Really worried- am I a bad neighbour?

[badneighbour2]

Hi,

just wanted to get an outside opinion on this because I’m not sure if I’m worried about nothing!

I live in a new build style house- it’s detached but as with any new build is very close to the houses beside it. There is probably about 3m between my en-suite bathroom window and my neighbours en suite bathroom window (bit of a guess but I think 3m is about right)

im just worried I’ve been too noisy and causing them problems. I’m severely asthmatic and cough a lot during the night. My DR etc is aware and I’m on a few asthma meds and it’s generally well controlled apart from the coughing but that’s just normal for me. I’m just worried they can hear my coughing all night long next door and it’s keeping them awake or something because of how close we are to them. I try to keep my windows closed but sometimes its boiling and I have to open them and I find when the room is less stuffy it makes my asthma better, but obviously that would make the noise worse for them. If I sleep in the other room then that’s close to the other neighbour whereas in my room the main window isn’t close to the neighbour, it’s just the en suite window that’s close.

the neighbours are lovely and have never raised any issues, but we rarely talk because we’re always working etc but they have been lovely any time we have spoke. And I don’t make any other noise at all- no parties, no bbqs, no late night hoovering etc.

is it likely I’m worrying about nothing? Just really worried it’s causing them problems. I’m just getting over flu/chest infection so the coughing has been awful for the last 2 weeks which is maybe making me more conscious and worried about it

is it likely I’m being an annoying neighbour? Would it be a good idea to go round with some chocolates or wine to say sorry?

thanks, just really worried I’m causing them problems x

You can get fans that purify the air too or even a diffuser helps my cough.

As you are detached, no it won’t be causing a nuisance. It would be unreasonable for them to think you were, as it is your health.
You sound like a great neighbour to even think this way. My neighbours regularly have loud parties until 5am and don’t give a toss who they disturb.

If you're coughing at night it sounds like your asthma isn't well controlled. I sometimes cough at night but it stops if I take my ventolin, so I don't cough repeatedly. If you're taking ventolin more than. Twice a week (including for coughing at night) then it means your asthma isnt well controlled . You need to make an appointment to see an asthma nurse. Worth also asking about additional medication - I'm also on monteleukast which helps a lot (more likely to cough if I don't take it).

Just close the en suite window when your coughing starts.

They probably can't hear you cough. If they can it will be for relatively short periods when you're unwell and it's not something you can do much about apart from take honey and lemon drinks/lozenges etc. It's not like a deliberate choice to make noise like playing loud music at 1am.

I'm also asthmatic and get terrible coughs with chest infections. I'm in a flat and used to worry about the upstairs neighbour hearing it but I can hear him snoring heavily every night so I guess he's sleeping just fine 😂

We have a neighbour who coughs all the time, we can hear it but it's just one of those things he can't help it!