to say 2am is too late??

[ItalianWays]

We live on the corner of a new build development. There are two old cottages just beyond the edge of our garden. Last year a couple of months after we moved in, the occupant of one of them delivered notes to us and the neighbours saying he would be having a 40th party with music on the garden but they would be moving the music in doors at 11pm, we were welcome to join him for drinks between 4&5pm that evening and here’s his phone number in case of problems.

I could not go for drinks because of childcare and the music went on, very loudly (the guy is an event organiser and had a professional sound system and stage set up!) beyond his cut off time. At 1am I texted him to ask to turn it down a bit but got no answer and it eventually went indoors at 2am. The following morning he texted to apologise and said it had all got out of hand.

On Friday night this week he had another birthday party (not his I don’t think) in the garden. No note this time, not such a big production but there was music loud enough that we could hear it clearly. Again though the music went on very late and our bedrooms face their garden. At 1.55am I texted him “dear X, it is 1.55am, we are trying to sleep, is it time to turn the music down?” No reply although the music did stop shortly afterwards.

Yesterday morning I had a very aggressive text from the man. He said that I had complained last year even when I had been informed, that I should cut him some slack because the noise of our house being built had disturbed him for months, that if my house wasn’t a flat pack new build with * insulation then his music (which he said was from an Amazon Dot, I don’t know what that is) is not a problem.

I replied (no swearing) to say I was sorry about the noise but we didn’t own the house at the time so we had no control over the builders, that yes he had informed us last year but he then ignored his own promises, and any people reasonable would think 2am is too late for loud music in a residential area.

Then he said “And blocked”.

Now I am worried what to do? Was I U to complain?

TBF his ‘and blocked’ response tells you all you need to know, I wouldn’t want neighbourly relations with such a tool.

Not unreasonable to complain, especially given his response. No-one should just accept bad things or actions from neighbours out of some desire never to fall out with them.

I'd do nothing more if all you get is no more conversation with him. If more parties come along (unlikely I expect) then council noise complaints if they go beyond midnight I suggest.

It's once a year. I would block you too.

What I would be tempted to do would be to blare equally loud music towards his house from 6am in the morning after any night when he has a late party.

It's only once a year or so, I'm sure he won't mind.

If it's once a year then that's part of living with other people. however his texts were hilarious and he was clearly still drunk with his pals egging him on, especially the 'And blocked'. Hopefully he'll be cringing through the beer fear today.

I wouldn't give it another thought.

Is it? He had a party for his own birthday, then this party for something else. How do we know that he isn't going to have another birthday party this year, etc etc? If he's gone to all the trouble of getting professional quality sound systems, he's going to want to use them.

OP, if this does become any more regular you will need to contact the council's noise control people. I suspect you weren't the only neighbours asking him to keep it quiet after midnight.

One party a year and you're complaining....seriously???

40th was last year, then this Friday's party. That's 1 per year.
You can't start moaning about hypothetical potential parties that haven't happened.

YABU A party once a year on a Saturday evening is not unreasonable. Maybe you could try and think of some fun things to do with your life!

Once a year? Dear god let it go.

It's once a year. You are being a massive grumps!

One late night a year is not an issue. Yes he should have let you know but it’s not unreasonable.

I wouldn't complain about noise once a year, I think you are being unreasonable.
My next door neighbour, we live in a semi, has a big birthday party every year. It goes on until around 5am with loud music. Other than that they're great to have next door and we never hear them. I can't begrudge them one night of noise.

Also you’re message was really condescending like a teacher telling off, that would get my back up

I'm assuming you don't think there's any other neighbours around that would be disturbed.

I'd object far more to revenge 6am music than a one off party at 2am.

It's not unreasonable to text someone at 2am to ask them to take the music inside ffs

Op hasn't called the police, or asked him to stop his party. She's asked him to keep it down because it's the middle of the night. That's fair enough

I don't think its ever reasonable to play music in your garden at 2am. 40th birthday or not. At that point you take it inside

He's a right knob. He said he would be considerate of you and then wasn't. And has now blocked you. Shows he doesn't give a shit about whether his neighbours are disturbed

As the other poster has pointed out - he had 1 party for his 40th last year and 1 for his 41st this year. Also OP specifically said that the music this year was from an Amazon Dot (which has limited volume - I also live in a house with no noise insulation and when my neighbours use theirs at full volume its loud but nowhere near proper speaker level) so no suggestion that he's using professional sound systems constantly.

He is being ridiculous to bring up the noise your house being built caused and probably escalated it a bit unnecessarily, but tbh OP if you have a neighbour who is a bit too loud one night a year out of 365 you're incredibly lucky.

You’re being totally unreasonable about one party a year.

he was courteous enough to put a note through the door, he invited you over for a drink. Really if you’re going to live in close proximity to other people you need to be a bit more laid back.

Not unreasonable. I value peace and quiet. I never know why people do big loud parties at home.

Fun

He sounds like a dick, but if it’s once a year on a Saturday I would’ve put ear plugs in and let it go.

2am is far too late for party with music that will disturb others. Next year at 11pm bang on his door and tell him directly to turn it down.

Better watch out OP. If you let this go they might want a party EVERY year.

We are having a party for my daughters 18th in December in our backyard and will do the same as your neighbour -vice advance warning and invite the neighbours to pop in. We plan for music to stop and party to go inside at 1
Midnight. If it goes over a bit then I hope no one will mind too much-we never have parties and I think it's dose of there as been forewarning.

You are being a bit unreasonable about the first party and a bit OTT re the second. It's not all the time.

What do you do? Nothing at all... it's happened now there is nothing further to say or do really.

I don’t think warning people about a party, particularly on the same day, is all that courteous or helpful. It’s not like many of us can go and stay in our second homes for the night to avoid the disturbance. He should have stuck to the plan of indoor noise after 11. He sounds like a selfish twat.