...its a neighbours one

[Folklore9074]

So me and my partner live in a block of flats and we have had some new neighbours move in to the flat across from ours over the bank holiday weekend.

I accept there is always some noise when it comes to people moving in or out but they were banging around after 11:30 on Saturday and Sunday night with the door to their flat open so that every noise was audible across the hallway. It went on late into the night both nights. We didn't go around to say anything as we figured they were probably on a deadline with the hire van and wanted to get everything wrapped up over the long weekend.

Then last night after 11 I was in my bedroom which is just off the main hallway (so any noise going on in shared areas is easily heard) and it sounded like they had people over - I could hear the front door opening and closing, people going outside for cigarettes, and noisy goodbyes until just before 12. And following that partner could hear clattering and general pissing about until gone 1pm (I had my ear plugs in at this point, would love it if DH could wear them too but its not possible for him).

I get that when you first move into somewhere you probably do make more noise but its really affecting us getting to sleep and putting us on edge. Both me and DH are pretty noise sensitive which doesn't really help, I'm 7 months pregnant too and kind of hormonal.

Anyway hive mind, what should we do if anything? Either go round and chat or post a friendly note through their door asking them to keep it down after 11? Or just leave it as we are planning on selling up soon?

I'm leaning towards the note, DH thinks go round and chat...

Tbh they have only just moved in I would leave it a week or so, let them settle in etc. If it is still going on then maybe a note, possibly but is it really worth the potential fall out if you are moving soon?

I would leave it for a while. AS you say when you first move in somewhere there is always lots to do, and BH weekend they probably had friends round helping before going back to work. Give them a chance!

Anyway you will probably be keeping them awake at all hours in a couple of months with a new baby....

Since they've only just moved in, I'm sure it'll settle down over the next week or so. They'll still be unpacking/setting up/having close friends and family visiting.
If they're still banging around in a week's time I'd probably pop a note through just letting them know that you can hear lots of late night banging.

Your baby will soon be here probably keeping them away during the night so best not make an enemy straight away

I’d be quite careful here if the baby will be there before you move. Babies are very noisy. Some literally cry all night. If you go around now about noise after 11pm you better hope your baby understands that memo.

Yeah, agree with others: too soon, and if you're not understanding of them making noise during their move, you can't expect their understanding of your baby noise.

I understand your anxiety though. Does seem like they could have been more considerate.

Good points everyone - really useful to get an outside perspective.

You are all probably right in saying its too early go round, they've only been in a few days after all. Its just at gone 12 when you really want to sleep it feels like its been forever.

That said excellent point that there will soon be a baby (our first) and we need to keep that in mind. Very likely we need to get used to being awake anyway!

We'll give it a bit longer at least if making excessive noise late at night is a regular thing for them then perhaps we find to find a low key way to address it. Probably a note.

I've only seem them in the hall to say hi to so far, hard to get any sense of what they are like really. The late night chatting in the hallway was inconsiderate and I feel for the downstairs neighbours who's flats they were smoking and talking outside of but I've probably done things without thinking in the past too. They may just not have much of a sense of how sound carries.

I guess we'll give it time, maybe between baby and selling/moving we opt to let this one go... and if so revenge will be mine when the little one arrives

yes, I think the baby is an important consideration! You will be less worried about being kept awake "til gone 1am" in a few weeks..

Be nice and let them settle in.

And if they still take the Michael then allow yourself to absolutely lose your shit with them.

We had issues with neighbours when we lived in our flat. We were really nice to him and so was he to us but he kept pushing it.

Parties, prostitutes (he was married, working down here for work, we heard him making love), coming home drunk really late and putting tv on full blast to fall asleep. This was every night.

Our bedroom was next to his lounge. He made love in the lounge ... unless it was porn he was watching? She sounded like she was loving it.

One night my partner went round during a party (I was heavily pregnant) and really kindly asked them to turn it down. My partner is a reasonable and non confrontational human being. The guy slammed the door in my partners face.

I on the other hand was raised by what I can only describe as a pack of wolves.

One night the neighbour came home blind drunk and switched on the tv and fell asleep. It was around 3am .

I got up, walked into the corridor , slammed the hell out of his walls on the outside, banged on his door, kicked it and screamed. He woke up in a daze and opened the door and said ‘what’s with the racket?, you woke me up’ at which point I just launched a foul mouthed tirade about his parties and his prostitutes. Called him everything under the sun. He screamed back at me and told me women shouldn’t speak to people like that and that I’m no lady.

I scoffed with a scream and continued to say whatever came to my head. I was beyond reasoning with. He slammed the door in my face.

I continued to bang on his walls as I walked back to my apartment . And then went back to bed. My partner told me this will only make things worse.

The neighbour had switched the tv off and we were able to go to sleep. we didn’t hear a peak from him after that . we moved out a few months later.

In hindsight as a heavily pregnant woman at the time I shouldn’t have put myself in that position. However I’m assuming the months of lack of sleep from the prick just got the better of me.

I actually don’t lose my temper and look like I wouldn’t hurt a fly. But desperate times ...

Go round and say hello, introduce yourselves as it's neighbourly to do so. Do not complain about the noise at this point for all the reasons cited above. Though if they mention the noise you can concede with a smile that you heard/ the walls can feel thin sometimes.

Go round there, be friendly. It’s far easier to get compliance from neighbours you know than anonymous strangers.

@Theoccult absolutely love this and good on you, your ex-neighbour sounds like a garbage human. Sometimes people just need to be told!