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Original poster

Report neighbours, idling cars on drive

177 replies

Ginglymostomatidae · 12/12/2022 06:48

Our neighbour has 2 prius cars. Instead of taking then for a drive, he'll turn the car on, and let it idle on the drive for around 15 mins each car. Its always at anti social hours and it wakes us everytime.

This morning he done this at 4.20am and I've been awake ever since and I'm exhausted.

He's done this at 2.45am on a Sunday morning before, and nearly always on a weekday. He WFH.

Would you report? And where?

OP posts:
thelobsterquadrille · 12/12/2022 07:29

Cwcwbird · 12/12/2022 07:09

Would people really idle their cars at those unsociable hours to defrost them? I'd use a scraper to be as quiet as possible if it was the mode of the night.

Yes, because a scraper doesn't always work properly if it's frozen, and I also need to clear the inside glass to make it safe to drive!

Athenen0ctua · 12/12/2022 07:29

JemimaTiggywinkles · 12/12/2022 07:27

I use a scraper to make it quicker, but have the engine on while I do. Otherwise the car is free of ice but the windscreen is misted up so it’d be dangerous to drive. I go to work at normal times though, so hopefully it doesn’t annoy the neighbours too much!

Show quote history

Yes, I'm doing it just before 8 when other neighbours are also doing it. Before 6 is antisocial but may be unavoidable if you work an early shift.

Aprilx · 12/12/2022 07:31

Cwcwbird · 12/12/2022 07:09

Would people really idle their cars at those unsociable hours to defrost them? I'd use a scraper to be as quiet as possible if it was the mode of the night.

I wouldn’t get up in the middle of the night to defrost my car and then go back to bed. But if I had to drive somewhere at that time, then yes I would, I cannot see what the alternative would be.

Cwcwbird · 12/12/2022 07:31

If you're scraping while idling you're probably only a couple of minutes which is a bit different to 15 minutes. I have a sponge thing for the inside and it doesn't seem to mist back up after. But maybe that's because I'm dead inside.

Whatsthestorytomorrow · 12/12/2022 07:31

Cwcwbird · 12/12/2022 07:09

Would people really idle their cars at those unsociable hours to defrost them? I'd use a scraper to be as quiet as possible if it was the mode of the night.

Scrapers aren’t quiet when you are scraping ice.
I always feel awful scraping mine at 6:30 am but I need to get to work so has to be done.
I can hear my neighbour scraping theirs when I’m off, it’s just one of those things, but it’s definitely not quiet.

ReneBumsWombats · 12/12/2022 07:31

Vallmo47 · 12/12/2022 06:52

I would post an anonymous letter before reporting, letting them know the next time it’s done during anti social hours (believe this is 11pm-7am?) it will get reported. And then literally report it the next time it happens, no second thought. Sorry Op, what a moron.

Why would you not talk to him directly?

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 12/12/2022 07:33

Cwcwbird · 12/12/2022 07:09

Would people really idle their cars at those unsociable hours to defrost them? I'd use a scraper to be as quiet as possible if it was the mode of the night.

I do as I go to the gym at 5am. Can't drive with misty windows.

Name99 · 12/12/2022 07:34

If he works from home, why is he dicing his car at that time?

ReluctantCourier · 12/12/2022 07:34

Best off doing anonymous notes to every house except his asking if other people are annoyed and just wait for one of those people to tell him

thelobsterquadrille · 12/12/2022 07:34

Cwcwbird · 12/12/2022 07:31

If you're scraping while idling you're probably only a couple of minutes which is a bit different to 15 minutes. I have a sponge thing for the inside and it doesn't seem to mist back up after. But maybe that's because I'm dead inside.

It took me a good ten minutes yesterday to get my car safe to drive, and that was with the engine idling and me using a hot water bottle held over the screen to melt the ice.

It was -3 and it'll only be worse today as jrs -6 out there 🥶

DrMarciaFieldstone · 12/12/2022 07:35

Who on earth do you think you can report this to?

Original poster
Ginglymostomatidae · 12/12/2022 07:35

I have mentioned it - he tells me he has to, because of the engine. He's been doing this every week, for the 3 years we've lived here.

He works from home. He rarely leaves the house.

It does make a noise, as explained above, it's a hybrid.

It waskes us, because we live in bungalows, and the nature of his drive means its right next to my bedroom window

OP posts:
Original poster
Ginglymostomatidae · 12/12/2022 07:36

DrMarciaFieldstone · 12/12/2022 07:35

Who on earth do you think you can report this to?

This is why I'm asking on here.

OP posts:
HelpMeGetThrough · 12/12/2022 07:38

This is why I'm asking on here.

You can't report it to anyone. It's on his drive, so he isn't breaking any laws.

yesforone · 12/12/2022 07:38

The last time I asked someone to stop idling their car outside our school (in the Summer heatwave ) I was told to F off. The sort of people who idle their cars unnecessarily are not the sort you can reason with /educate . I wouldn’t bother OP.

123woop · 12/12/2022 07:38

Maybe keep a diary and report to environmental health at the council?

Ricco12 · 12/12/2022 07:40

If he isn't driving off in it is work's unusual hours tell him can he please only do it during normal working hours 9-5 as people are asleep and it's waking them up

FleasNavidad · 12/12/2022 07:41

What does he say happens to the engine if he dies it at 8am instead of 4am?

IWantToBeACat · 12/12/2022 07:45

Ginglymostomatidae · 12/12/2022 07:35

I have mentioned it - he tells me he has to, because of the engine. He's been doing this every week, for the 3 years we've lived here.

He works from home. He rarely leaves the house.

It does make a noise, as explained above, it's a hybrid.

It waskes us, because we live in bungalows, and the nature of his drive means its right next to my bedroom window

I think you need to be a bit firmer than just mentioning it. Ask him why he has to do it at that time instead of during the day? Tell him it wakes you up and that he is being inconsiderate. Be very insistent at how it is impacting you and how un-neighbourly he is being. And insist he gives you a good reason why he needs to do it at 4.20am.

RudsyFarmer · 12/12/2022 07:46

I wear wax earplugs every night and I hear nothing. I can recommend.

BMW6 · 12/12/2022 07:46

So he doesn't need to do it to get to work as he WFH? He's doing it as some kind of engine maintenance?

Is so, you've asked him nicely and he's being a knob. If you have an idea which room he works in I'd be playing bagpipe music loudly on the other side of his wall and wait for HIS complaint then offer a deal.........

Adviceneeded200 · 12/12/2022 07:47

Is he idling it or is it recharging. Our neighbour has two electric vehicles and we can hear a fan regularly in the early morning and it's linked to the recharging process

LlynTegid · 12/12/2022 07:47

If the car is open whilst this happens, just get in once and turn the engine off, or move it one yard.

Blinky21 · 12/12/2022 07:52

If it's a noise nuisance you should report it to the local council. There are no such thing as 'anti social hours' when it comes to noise nuisance and you can report noise happening at any time, your local authority has to investigate. Most will start by sending a letter to the offender asking them to stop. Whether it's legal or not is irrelevant, it's a civil matter, that the council should deal with as ASB, not a police matter. Consider asking your other neighbours to also complain if it disturbs them, you don't have to put up with it.

ABBAsnumberonefan · 12/12/2022 07:56

Ricco12 · 12/12/2022 07:40

If he isn't driving off in it is work's unusual hours tell him can he please only do it during normal working hours 9-5 as people are asleep and it's waking them up

It’s actually 7am-11pm during the week you can make noise so to speak to that would just be laughed at. When I was in the office I had to leave at 6:30am - would you have reported me for getting to my place of work?