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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Wind chimes that neighbour refuses to move

158 replies

Fumblebug · 12/07/2022 16:54

Yes, it's another AIBU about wind chimes. We politely asked our neighbours to move their wind chimes as we could hear them clearly in our garden and in our house with the windows or doors open (these aren't the little tinkly chimes but the big resonant tubular bells – Mike Oldfield would be proud). The neighbours were quite hostile but did move them – about two feet from where they had previously been. We could still hear them although slightly less frequently. We politely asked again but they were very aggressive, accused us of harassing them, and cut off all contact with us. The wind chimes remain. We can still hear them even on slightly breezy days. We can't leave our bedroom window open at night as the sound carries right into our room, which is especially frustrating during this hot weather. We've been quite distressed and frustrated and can't enjoy our house and garden like we used to. I guess some people might think we are being unreasonable – it's only a musical noise right? not a barking dog or anything – but this really is a problem for us. We've considered contacting the council about nuisance noise but this might be very provocative and also hard to prove. What should we do?

OP posts:
CavernousScream · 12/07/2022 16:56

My neighbour has wind chimes but I think they sound quite nice? The most likely solution is for you to find a way to adjust to the noise.

Yodaisawally · 12/07/2022 16:56

I don't know but it would piss me right off too.

saveforthat · 12/07/2022 16:57

Could you accidentally damage/destroy/lose them when they are out one day?

PuckeredArseFace · 12/07/2022 16:58

That would drive me mad. I feel your pain
If I was queen I'd ban the bastards

VincaBlue · 12/07/2022 17:00

Yanbu. Especially as it affects your sleep. Someone thinking their "need" for wind chimes is more important than a neighbour being able to sleep and enjoy their home and garden is really selfish

Minikievs · 12/07/2022 17:01

I had this in my old house a few years back. One of my other neighbours and I had too many rose wines in the garden one day and cut them down in the end. You have my sympathies.
I don't understand the pp saying get used to them. No! Why should you?! Why should someone else's choice to have them affect you on a daily basis?! I hate the fucking things. So selfish.

Tyrtle · 12/07/2022 17:01

A fairly far away neighbour had wind chimes (that I liked ) and I could hear them even though they weren’t next door. So how far away were you expecting them to move them for it to make a difference?

Maybe if they were right next to my bedroom window I would be annoyed (and would plot to reach out and take them down!)

Fumblebug · 12/07/2022 17:02

Believe me, we’ve tried! But how do you adjust to a noise that demands your attention? Genuine question, if you have any advice I’m open to it!

OP posts:
VincaBlue · 12/07/2022 17:02

I briefly considered buying some and then didn't for the exact reason that it would be annoying for neighbours. OK if you live far from neighbours!

IGotItInTheSales · 12/07/2022 17:02

Bit of superglue....

BlackbirdsSinging · 12/07/2022 17:02

The neighbours are selfish and inconsiderate. Why would they think other people would want to listen to the chines?

ClaudiaWankleman · 12/07/2022 17:02

They're one of those things that you have to put up with - it's annoying and they might be being unneighbourly, but that's not a crime. Unless they're large cymbals I doubt they'd get anywhere near the threshold of being a nuisance noise.

user850301848172 · 12/07/2022 17:02

This reminds me of a previous neighbour I had who hung them on her front door and also had them in her garden.

The noise goes through me.

I didn't ask her to take them down but the noise still haunts me 14 years later.

Wombat27A · 12/07/2022 17:05

It's like a horror movie soundtrack.

Problem with them is the lack of control over the intrusive noise.

Our neighbours have them & are rarely in their garden. We are here all the time.

Hugasauras · 12/07/2022 17:06

Wind chimes are the devil's work

Fumblebug · 12/07/2022 17:06

That’s what I thought. I’m not sure what that threshold is or how it would be measured. I guess we could always buy our own and out-jangle them but in all conscience I would hate to do that to my other neighbours!

OP posts:
Thwomp · 12/07/2022 17:06

Selfish neighbours. As they’re not even willing to discuss it, you might as well get the council involved. There are a few Daily Mail sad-face stories about with entitled assholes moaning that the council have BANNED their wind chimes, so hopefully it’ll work for you too.

Fumblebug · 12/07/2022 17:10

Ha ha! I’m sure they would know it was us. And I don’t want to break the law. But thanks for the words of support :-D

OP posts:
suckingonchillidogs · 12/07/2022 17:10

Sympathies OP - the most fucking inane invention ever.

Fumblebug · 12/07/2022 17:12

I guess I was hoping we could come to some sort of compromise tbh. Maybe move them behind a fence? Or take them down when they’re not in the garden?

OP posts:
Fumblebug · 12/07/2022 17:13

Ha ha! You’re very brave! What was the outcome?

OP posts:
VincaBlue · 12/07/2022 17:14

Fumblebug · 12/07/2022 17:06

That’s what I thought. I’m not sure what that threshold is or how it would be measured. I guess we could always buy our own and out-jangle them but in all conscience I would hate to do that to my other neighbours!

As relations have broken down maybe you could knock on their wall every time the jangling annoys you. That way it doesn't bother the other neighbours. If it's fine for you to listen to their jangling it's fine for them to listen to your knocking

Pinot4me · 12/07/2022 17:17

How dreadful. I absolutely hate wind chimes.. there’s no getting away from the noise. I’m so sorry for you OP!

Fumblebug · 12/07/2022 17:17

We’re not attached unfortunately (or
maybe fortunately!).

OP posts:
Notanotherwindow · 12/07/2022 17:17

Sneak in under cover of darkness and smear melted chocolate on the inside. This will attract every wasp within a mile radius and not knowing why, they will swiftly dispose of them.