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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you live in a terraced house, how much do you hear your neighbours?

151 replies

Cheapcookies · 18/04/2023 07:02

I am fed up of living in a terraced house but can't afford to move to a detached.

We don't hear from one side at all.
The other side I can hear all day...from about 6am, screaming children (I know kids make noise, I have them too), crashing about, the dog barks all day, weekends can include a lot of banging...I don't know if I am becoming less tolerant of it or what but is this the norm for a terraced house? MIL lives in one and I can never hear her neighbours.

We had a house sitter in a while ago and they were shocked by the level of noise from that side (I did warn them so they could try and mask some of the noise so it does not unsettled our own dog, mainly the barking, as there is only so much the poor lad can take).

I know that with terraces come neighbour noise and they will be able to hear us sometimes as well (hopefully not 6am!) but what is the general experience?

Also not a new build house with thin walls. I will also clarify that the children are not babies crying, which of course I'd understand.

OP posts:
Aquarius1234 · 19/04/2023 23:04

Barleysugar86 · 19/04/2023 21:35

We didn't hear much until new neighbour moved in who likes to play music. She's lovely but it really carries. She turns it down if I text to ask but I can still hear it even then, but don't want to make her feel uncomfortable in her own home either.

You text your neighbours?

Aquarius1234 · 19/04/2023 23:05

^ I don't have either of my neighbours numbers..

TheOrigRights · 20/04/2023 08:23

Aquarius1234 · 19/04/2023 23:05

^ I don't have either of my neighbours numbers..

Surely you can understand that some people do have their neighbours' mobile numbers and that they use them to communicate with?

I live in a row of terrace houses, 2 sides of a square. Of the 8 houses I have 6 of their numbers. One of the others I haven't met properly yet and the other doesn't make eye contact with me so we've never really said more than a nod hello.
I don't think this is at all unusual. I communicate to varying degrees depending on our friendship i.e. actual friends, friendly neighbour or someone to keep informed if relevant.

cobblers123 · 20/04/2023 08:33

I have phone numbers of one side of me,

Originally, numbers were exchanged when I was in hospital and they told me to phone them if I needed any help.

I get on well with my neighbours that side, the other side hasn't been there long and is away a lot so only know him to say hello and the very occasional chat.

shivawn · 20/04/2023 08:36

Nothing. I think a bomb would have to go off before we'd hear anything.

1940's house with thick stone walls.....terrible for insulation but great for sound proofing.

DelilahBucket · 20/04/2023 08:55

Constantly. We didn't hear the previous neighbour but the new family, the dad stomps around constantly, cannot close a door without slamming it and he smokes so is in and out like a yo-yo. Our walls vibrate every time he shuts a door. We have a mirror on the joining wall and one of these days it's going to fall off.
Add to that they have a dog who barks at all hours (not fun at 1:30am when he then gets up to deal with it, cue door slamming and stomping) and when it is home alone it howls. I hate being at home since they moved in. He does work away sometimes though and it is bliss because it's quiet again with just mum and kids there. Don't even hear the kids unless they have friends over and they are running around.
A bit of noise is to be expected, it's when it's constant that it's draining. I'm so glad I don't work at home anymore. They moved in during lockdown and DS was home schooling. He couldn't cope listening to them all day so I begged school to take him as his mental health was really suffering. Luckily they did.
All that said, I used to live in a back to back with mum and son behind mine. She used to scream and shout at him constantly. It was awful.

Barleysugar86 · 20/04/2023 16:31

Aquarius1234 · 19/04/2023 23:04

You text your neighbours?

Show quote history

Haha yes. Numbers were usually swapped so we can let each other know when we've taken in a parcel for the other one but it's proven really useful for other things (asking if they also have a power cut/ no virgin internet/ them warning us they were having new windows fitted the next day etc.).

CurlyTop1980 · 20/04/2023 16:34

We used to live in a massionette with neighbours below and both sides of us. It was hell. I could t wait to move out. I really sympathise with you.

BiscoffAnythingIsTheWayForward · 20/04/2023 16:38

We’re an end terraces, brick built. Our neighbour is a single music teacher. We only hear him when in the bathroom and going up and down the stairs, slamming doors, that sort of thing. My youngest is autistic and his bedroom adjoins next doors bathroom. He is also a terrible sleeper and very noise sensitive, and you could hear everything through the wall EVERYTHING. We attached a framework to the wall, put a layer of soundproofing rock wool in-between the frame against the wall and attached plasterboard and wallpaper. It honestly has made such a difference to what we hear through the wall. We can hear some sound but it’s a very toned down and muffled version of what we could hear before and his noise doesn’t wake my son as much as it did. I wish we’d done it sooner tbh for the cost.

BiscoffAnythingIsTheWayForward · 20/04/2023 16:39

I mentioned music teacher because of the sound 😆

whirlyhead · 20/04/2023 16:44

Victorian terrace here with a baby on one side and young kids on both. I never hear anything. Both sets of neighbours are very nice (and knackered due to young kids).

I lived in detached houses for years but I like terraces. Much harder to break into and cheaper to heat due to the neighbours.

Greensleeves · 20/04/2023 16:45

One side - hardly ever. Only hear them if there's a Liverpool match on, or occasionally when they have a family row.

Other side - they are literally the noisiest family in the world Grin

  • he works from home as some sort of metalworker, in specially built workshops right by my fence;
  • they are DIYing the shit out of their house and garden and have been for several years now
  • they have two VERY shrieky kids with lots of friends, hot tub on the patio and trampoline right by my fence
  • they have a very noisy dog, and they both manage this by shouting at it/the kids/life in general
  • they have enormous parties every weekend

I don't actually mind the noise much. I'm quite tolerant, the kids especially I quite like hearing them playing, and both my neighbours are OK with BBQs and firepits, which works for me. If I want to do actual work in the garden and it's full-on chaos next door, I use earplugs, but most of the time it's fine. I think some of our other neighbours may be a bit more dubious (but they probably don't like us either!)

QueefQueen80s · 20/04/2023 17:29

It has differed, it depends on the people. Some people are really loud.. booming voices, slamming doors, moving round like a bull in a china shop, dramatic arguments.. it's their natural way but so inconsiderate when you live in a terrace.

Friarclose · 20/04/2023 18:39

We live mid terrace, built this year. Don't hear anything, the odd bang or bump if they're doing DIY.

Lived in a Victorian terrace before and heard everything, it was awful

StrangeSally · 20/04/2023 19:22

Yeah one side are absolutely cunts but the other side can't hear, I just put my noise cancelling machine next to their wall on full blast, seems to do the trick

HuggingtheHRT · 20/04/2023 19:25

We never heard our neighbours at all until they ripped all their carpets out and got hardwood floors, suddenly all we could hear was them. Drove us crazy.

Mimilamore · 20/04/2023 20:03

One side, only when DIY happening (rare) or when a loud, friend visits (rare) but the other side..... first people who have lived there who have been so very, very LOUD... I call her Peggy Mount ( only older MN users will know) and when the " boyfriend " joins her.... triple decibels. Lots of effing and jeffing and children shouted at constantly. Well the garden will be fun as when they are out there, the fence may as well come down and the party walk come that! Don't suppose it will be forever🤞🏻

StrangeSally · 21/04/2023 18:51

I hear everything,we live in a new build, we might as well tear the walls down and just live with them,cos we hear all their arguments, discussions etc, presumably they can hear ours , being autistic I want to murder them but have to chill lol 😂

Aquarius1234 · 21/04/2023 23:21

StrangeSally · 21/04/2023 18:51

I hear everything,we live in a new build, we might as well tear the walls down and just live with them,cos we hear all their arguments, discussions etc, presumably they can hear ours , being autistic I want to murder them but have to chill lol 😂

Lol its weird when your so close you could touch them. Yet you can't see anything.

Aquarius1234 · 21/04/2023 23:23

Mine has the tv on loud atm and mines off... irritating. Tho I have no idea if I have my volume that loud either. Don't think so.

Catstaps · 09/06/2023 21:36

I live in a semi and never heard the previous neighbours. Then the noisy family moved in. Knocked a wall down put in wood flooring and plastered walls to create an echo chamber. She shouts not talks and seems to constantly cough. Kid screams runs around drives me insane. I had soundproofing wall done in living room which has improved the situation but I can still here them in adjoining dining room. I feel sorry for anyone with this issue. I spoke to them nicely about it but she said she wasn’t bothered and now they don’t speak. I’m afraid a lot of people now have no respect for others.

Stormyforcast · 09/06/2023 21:40

we're in a new build and no noise at all really.

one plays lots of music (we hear when windows are open) and other enjoys diy and hear barely anything - possibly a slight murmor when they're drilling / hammering on our connected wall.

we have a toddler and they say they don't hear us either in the house.
(garden is another matter but they don't mind child play noises thankfully)

we're very grateful - the houses we've got said they had sound insulation type stuff, and nearly a year in we're very impressed. (no idea what it is)

cadburyegg · 09/06/2023 21:41

We are in a semi and our neighbours have 3 small dogs so I do hear them barking now and again but it's not an issue. Very rarely I'll hear them talking or the tv etc. Often in the summer they have garden parties and bbqs which can be noisy but it's not that often. I have 2 kids who can be pretty loud so I'm pretty sure it evens out

BadgerFacedCoo · 09/06/2023 21:49

Loads. They're loud.

They're a family with a teen and a young child with SN and we have the same.

They're night owls and we're early birds.
My kids sleep through their kids late night shenanigans and I don't let my kids in the garden before 9am so we all live and let live.

ItsJustNotHappening · 09/06/2023 22:36

Loud music. Every single weekend. I’m thinking of giving up my HA house because of it. Last weekend it went on until 1.30am on Saturday morning and 3am on Sunday morning. After almost two years of this it’s making me ill. I can’t sleep until it goes off. I’m sick of it.