New neighbours children screaming outside my window constantly

[Headachewithtwosugars]

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?

There is a big difference between kids just playing and kids screaming loudly non stop for hours on end

It's half term
Next week they'll be at school all day
Soon it will be too cold to be outside
Houses/flats and the spaces outside them weren't built with the knowledge that from 2020 onwards people would be inside them working on computers instead of going out to work.

Try just asking them to be quieter when near your flat rather than almost any of the batshit suggestions above.

Chuck a stink bomb onto the landing

This. It's Thursday of autumn half term. They'll be back in school on Monday, and then it'll be too cold and dark in the evenings for much playing outside.

You could go and say hello, then ask them to keep it down, or you could wait until Monday when it should improve. Or both. Either way, it should solve itself shortly. 🙂

If they're playing on the landing then fit one of those sonic cat deterrents outside your front door. They transmit a frequency which is uncomfortable for small animals & children.

How old are they? Did I miss that in the OP?

Play Mozart loudly. Or Barry Manilow ( that works well with teenagers)

If y try hey don't like the music playing they will swiftly find somewhere else, hopefully permanently

They aren't that sonic unfortunately and if other quieter residents have children it's plain nasty.

OP check when they are playing - if you

Posted to soon -

If you can see check the children are playing safely e.g. not accessing the bin area. If not kick up a fuss to management and SS that they aren't being supervised, so putting themselves in danger.

I don't think there is anything you can do OP. Children playing constitutes reasonable noise. Contact your leaseholder maybe? But I really don't think you'll get any action taken. I used to live on an estate where this was an issue and the complainants were completely ignored. On the plus side children do grow up.

I had this from neighbours for ages, literally screaming. We eventually went round and politely complained. Luckily the parents took them inside.

If they’re on the landing/stairs of your building, can you go and tell them they can’t play there? I’d tell them just that like it was just the way of things ie ‘you can’t be here’. I would definitely be knocking on the door to speak to the parent, or it won’t change then you have 6 weeks of summer to look forward to!

It’s not my building they are separate flats like the ones that back on to a high street. I will see how it goes and obviously if it doesn’t improve or they are being disruptive late I will go around and speak to the mum. I’ve seen her now for the first time all week. She did come out once to put the bin out.

I'd ask the children to stop screaming. And possibly also to stop running around on the landing. You can say it really nicely to them. I had similar where I live with kids running around on our landing - the noise was amplified due to the structure of the building and the unintentional banging on the handrail was unbearably loud. I went out and had a chat with the kids and asked them to play somewhere else and that was the end of it.
I'd also approach the mum and explain that you understand they don't have a garden etc and that you don't mind them playing but please could she ask them not to scream and also not to run around the landing.
Just make it clear it's not the playing that you want to stop, but the screaming.

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

Stern voice, stern face and "stop doing that" every time.

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.

why not? Tell them how much they owe you for repairs

Children playing including screaming while playing isn't a noise nuisance so it isn't something you can complain about

Children playing and not being supervised so accessing an unsafe area/doing unsafe things you should complain about asap.

You also should tell the children yourself to stop accessing that unsafe area/doing those unsafe things if you see them doing it.

Um, I'm sure no one is suggesting contacting police or social services unless you spot any worrying signs
OP. If they are well fed, no bruises etc it would be an epic overreaction to suggest they are being neglected because they are playing noisily outside.

Noise cancelling headphones is your immediate friend in this.
However, I'm sure that other neighbours must feel the same as you. Maybe a few gentle enquiries?

The fact is that some parents feel their kids right to run around other peoples property, scream noisily and disturb neighbours trumps neighbours right to a quiet peaceful home life. I've seen parents allow kids to kick footballs in areas where signs clearly say 'no ball games' or in streets where cars are parked legally! It's lazy parenting and obviously teach children no to respect rules or other peoples property.

I do not understand why someone - who does not bother others (by working from home) has to feel guilty for doing so or put up with uncivilised creatures. No one said that kids should not play, they should... in playgrounds and parks! If anyone had the right to do whatever they wanted, we would still be living in caves / jungles etc. We either respect each other so we can coexist or do not. Which world do you want to live in?

only someone who scratches themselves daily (a lazy one basically who never studied, worked & just lives of others) could find miserable the fact that people have the right and the need to relax after in their homes, especially being in a demanding role/studying etc

I've got 3 dc who loved to scream etc I honestly dont know why as me and dh are naturally very quiet. They aren't as bad now but still very noisy. We take steps so they dont piss off the street ( closed windows always supervised in communal garden etc) Including getting told off.
Some children are naturally noisy but strps can be taken to stop it.

Send a letter in the post.

🧟‍♂️

I’m sure another neighbour will say something to the parents.

Can't you be that neighbour? I mean, to point out the obvious, if everyone is thinking this then no one will say anything...