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.

I really dislike other people’s noise - for that reason we went detached and away from people as far as possible. Next door is flats of old people so no noise there. Back of us (but way far away from our house/garden) are some friends but their garden backs away from us, and to other side is 1 neighbour but there’s a garage and a big bit of garden in the way before you get to their garden. They have kids so can be a bit noisy but we have kids too so it doesn’t really bother me, but we get zero noise from their house

Nothing wrong with neighbours playing their music if it's not at an unreasonable hour. Suck it up.

Well that’s 2 hours basketball for 2 hours music - how isn’t that reasonable.

The thunk of a basketball is very annoying OP, when it’s 2 hours a day

I do think that is a coincidence. He's not the type to go out and do it just to make noise. Living a tit for tat existence would be miserable, so why would he bother? I think other posters are more likely right that they have decided just to live without worrying about noise on their side anymore. I don't think they're going out of the way to make noise.

If you want the music to stop then you have to stop the basketball. Simple.

otherwise this will just escalate and I’d assume they can play music for more hours than your son will want to play basketball

Yes. That's what I meant. They are no longer trying to be good neighbours.

And that's your fault.

Self unaware again...

Half an hour 4 times is 2 hours... double would have been 4 hours before. And dotted all through the day would be relentless.
Take him to the park, or find him something else to do so he has more of a range of experience.

You have clearly massively underestimated the irritation factor of a kid makes playing basketball I'm afraid.

Nah, you're taking the piss now 😂

If hes 13 he should be able to meet friends and go to the local park with the basketball. So your saying they still have to put up with 2 hours of basketball a day, down from 4! Omg op basketball noise is so bloody annoying! I feel for your neighbours if anything

OK I'm going to suggest we limit it to half an hour a day and one hour a day on the weekends. That's a huge reduction for our son and I think it's got to be within reasonable.

Fuck being your neighbour.

'@OpalBird
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. '

The lack of self-awareness is impressive.

Your kid is making noise several times a day with a basketball (a really intrusive sound) and your neighbours have had enough which is completely understandable.

They are giving you a taste of your own medicine.

Reduce the noise to 30 minutes a day and your neighbour might be more accommodating...

You son can play in a local park or join a sports club if he he wants to play for longer.

If you walk him to the park for half an hour a day, and an hour on the weekend, then yes that's reasonable. More than about 5 minutes occasionally isn't reasonable. A basketball isn't like football where its an occasional bang, it's loud and relentless. Often worse than building work noise.

The absolute brass neck of you 🤣

Music is a normal thing to experience as part of living near other people. Incessant basketball isn't. Get your son in a basketball club or down the park to practice. 30 minutes practice a day at home at a time that's acceptable to your neighbours would be reasonable, but otherwise your son (and you) need to learn about having consideration for others. Alternatively, move to a place where you don't have neighbours.

A leaf blower at 10:20 is quite different from basketball well before that.

So is he just practicing alone OP doing basketball shots? We've got a basketball court accross the road from our house. It's used for football mainly the only noise I hear is kids screaming or sometimes they take a speaker for music which isn't often. Basketball is a team sport anyway. Does he not practice as part of a team?

This confirms my suspicion this is someone on a windup, hardly Autumn is it.....

He plays hockey as a team sport. The basketball is just something he enjoys by himself.

That ship has clearly sailed a long time ago with this family.

It's not really basketball if all he does is throw a ball at a hoop by himself.

What do you think of the suggestions people have made to reduce the noise such as creating a new area away from their house, laying down rubber to muffle the noise etc?

@OpalBird - good for you to take all these comments on board and commit to sorting this out with your neighbours. I hope you manage to come to an agreement that suits both sides.

It didn't serve them well though. They would prefer not using headphones. However, being the considerate people they are. I totally why they took the stance they did.

I can't believe that anyone would think 2-3 hours of a noise that you yourself describe as annoying is ok. Yet you moan about a bit of music.

You have probably been detrimentally impacing their mental health. Just because lights on in the morning does not mean ok. They probably want to chill. Not be put on edge at the beginning of the day.

The only reason you are reflecting now is because a tiny thing they are doing impacts you. It is good you are going to take on board what everyone has said but surprised you thought the reduced frequency was ok.

It is good you are going a conversation now but you should have asked before when they mentioned it.

Think you have probably spoilt the neighbour relationship. They will probably know you didn't really care about their feelings and only doing it now because of the music.