Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Quiet neighbours now making noise.

589 replies

OpalBird · 10/08/2024 07:48

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
OpalBird · 10/08/2024 10:14

dontstopmenowimhavingagoodtime · 10/08/2024 10:13

But you've already mentioned it?

Keep the story straight OP!

Show quote history

I'm not going to mention it when I talk to them, which is a future event, so how can I have mentioned it in the upcoming talk that hasn't happened yet?

OP posts:
Tiswa · 10/08/2024 10:15

The other thing is listening to music in yiur garden at a reasonable volume level isn’t different - headphones are less comfortable and put the sound right into your ears

godmum56 · 10/08/2024 10:15

OpalBird · 10/08/2024 10:12

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.

Show quote history

I hope they laugh, I would!

chailatte8 · 10/08/2024 10:16

There is nothing worse than a basketball slamming off concrete over and over and over. Some music/radio in the garden - totally acceptable provided it's not blaring all hours.

I'm with the neighbours.

IncompleteSenten · 10/08/2024 10:16

Dygger · 10/08/2024 08:42

You're just like a vile ex-neighbour of mine who agreed that his son would cut down from two hours of random drum practice a day (sometimes from 7am, sometimes in the evenings, sometimes in the afternoons after school) to 'just' an hour a day and a couple of hours a day each day at the weekend. When I put the house up for sale years later (when the son had gone off to university) the neighbour stuck his head over the garden wall and said very aggressively that I'd better not sell to a large noisy family because he and his wife liked the peace.

If your son was playing basketball for two hours a day and ruining my peaceful enjoyment of my garden all summer, I'd be playing music loudly all day and doing a lot of noisy DIY. Teach your son to be a good neighbour by limiting him to an hour at time that works for your neighbours, a couple of times a week. The worst thing about random noise is that you're waiting for it to start and then when it does start you don't know when or if it will stop. The rest of the time he goes to the nearest park and shoots hoops there.

Show quote history

Omg I'd have done my nut!
You should have said you intend to sell to a family with a kid who's a drummer since they don't have a problem with that and btw how is their son these days, still drumming?...

DarkForces · 10/08/2024 10:16

OpalBird · 10/08/2024 10:12

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.

Show quote history

Would you be happy with that amount of music from them?

WildfirePonie · 10/08/2024 10:16

You could purchase a portable stand with net and move it away from their side or carry it to the park. Is that possible?

Gettingbysomehow · 10/08/2024 10:16

Do you have any idea how annoying basketball is? The kids opposite nearly drove me to drink playing all day all through covid....thump thump thump non stop. I cant see how you can possibly complain.

expatorimmigrant · 10/08/2024 10:16

Get a silent basketball.

Hoardasurass · 10/08/2024 10:17

OpalBird · 10/08/2024 10:12

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.

Show quote history

No it needs to be no more than 2-3 times a week and never before 10am or after 6pm. Everyday is massively unreasonable and more than 1 session is also a no no.
I really can't believe that you've let him do this for 4 hours a day including before school for a year, have you no shame

IpsyUpsyDaisyDoos · 10/08/2024 10:17

OpalBird · 10/08/2024 09:57

If they're just doing it to make a point, it would be nice. It served them well for over a decade.

Show quote history

You mean it served you well.

Throughaletterbox · 10/08/2024 10:18

I'm with the neighbours. I can't believe they had to complain before you stopped your son doing it for 4 hours a day ! Are you totally unaware of your impact on your neighbours?!

notacooldad · 10/08/2024 10:18

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.
You've got to be trolling us now OP!😂 Ffs he's already been out bouncing a sodding basketball on a Saturday morning.
You be had lovely neighbours but your family has took the piss for a year. I would have felt like going round to yours with a pitchfork a long time ago.
Selfish!

Original poster
OpalBird · 10/08/2024 10:18

DarkForces · 10/08/2024 10:16

Would you be happy with that amount of music from them?

Show quote history

I honestly prefer none like it used to be, but an hour is ok. I suppose they like no ball like it used to be, so give and take.

OP posts:
Otherstories2002 · 10/08/2024 10:19

It’s 10:18… and he’s already been out?!

This has to be a troll post.

oakleaffy · 10/08/2024 10:19

My lovely elderly neighbour {90's} used to have the radio on fairly loudly in her bedroom all night long the last couple of years of her life.

She asked if it disturbed me.

I said ''no''.. Had she been an unpleasant neighbour, the sound would have been much more annoying.

The fact she'd asked showed how considerate she was.

Thankfully it was radio 4 , a speech station, not music.

Good neighbours are a huge asset.

PurpleWhirple · 10/08/2024 10:20

BoxOfCats · 10/08/2024 07:59

Half an hour at a time, a few times a day?! That absolutely is excessive and I would be pissed off in their shoes. Basketball noise is repetitive and annoying.

This. And I am a parent to two basketball fans. I send them to the park.

MySereneDeer · 10/08/2024 10:20

Wow, OP. I must admit I come to MN in part to educate myself about the sorts of people I might not meet in real life. Seldom have I been so glad not to know a person as I am you. You just seem like a terrible, terrible person. Utterly devoid of empathy, completely selfish.

I’m curious if you’ve ever taken a test to see if you are a psychopath or narcissist? It’s really not normal to expect so much more consideration from others than you give them.

Otherstories2002 · 10/08/2024 10:20

OpalBird · 10/08/2024 10:18

I honestly prefer none like it used to be, but an hour is ok. I suppose they like no ball like it used to be, so give and take.

Show quote history

Unfortunately for you music playing is considered normal household music as long as it’s not loud. Based on your level of entitlement and attitude here if I was them I would laugh in my head and carry on listening to my music.

NC1258 · 10/08/2024 10:21

OpalBird · 10/08/2024 07:55

The basketball is only about half an hour at a time, a few times a day. Their music yesterday was for two hours. We've got our son down to no more than three or four times a day now, so it's not excessive. It used to be twice that. So we've done something about it.

Show quote history

Very selfish on your part. Basketball = torture in a residential setting and I say that as huge basketball fan. Take your kid to the park.

Original poster
OpalBird · 10/08/2024 10:21

Otherstories2002 · 10/08/2024 10:19

It’s 10:18… and he’s already been out?!

This has to be a troll post.

He's out there with his leaf blower at the moment. It's a normal time to do things.

OP posts:
dontstopmenowimhavingagoodtime · 10/08/2024 10:21

WildfirePonie · 10/08/2024 10:16

You could purchase a portable stand with net and move it away from their side or carry it to the park. Is that possible?

Oh stop it coming up with great easy solutions..... OP doesn't want that!

DarkForces · 10/08/2024 10:22

OpalBird · 10/08/2024 10:18

I honestly prefer none like it used to be, but an hour is ok. I suppose they like no ball like it used to be, so give and take.

Show quote history

But you've been doing all the taking and you need to really reflect on this properly. I don't think you're going to get anywhere with them until you understand the depth of what they're feeling.

Workhardcryharder · 10/08/2024 10:22

BigBoysDontCry · 10/08/2024 07:56

Personally I don't think basketball nets in a residential street should be allowed and only total picks would allow their DC to be outside bouncing a ball like that. That's not 'normal kid playing noise'. I'm team neighbour.

If your kid enjoys basketball then take him to a park or a sports centre.

This can’t be serious

CautionaryTaleGirl · 10/08/2024 10:23

OpalBird · 10/08/2024 10:21

He's out there with his leaf blower at the moment. It's a normal time to do things.

Show quote history

And why do you think he's out there with a leaf blower?

You are so unbelievably self unaware OP.