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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Noisy holiday neighbours - Cornwall idyll ruined

226 replies

amateurschoolhunter · 16/07/2021 08:28

I'm currently on holiday in a small Cornish beach resort with my parents and children. This is our 7th year in a row in the same place and every year until now it's been idyllic
But yesterday a family moved into the neighbouring holiday home which has a pool in the garden. There was a lot of noise all afternoon and evening but as it was the first day I ignored it. But we were all woken today up at 7am by kids shrieking in the pool, hot tub whirring and general noise. AIBU to get on the phone to their letting agent? This is a naice holiday destination and we usually only hear seagulls

OP posts:
MaMelon · 16/07/2021 09:33

WombatChocolate agree 100%

OP - check your t&cs re times for noise Smile

canigooutyet · 16/07/2021 09:38

They might not be holiday makers. It could be the owners second home and the school holidays have just started in some areas, or start early next week.

THat's the thing when residential areas are turned into tourist areas, you never really know who is who. When a friend of mine inherited a property like this, they told people they were holidaying there. (They honoured all the bookings that were already in place).

LookItsMeAgain · 16/07/2021 09:40

@WeAreTheHeroes

Are some people deliberately obtuse? Even if kids are usually up at 7am there's no reason why they have to be shrieking when they use the pool. Plus there really should be an adult with them for safety reasons.
The water is cold when they jump in perhaps? They are happy and enjoying themselves on a holiday and they are kids! How do you know there isn't an adult with them?

Have a G&T and chill out!

I have no idea who these people are who are on holiday but I can only imagine the feedback they would give the letting agents:
"Arrived and day one was lovely but after day two, we were approached by a neighbour complaining about the noise. We weren't playing loud music, we were just trying to enjoy the facilities that we paid for. We felt that we couldn't relax in the house or garden any more after that so we cut our holiday short. We will not be back again as there wasn't a warm welcome in the area. We would not recommend this holiday location to families of young children due to narky neighbours"....or something to that effect.

UrAWizHarry · 16/07/2021 09:40

You are on holiday in a location that has outdoor facilities such as pools/ hottubs etc and you are expecting no noise?

Hmm
PausePlease · 16/07/2021 09:43

Don’t use your hot tub and tell the kids to be quiet in the pool? Good luck with that message. I’d think you were bonkers and ignore you if I were your holiday neighbours.

WombatChocolate · 16/07/2021 09:44

Why do people say ‘ it is their holiday, they can do as they like’ - this just isn’t true. It’s a crazy idea to think that just because you are off work and you have paid to stay somewhere, that any consideration for anyone else goes out of the window.

Clearly, there will be noise and lots of children in pools is likely to mean shrieking. You will just have to expect this during the daytime. It’s a bit annoying if you didn’t know there was a house with a pool nearby, but it’s just one of those things. However, properties with pools do generally have time conditions as this kind of noise issue is a recognised thing. I’d be surprised if there wasn’t a condition saying not to use before 8.30am.

Of course, on a site where there is no holiday manager, such as your typical self catering let, there won’t be anyone to enforce it. You probably won’t know who the letting agent is and unless you’re willing to drop a note or speak to them directly, there won’t be a lot you can do.

Personally I’d drop a short and friendly note. You could say you’re there to recuperate and know the children will enjoy the lovely pool, it would appreciate if they could hold off before 8am or 8.30am. That’s the most you can ask for I think.

want2bemum · 16/07/2021 09:46

I wouldn't book a holiday in a family area next to another house with a hot tub for this reason. I'd go somewhere more remote.

If I did end up in your situation I would ring the letting agent and see if they can have a word. It's not the same as a neighbour situation where you have to live next to them for years, so it's worth a shot.

Starstar7 · 16/07/2021 09:48

Polzeath?

viques · 16/07/2021 09:48

At least you know that next year you need to get in early and book the house with the pool and the hot tub rather than the house with the seagulls...........

dameofdilemma · 16/07/2021 09:49

Why is it that on every other thread about letting the kids out to play in the garden at 7am, most posts say that’s too early.
Yet here the OP is apparently being unreasonable.

Is it perhaps because she’s on holiday in Cornwall and therefore to be reviled?

I agree Air bnb etc is wrecking communities.
I agree treating homes as investment vehicles is wrong and not sustainable.
I agree having inadequate protections for tenants is increasing homelessness.

Stop voting Tory then. This party has no interest in addressing the above issues and will continue to prioritise an elite minority of private investors over the majority.

I have family in Cornwall, I have a lot of sympathy but apathy and a lack of political engagement is rife and is not helping anyone, least of all the Cornish.

Viviennemary · 16/07/2021 09:49

Yes complain. Why should those shrieking brats ruin a nice holiday. Poor folk who live next door to them.

Nocutenamesleft · 16/07/2021 09:51

We’ve been stuck for the last 18 months. With terrible conditions. Bad weather. Small homes. People with no gardens

Let the kids have some fun. Be kind.

onlyhereforthecake · 16/07/2021 09:52

YANBU

I hope the letting agent will have a word with them.
The local residents can't be that impressed either.

If people want to make unlimited noise, they can rent a holiday accommodation in the middle of nowhere, if they preferred a residential area, they keep the noise down.

But YABU for using the word "naice".

StapMe · 16/07/2021 09:52

Noisy neighbours ruin other people's enjoyment, whether at home or on holiday. How many threads on here are about kids making unacceptable noise? We've stayed in lovely hotels that were heaven for the first few days - then noisy families arrived and ruined it for the rest of us. Similarly, when houses were built on the field at the back of our house we knew there would be a bit of noise from neighbours. But we weren't prepared for the ear splitting shrieking we now have to endure. Are the parents deaf or something? I wouldn't put up with that from my own kids. Sadly people are selfish bastards and there's not much you can do about it. Complaining may even make it worse.

onlyhereforthecake · 16/07/2021 09:53

Many kids are still going to school in state school! Not fair on them either to have their life and/or holiday ruined by some shrieking individuals.

Kids have rights to enjoy themselves too, noise is not necessary.

LadyPoison · 16/07/2021 09:54

@StylishMummy

There's literally 0 chance I'd curtail my holiday activities for some random who's also on holiday. I wouldn't allow my children to 'shriek' or scream etc, but the hot tub, being in the pool and the rest being limited to certain items? I'd laugh in your face - why is your right to enjoyment trumping theirs?
Probably because your "right to enjoyment" is impacting heavily on others and YOU are trumping their right to enjoyment.
Didiusfalco · 16/07/2021 09:55

I think unfortunately you have to live with it. It’s not loud music until 4.00am or weed smoke, or destruction of the property. It’s family noise within normal hours. It’s horrible when you’re expecting peace but I don’t think they’re actually doing anything wrong.

UrAWizHarry · 16/07/2021 09:56

The OP has made no indication that they are staying in air bnbs in otherwise residential areas.

A holiday home to me is a lodge or something in a holiday park.

Kids make noise on holiday, if you can't put up with that don't go to places where other people are going to be.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 16/07/2021 09:56

But what do you expecting the letting agent to do?

Tell them they're not allowed to use the facilities they've presumably paid a LOT of money for too?

Sorry but if you don't have the balls to ask them to quieten down a bit then you'll just have to put with it.

FrownedUpon · 16/07/2021 09:59

I feel for you. Kids screaming & screeching is ridiculous. So many parents just don’t care & it’s so selfish. We always book in quiet areas, detached house. Sorry your holiday is being spoiled.

Viviennemary · 16/07/2021 10:04

If I was the letting agent I would say tone down the noise. If they didn't they would be evicted. Or I would drain the pool and disconnect the hot tub.

stonebrambleboy · 16/07/2021 10:07

Just be glad it's not 6 am.

ahoyshipmates · 16/07/2021 10:08

Being excited and making the most of your holiday doesn't excuse a total lack of consideration towards other people.

MzHz · 16/07/2021 10:09

This is why I’d not go on a uk holiday this year, it’s bound to be crammed with the braying classes who are usually poshing about in Greece etc

For our first holiday together My (posh) oh took us to where he’s been for years and years and I was appalled at how appallingly noisy, entitled and embarrassing the posh Brit shires set are.

It was clear that the entire Surrey lot would descend on Cornwall for the summer.

You have my sympathy, writing was pretty much on the wall a while back

Yes, speak to letting agent

They won’t necessarily know it’s you anyway

iamtopazmortmain · 16/07/2021 10:10

I can assure you that holiday homes are not all on holiday parks. They are on my street and the bane of my life in the summer. Noise, rubbish strewn across the round, inconsiderate parking......

Some people are lovely when they come here on holiday.. They stop and chat, are happy to be on holiday enjoying this beautiful part of the world, are considerate about noise when using the garden. Other people.... not so much.