the back of your house if it is annoying you.

Moonshine11 · 02/06/2021 15:55

Move rooms.
Think it’s unfair on the kids tbh

Original poster
IzzieStevens · 02/06/2021 15:56

They’re absolutely not doing anything that you wouldn’t expect from children, but when it’s during the day and you’re trying to work/have meetings, it’s so irritating to have them squealing outside the window.

They’re usually out until about 8/8.30pm.

OP posts:
PleasantBirthday · 02/06/2021 15:57

Oh god yeah, the noise is painful, even when it's your own.

Price of living among other people though.

fairycakes1234 · 02/06/2021 16:00

i am the same, i work in kitchen and neighbours kids jumping up and down trampoline all day long and shouting and laughing, drives me nuts but then my kids play outside and probably drive others nuts, i dont think theres really anything you can do, i am sucking it up because i enjoy working from home but i do feel your pain

Bootskates · 02/06/2021 16:01

I feel your pain.

I would never complain though (only time I have gone out to them was when they were playing knock door run) as there will always be something. I could say oh could you keep it down til 4 when I finish work then someone else could say well could you keep it down I work til 8 then on a weekend morning there could be someone just home from a night shift wanting to get their head down. Then we have a situation where nobody can make any noise ever. Could you put some music on your headphones when not in meetings?

RisingSunn · 02/06/2021 16:02

Move rooms?

PotteringAlong · 02/06/2021 16:07

Don’t work in the living room seems like an obvious solution.

Children playing outside after school and, by your own admission, not doing anything unacceptable other than disturbing your living room office, is not unreasonable .

Original poster
IzzieStevens · 02/06/2021 16:13

Don’t work in the living room does seem like an obvious solution. So obvious that I would have done that if there was another room of the house to work in.

OP posts:
LemonPeonies · 02/06/2021 16:15

You're gonna have to suck it up I'm afraid, it might be "working hours' for you but not for everyone else. It's not unreasonable hours or noise.

insancerre · 02/06/2021 16:18

Children need to be allowed to be children
They should be able to play and make noise

DDiva · 02/06/2021 16:20

This unfortunately is one of the issues of working at home rather than in the office where everyone around you is also working.

The street and your neighbours homes are not workplaces. People including children may be doing noisy activities during the day and are entitled to do so.

PotteringAlong · 02/06/2021 16:29

Don’t work in the living room does seem like an obvious solution. So obvious that I would have done that if there was another room of the house to work in.

You have no bedroom? No dining room table? How can your living room be the only suitable room?!

Beautiful3 · 02/06/2021 16:31

Unreasonable of you to do that.

Auntienumber8 · 02/06/2021 16:33

It can be a pain, I decided to not buy a house in a cul de sac because they are great for children to play out as no through traffic.

SoupDragon · 02/06/2021 16:34

This is where the switch to working from home falls down - other people have to accommodate it. They are homes, not work places and you can't really get away from the noise of people "living".

KingdomScrolls · 02/06/2021 16:37

It's a residential area, designed for family living not a business district. Close your windows, get a fan, go and work somewhere else or just ignore the noise, use headphones etc. It's quite reasonable for children to play outside of their home after school.

Thenose · 02/06/2021 16:39

It'd be very unreasonable, yes.

Actupfishy · 02/06/2021 16:42

Absolutely you can’t say anything, you’ll sound ridiculous!

cadburyegg · 02/06/2021 16:44

YABU I’m afraid. Children were playing out long before we were all wfh

JocastaNu · 02/06/2021 16:47

Massively unreasonable. Your street is not a workplace. The kids have been starved of much needed socialisation for the last year. Far better they are outdoors playing than stuck on screens.

I work from home and whilst there are no children playing on the street there are a myriad of retired folk doing stuff in the garden with power tools. I've posted on here about it but I would never say something in person because i would be completely unreasonable to do so.