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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

New neighbours children screaming outside my window constantly

87 replies

Headachewithtwosugars · 27/10/2022 16:17

New neighbour must have moved in opposite me. We live in flats so no garden. Her two children are outside pretty much constantly. I’m half working in the office and the other half at home. I get in at 1.30pm and until around 8pm they are outside all day every day playing/shouting/screaming/making any loud noise that they can manage and I’ve had enough. My husband is the most patient person ever and it’s even annoying him.

I don’t even know what to think because they have every right to play outside… I don’t even know what the solution is. I’m not exaggerating, every 2 seconds one child or the other or both are screaming at the top of their lungs or trying to scare the other one. They are running around like wild animals and I am also slightly concerned about why they never seem to be in their home. Surely they would need to go in for dinner, homework, bath etc. the mum just lets them play out for hours. I’m sure one of the other neighbours next door to her will say something soon enough.

I don’t even know what can be done. Just really getting upset now as it feels like I have no chance to relax. It’s so loud that I couldn’t hear my TV last night. The sound of the washing machine wouldn’t even cover their noise. Has anyone been through this? We don’t share a landlord so I can’t ask him. They are opposite us in a separate building but we are raised up and they play on the landing running up and down. Like I said I know they have the right to play it’s just the loud screaming that’s annoying. I genuinely love children but these children are something else. Should I buy some ear plus, would they even help?

OP posts:
ClocksGoingBackwards · 27/10/2022 16:20

Tell them to stop screaming when they do it. You are an adult and you are allowed to tell children to stop doing things that are irritating. Normal playing noise you have to put up with though. It’s the school holidays so it won’t last much longer, and it’s not their problem that you have chosen to make a residential area into your workplace half the time.

Original poster
Headachewithtwosugars · 27/10/2022 16:21

Ear plugs 🫣

OP posts:
OP83 · 27/10/2022 16:21

You’re not being unreasonable but you will no doubt be bombarded with:

  • “You were a kid once”
  • ”Move someone where there’s no children”
  • ”Children make noise…get over it”

Obviously all these comments will be made by people have no interest in actually parenting their own children and think that everyone should put up with their feral offspring.

You are NOT being unreasonable but I unfortunately, when we lost the ability to discipline other people’s children, we lost a lot of decency in society.

ICanHideButICantRun · 27/10/2022 16:22

And it's not her fault that they have turned the street into a playground!

FrownedUpon · 27/10/2022 16:25

Sounds awful. I’d nip it in the bud now & say something. You have a right to peace & quiet in your own home.

Keyansier · 27/10/2022 16:25

Are they playing outside or on the landing? Outside, no there's nothing you can do about it. On the landing, yes, it's a communal area not their playing ground, and you can even claim it's a health and safety/fire hazard and say you will complain if it continues.

Original poster
Headachewithtwosugars · 27/10/2022 16:28

I start work at 7am and I just catch up on a few bits at home so I usually am done by 3pm. I can hear them but I am not required to make phone calls or anything luckily it’s just computer work. It’s the evenings that are the worst. It’s that when we are trying to settle down and watch some TV or have a conversation my husband and I can’t even do that without their loud noise. I didn’t realise it was school holidays that will explain it. They are probably bored at home and want to play outside. I get it, just wish they would tone down the screams.

OP posts:
Original poster
Headachewithtwosugars · 27/10/2022 16:30

They are playing on the landing running up and down the stairs too.

OP posts:
Original poster
Headachewithtwosugars · 27/10/2022 16:33

My work situation is also temporary as I’m not long back from sick leave so to phase me back in I have been leaving work early and catching up at home. I’ll be going back to full days soon. Obviously they will also be going back to school I’m guessing soon.

OP posts:
RedWingBoots · 27/10/2022 16:36

Do you know or can guess what school they go to?

If so go to Google and find their school holidays and inset days, so you can plan ahead when they will be screaming.

Also as it is winter they are soon unlikely to be out pass 4pm.

Dentistlakes · 27/10/2022 16:40

Are they out there in the dark evenings too? I wonder if the cold weather might drive them inside?

Unfortunately, with people like this you are likely to get a barrage of abuse if you do complain. Parents who let their kids behave this way care very little about those around them and think their children have the right to make as much noise as they like despite the disturbance they are causing to their neighbours. I would try and bide your time. If they are as bad as you say, one of your other neighbours is bound to lose their shit soon and tell them off or complain.

You have my sympathy OP.

sayanythingelse · 27/10/2022 16:44

I sympathize with you. We have a grassed area across from our house that the neighborhood kids play on. Most of them manage to play normally but a couple of them scream like they're being murdered all day long.

DH is firmly in the "kids will be kids" camp but he's not 39 weeks pregnant and stuck at home listening to it all day. Roll on the end of the school holidays!

Original poster
Headachewithtwosugars · 27/10/2022 16:51

Thank you guys. I genuinely wondered if I was being nasty for feeling annoyed. I’m sure another neighbour will say something to the parents. Yes a positive is it will be getting cold and dark earlier very soon so hopefully it won’t go on too long. I can hear them now playing normally… It’s not disturbing me at all. But in about 2 minutes time the screaming will start 🤣.

OP posts:
FarmerRefuted · 27/10/2022 16:55

YANBU to not want them screaming but could it be a temporary situation? If they've just moved in then parents are probably unpacking, sorting out, etc, they probably haven't scoped out where the local parks and play areas are yet, plus its half term.

Maybe give it until Monday/Tuesday when they should be back at school and see what it's like then? If they're still screaming in the walkway at that point then you should stick your head out and, politely, suggest they play without screaming.

DoodlePug · 27/10/2022 16:56

I sympathise. My DS is asd and gets louder and louder until told to quieten down, then it starts again. So we're respectful to our neighbours and ensure we tell him when he's too loud.

They sound like quite young kids, are they being supervised? Possibly mum/dad are trying to wfh during the holidays so can't take them anywhere (not ideal but a reality for many).

I do think it'd be ok to ask them to kerp their voices down. Of course you may have parents round having a go at you for it, not everyone is reasonable.

Solutions? Ear plugs or move. I do quite like ear plugs, I'm asd and very sensitive to noise so put them in when ND kids are playing. There are many types and some are quite comfortable, I like the ones that look like little rubber Christmas trees.

MrsCarson · 27/10/2022 16:57

I get one of those Mosquito noise things that only young ears can hear annoy them away from your flat.

SundownOnTheStair · 27/10/2022 17:02

Don't be so soft. get out there and yell at the top of your voice to them and if the parent comes over, yell louder then her, peppered with a few fucks and blinds.

They'll do it if you let them and if they think you're as soft as shite. Show them you aren't.

Iluvfriends · 27/10/2022 17:02

Parents should be parenting their kids. I would never have allowed my kids to annoy neighbours in that way. There is no need for constant screaming.
My driveway is to the back which is a big rectangle of houses, one way in one way out. Perfect for young kids on their bikes and scooters etc but they also play football and parents bought their son a set of goals which they put in the middle and the dad encourages it, and even joins in now and again. Sound ok so far but here’s the issue…I can’t use my own driveway as the car is getting hit by the ball, sometimes they play this game where they see how high they can kick the ball and then it bounces and I’ve seen it come down on my car roof. I’ve had my outdoor lights broken by a ball too but I don’t feel I can say anything as the parents don’t even ask them to play away from the cars so they obviously don’t care. It’s so frustrating.

Mariposista · 27/10/2022 17:11

Playing is fine. Screaming constantly is not playing, it's been a nuisance and the parents need to step in and stop it.

Mariposista · 27/10/2022 17:12

MrsCarson · 27/10/2022 16:57

I get one of those Mosquito noise things that only young ears can hear annoy them away from your flat.

Brilliant idea

FarmerRefuted · 27/10/2022 17:13

SundownOnTheStair · 27/10/2022 17:02

Don't be so soft. get out there and yell at the top of your voice to them and if the parent comes over, yell louder then her, peppered with a few fucks and blinds.

They'll do it if you let them and if they think you're as soft as shite. Show them you aren't.

Because that's the rational, reasonable way. Scream and swear...

Coucous · 27/10/2022 17:13

It's half term. Get ear plugs and let them be. They are allowed to play. Imagine they were on iPads all day.

FarmerRefuted · 27/10/2022 17:13

Mariposista · 27/10/2022 17:12

Brilliant idea

Show quote history

Adults can hear them too though.

Original poster
Headachewithtwosugars · 27/10/2022 17:14

I’ve never once seen or heard any parent. I have no idea but the flat looks small. So I assumed it might have been a single parent but could be a couple. Literally never heard anyone else out there or seen anyone other than the kids. I know they are coming from that flat as I know the old tenants moved out.

OP posts:
MajesticElephant · 27/10/2022 17:15

MrsCarson · 27/10/2022 16:57

I get one of those Mosquito noise things that only young ears can hear annoy them away from your flat.

Don’t do that - us who have to wear hearing aids also get tortured by them too.