Neighbours keep ringing my bell

[Katie1012]

My neighbours upstairs have recently got into a habit of ringing my doorbell at night to be let in in the communal door (I live in a converted house). I am sure there’s someone in their flat as they have a baby. I have my own toddler and the last time I answered I was in my pyjamas looking very tired and my daughter awake because of them. They apologised and said they forgot their keys which doesn’t make sense as the door locks after it’s shut which supports the fact that someone’s is at their flat to open it. it’s happened again few nights ago, with them ringing it twice. it’s just getting on my nerves as they keep waking my toddler who’s not the easiest to get to sleep.

If you're not expecting anyone then don't answer.

Definitely not being unreasonable! If they forgot their keys then someone is obviously in the flat to let them in otherwise they would be stuck in the communal hallway.
Not answering isn’t really an option as they would still be ringing and waking your toddler. You will need to chat to them and say they can’t ring your bell and wake your baby because they don’t want to wake their own. If they keep forgetting their keys they need to deal with the consequences within their own family.

If you don’t get a lot of deliveries, put a ‘doorbell not working’ sign next to it.
And stop answering at night when you aren’t expecting anyone.

I would just tell them this does not work for you for the reasons you state here

I'd be polite but assertive and tell them it really can't continue as its impacting on your toddler's sleep too much . I think they're being v rude

Can you turn your doorbell off at nighttime? Like unplug the sound or something? I wouldn't open the door at night if I wasn't expecting anyone so you might as well stop it disturbing you. If you don't let them in they'll stop trying it. It's incredibly rude of them though!

Don’t answer and they will soon stop.

YABU opening the door and not telling them NOT to do it again.

Stop answering.

Also sometimes you can put something over the doorbell speaker to dampen the sound.

Can you switch off your door buzzer from inside your flat? I used to live on the ground floor of a building and so my buzzer was often used as the go to ‘let me in’ one. Unless I was expecting someone I had it switched off. If I had an unexpected visitor they usually phoned or text to say I’m outside

Stop answering the door. They’ll soon stop forgetting their keys. What if you were out, or away?

Don’t answer it if you know it’s them

Unplug the bell or remove the battery at bed time & have a good night's sleep. I wouldn't feel even slightly responsible about not answering. You could tell them first if you felt like it... but if it genuinely was a once off with gushing apology then they should have ensured it never happened again.

Next time it happens tell them to please stop disturbing you as it wakes the baby and that, in future, you won't be answering. Smile sweetly and shut your door.

Next time it happens don’t answer. Agree with disconnecting the bell each night (though you shouldn’t have to). If they start hammering on the communal door/bellowing, have you got a hosepipe?

Did you say anything at all to suggest you weren’t impressed?

I live in a block of flats and work from home a lot so i always had peole rining my bell for all kinds of reasons. I just deactivated it and only plug it in if I'm expecting someone.

Oh hell no. I'd return the favour many times over. How bloody rude when they clearly know you've a child too. I'd ring their door right back and be telling them exactly why. Arseholes

You have to physically open the door rather than just ‘buzz’ them in?
They are incredibly selfish to ask you to leave your own flat to accommodate their lack of planning.
Can you disable your bell from inside your flat? If so that would stop them disturbing you during the night. I realise that is not an ideal solution as you need to remember to turn it off and then back on in the morning.
Does the layout of the building make it possible for them to knock on your window if they can’t use the bell?
Do you rent or own? Maybe the landlord or freeholder could provide them with an extra key?

How do they get into their actual flat?

The are disturbing you to save disturbing whoever is in their house??? That is ridiculous. Also more than once?? So thoughtless. I would not be answering to them again.

If you disabled your bell would they still be able to knock on your door? If so you need to have a frank discussion with them and tell them you will not be letting them in no matter how many times they ring or knock.

Op, as many have said, I'd disconnect at bed times if I could. Also, if they repeatedly say they 'forgot' their keys, I'd lean over and give a good long, hard ring their doorbell and say "I'm sure someone is up there'.

If they wake your toddler anyway just let them do it 3 times more when you don't answer and they will stop. They are ringing your bell to avoid waking the child in their flat with the nanny/carer. They are selfish idiots so just ignore and they will stop..