Quiet neighbours now making noise.

[OpalBird]

My neighbours talked to us about the noise coming from our property. OK, my son has a hobby that does make an annoying noise. Since then we have made sure he's doing it less but we obviously aren't going to stop him completely. They haven't said anything since and I think we've been considerate in reducing the number of hours our son does his thing.

It seems like they've now decided that they are allowed to make more noise. We've been neighbours for years and they've always been quiet. Now we get occasional music or radio in their backyard. When I asked them about it they said they have always worn headphones to be considerate but they don't really like listening that way, so they thought it was fair they got to have their hobbies the way they enjoy them best as well.

Would I be unreasonable to complain to them again? There is a difference between children playing and music when they have the option of headphones.

So they’ve ’put up and shut up’ for a decade and now they’ve inconvenienced you once, you’re annoyed?

I think you know YABVVVU here, OP.

But, tbh, I don’t think your neighbours will accept an apology now. If I were them I’d think ‘tough shit, I’ve had to put up with this for years.’ I certainly wouldn’t.

Nope - again you don't get it.
It's served YOU well for over a decade but you've worn them down.
You are a complete CF here and my guess is that your "about half an hour at a time, ... no more than three or four times a day now" is a complete underestimate.

*Are you expecting them to return to silence?
Show quote history
If they're just doing it to make a point, it would be nice. It served them well for over a decade

Is this a joke op? it served them well for over a decade
They've been wearing headphones in their own home and your son has been bouncing a basketball for up to two hours a day and you say it'll good ifthey go back to as they were.
I think you've has a good run out of them and they've been more tolerant than most of MN would have been.
Your answer is one of the most selfish I've seen on here.

In that case you need to go over with wine and apologise properly, listen to them rant, and apologise again. You have to return the favour and no more basketball in the garden. No excuses or justifications. Apologise and listen. Nothing except sorry, we'll be silent.

It might work or they might decide to play music outside forever more. As long as volume and hours are reasonable there's nothing you can do.

The basketball has been for about a year, not a decade. Just to clarify.

2-3 hours a day, over a year is still ridiculous. And you know it.

I'm not going to mention their music when I go to talk to them.

Well, the poll makes that as clear as it can. I accept it's too much.

So what are you going to say?

As you have shown quite a lack of self awareness (to say the least) on this thread maybe it would be a good idea to share what you're planning to say to them so people can give feedback on how it comes across.

Basketball is specifically banned in our little neighbourhood because it is considered so anti social.

If you genuinely thought this hobby held value he’d he on a team with regular training, not doing it at home.

Is there no local park?

OP, if their music bothers you, how about getting some noise-cancelling headphones of your own? I used to live next door to nice but fairly noisy neighbours (nothing unreasonable, just life and children on trampoline all day etc.) and the headphones blocked it all out. I really do think in this case the onus is on you to deal with their music, given what has led up to it.

Four times a day is 2 hours of banging!
You are so unreasonable!

We have the kid with the basketball hoop next door but one, NDN one side has 3 large, barky dogs she leaves out barking at all hours and NDN the other side is partially deaf so we hear what he's watching on tv word for word through the wall. We've always been considerate neighbours wherever we've lived but have now adopted your NDN's strategy OP, we make whatever noise we damn well please these days because why should we give a fuck when no one else does??!! So maybe that where your neighbours have ended up too, people do come to the point where they think 'if we can't beat em join em' and stop being considerate when no one else is.

My daughter is just turned 12 and travels on a bus to her hobby every Saturday and has done for a year. Can your son not find a team or leasure centre or park to go to or could you take him? Have you even looked into that.

Yes, they're making a point. Their point is that they no longer want to give you the same amount of consideration as before when it is not being returned. It's not pettiness because they are not attempting to match the noise level created by your son, they're just prioritising their enjoyment instead of your comfort. As you are doing with your son. You really don't have a leg to stand on.

A year of fury is a lot to get over. I'm angry reading what they've had to put with. Do not expect a warm reception

You needed a Mumsnet poll to clarify you are being an inconsiderate and ignorant neighbour?! OMFG!

I'm thinking that I will apologise and tell them I will limit to an hour a day, no more than two blocks of time. I've told my son to give the neighbours a break for the rest of the weekend. He's had once today, that will do. I'll ask about times that might not suit.

Omg, you really are clueless 🤣

But you've already mentioned it?

Keep the story straight OP!

Oh jeez. So it’s 10am and he’s already been outside banging his ball about, if you were my neighbour I’d lose my shit so badly that my lovely, chilled, quiet Saturday morning had been disturbed.

It's a good way to check yourself isn't it?

Oh jeez. So it’s 10am and he’s already been outside banging his ball about, if you were my neighbour I’d lose my shit so badly that my lovely, chilled, quiet Saturday morning had been disturbed.