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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Neighbours Built a Pool, We Got the Noise – Help!!

101 replies

Foxy200 · 11/06/2025 23:04

Looking for a bit of advice (or maybe just a place to vent, honestly). Our neighbours have recently put in a swimming pool—fair enough—but they've stuck the pool heater right up against the fence that borders our garden. Their garden is actually big enough that it could’ve been placed literally anywhere else, but they’ve chosen the one spot that causes us the most grief.

The thing gives off this constant low rumbling noise. It’s not really loud, probably not enough to be considered an official nuisance, but it's always there. We notice it every time we try to sit outside, and even when we have the windows open, it's just enough to be annoying. It's next to our patio, so we hear it most when we’re trying to relax outside.

The worst part is they’re just generally not the easiest people to deal with. A few neighbours have had run-ins with them too. They’re the sort that think the rules don’t apply to them, so having a polite chat doesn’t feel like a real option.

The whole thing has kind of ruined the vibe of our garden, which we've spent a lot of time (and money) making nice. Now we barely want to sit out there anymore, which is gutting. We’re also worried it could even affect the house value if it ever came to selling, having an annoying noise like that humming away in the background.

So, has anyone dealt with something similar? Any tips for blocking out that kind of low-level constant noise? Ideally looking for something subtle acoustic panels, clever planting, garden structures, whatever works. Appreciate any ideas!

OP posts:
Createausername1970 · 30/06/2025 16:46

I would echo other posters and go down the route of least aggravation and plant some hedging or other dense plants (could be in pots) and install a water feature to muffle the noise.

Shesellsseashellsnotinmystreet · 30/06/2025 16:47

Invest in a Bluetooth speaker.. Doesn't have to be on loud but ime background noise will lessen the irritation...
Ndn had a yappy fucker. They kept it quiet for the 4 week monitoring period.. Now it barks as ever. Hopefully the fact ddog goes in wet post Yap Episode will have them catch on we are pd off.

Delphiniumandlupins · 30/06/2025 16:47

If you approach your neighbours would you be willing to offer to help move the heater or to box it in to restrict the noise? Obviously it shouldn't be up to you to fix the issue but offering solutions might be received better than a complaint.

MrsMoastyToasty · 30/06/2025 16:49

Are they on a water meter? The water company will probably insist on one if they aren't already.

qotsa · 30/06/2025 16:50

Urgh. I really feel for you. That kind of noise can actually be the worst. Like when people sit with their diesel engines idling for ages. Hopefully the council will be able to help 🙏🏼

itsgettingweird · 30/06/2025 16:52

hayfeverforever · 30/06/2025 16:29

Cracks me up that that people moan like this and think they are entitled to a quiet world. If you are poor and can’t afford to live in the countryside, just say so.

My neighbours out the back have a paddling pool (but a big one) for their kids and the sound of them loving it is wonderful.

If they had a 24/7 noisy heater attached then yes - I would feel entitled to the noise reducing.

Being entitled to some respite from noise isn’t being entitled.

tipsyraven · 30/06/2025 16:52

I’d just let the council do its job. You could always record the noise yourself in case they do try and switch it off but I wouldn’t expect the council to inform them when the monitoring period is. It’s usually placed on your property in any case.

Passionfloweronthefence · 30/06/2025 16:53

Foxy200 · 30/06/2025 16:22

I’ve spoken to the council, and their procedure is to notify the neighbour in writing that a complaint has been made. They will then monitor the noise over a two-week period.

It will be obvious that the complaint has come from us, as the noise is coming from directly along our shared boundary. Second, I’m worried that the neighbour will simply stop the noise during the monitoring period to avoid detection, and then return to their usual behaviour afterwards — they have a habit of being quite sneaky and manipulative.

To make matters worse, this person has a history of being aggressive and unreasonable. My other neighbour had a very unpleasant experience with him, and I’m genuinely worried about the possibility of retaliation or further conflict if he finds out we’ve made a complain

Record it on your phone on the microphone and record it at different times of the day for 5 minutes. Also use the decibel meter (you can download free ones for your phone) and record it at different times.

Saycheese2044 · 30/06/2025 16:57

Could it be that they need it there due to reaching the electric plug that works the pump. How big is the pool is it permanent type? If it's a moveable one they won't be able to move it now that it's fall of water.

May be you could ask them to reduce the times they have the filter on. It normally say it needs to be on 8 hours a day but I just put mine on a few hours or so. Normally in the morning for me.

HumbleWarrior · 30/06/2025 16:58

You have my sympathy OP. Neighbour noise or selfish behaviour in whatever form it takes is an issue that can really eat away at your mental wellbeing.

Years ago we reported neighbours who had a dog kept in a kennel outside which barked for hours at a time through the day and night. I did the two week reporting thing, but the guy from environmental health who came to set it up in our bedroom (where the noise was most problematic) really didn't explain it properly. I thought I just needed to get a good sample of the noise, so for the first couple of nights was getting out of bed to switch the recorder on every time the dog started barking and staying awake for 45 minutes or an hour or however long it took for the dog to stop so I could switch off again. On and off, up and down, all through the night. I also had to go up every time I heard the dog during the day. I work from home so it was pretty disruptive and it was this time of year, so I was out for a few days in the two weeks at end of term stuff at dc's school - sports days, class assemblies, picnics etc. Also, i had to keep a written record of the disturbance, which meant writing time, duration, severity etc through the night too. If I'd have done it consistently for 2 weeks I would have been completely broken through zero sleep and not managed to have done any work!

The upshot was that at the end of the recording period they got back to me and said the nuisance wasn't occurring often enough for it to be considered a problem. They counted up the individual entries and worked out the average over the 14 day period, but because I hadn't recorded every one, it totally trashed my case, even though they could see (and hear on the recording) from the 2 or 3 days I'd been very on it at the start what a persistent and intrusive problem it was. It made me feel really disillusioned about the whole process, which was ironically more difficult to monitor for being so frequent.

If you do decide to go down that route be very clear about what evidence they are expecting and whether you'll be able, realistically and practically, to provide it. You can't really keep the recorder running all the time unless you want all your conversations and family noise to be recorded for the delight of the council, so it's a very demanding process to go through.

Functioningdisaster · 30/06/2025 17:00

We have a loud neighbour and we planted some dense conifers - this might help a bit particularly with the humming noise. They grow high, so it might also impact the level of sun they get on the pool which is there fault for putting the heater there!

I would try speaking to them to see if the could move the pool heater as they noise travels into your garden and house. I get why you don't want to so I appreciate its not easy.

I totally get why its annoying!

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 30/06/2025 17:01

ouch321 · 30/06/2025 16:13

Translate... OP lives in a v fancy neighbourhood and wants us all to know.... 😉

🙄

Shesellsseashellsnotinmystreet · 30/06/2025 17:03

Under the cover of darkness a huge squirt of Fairy should liven up their dips..

657904I · 30/06/2025 17:04

Just audio record the noise?

put up a camera in your garden that records audio, if the noise is picked up on your camera then you have easy evidence for the council.

angelinawasrobbed · 30/06/2025 17:06

Isn’t there a danger, if you get their pool shut down or cost them a lot of money investing in solar panels as an alternative, that they will retaliate by playing loud music / mowing the lawn at 7am/ having farting competitions when you have friends round …? You really would be on edge all day then

sometimes, it is better the devil you know …

OttersAreMySpiritAnimal · 30/06/2025 17:07

My neighbour has a pool and the pump or heater is nowhere near our fence and I can still hear it.
I have a sewage pump and it sounds the same. Not really anything to be done to reduce the hum other than switch them off so your best bet is masking the noise with other sounds.

I would go and knock with a smile and just let them know the noise is a bit intrusive and do they want to get the service company out as you don't think it's supposed to be that loud, maybe there's something wrong with it? Iykwim. You could easily do that by text.

It won't be all year round, and they will soon find out how expensive it is to run and start switching it off more I expect, and if they don't just keep on mentioning it and asking them to sort it out. if they do nothing then report to the council once you think you've given it a fair shot.

PeapodMcgee · 30/06/2025 17:08

Go down the official route only if you are confident of success. Otherwise you'll still have the noise, and also have to declare the dispute to future buyers of your house (but the hum will be obvious on viewings anyway, presumably). So, yes, it will devalue your house.

Tbh you may as well approach them and if needs be, offer money for it to be moved.

Booboobagins · 30/06/2025 17:09

They have put it by the fence though not to annoy you but keep it out of their way.

You'd be surprised what level of noise causes nuisance, so check it out with env health. Def raise it. They could be asked to add a noise enclosure that would help.

Don't put up with sh1t from annoying neighbours x

petuniaprincess · 30/06/2025 17:10

outerspacepotato · 30/06/2025 16:16

Start a wind chime farm.

Buy an cockerel and a few hens.
If they complain about him crowing at dawn tell them you like fresh eggs....

Ddakji · 30/06/2025 17:10

I totally feel for you, but you are going to have to speak to them. And because the council are now aware of this, if they get unpleasant you just get back into the council to log it all.

Speak to them first, saying the noise is quite invasive and can they re-site the heater. If that doesn’t work, then follow the council’s advice.

It’s horrible when your neighbours behave like dicks.

WonderingWanda · 30/06/2025 17:13

It sounds like they will probably be dices about if regardless so you've got nothing to lose. First send a letter or text "Dear neighbour, we would really appreciate it if you coule relocate your new pool pump further from our shared boundary fence as the noise is proving to be quite distracting in our garden. Kind regards Foxy. Then if they refuse, ignore you or send you a twattish reply then you can go and report them to the council.

If the council come and monitor and they switch it off make your own recordings now and include video of a decibel monitor on a phone.

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 30/06/2025 17:13

Oh, you poor soul, you have my utmost sympathy. Bad neighbours really do affect your mh.
I know it will be a difficult conversation but I really think you need to have a chat with them first. Then the council.
Good luck op x

ArtTheClown · 30/06/2025 17:21

Cracks me up that that people moan like this and think they are entitled to a quiet world

Why shouldn't people be entitled to their lives not being made an utter shit misery?

annzen · 30/06/2025 17:31

Are they deaf? How does the noise not drive THEM mad also? Is the position of the heater more beneficial to them than to you? Just trying to figure it out.

(I'm deaf BTW with bilateral hearing aids)

zacsGranny · 30/06/2025 17:34

HumbleWarrior · 30/06/2025 16:58

You have my sympathy OP. Neighbour noise or selfish behaviour in whatever form it takes is an issue that can really eat away at your mental wellbeing.

Years ago we reported neighbours who had a dog kept in a kennel outside which barked for hours at a time through the day and night. I did the two week reporting thing, but the guy from environmental health who came to set it up in our bedroom (where the noise was most problematic) really didn't explain it properly. I thought I just needed to get a good sample of the noise, so for the first couple of nights was getting out of bed to switch the recorder on every time the dog started barking and staying awake for 45 minutes or an hour or however long it took for the dog to stop so I could switch off again. On and off, up and down, all through the night. I also had to go up every time I heard the dog during the day. I work from home so it was pretty disruptive and it was this time of year, so I was out for a few days in the two weeks at end of term stuff at dc's school - sports days, class assemblies, picnics etc. Also, i had to keep a written record of the disturbance, which meant writing time, duration, severity etc through the night too. If I'd have done it consistently for 2 weeks I would have been completely broken through zero sleep and not managed to have done any work!

The upshot was that at the end of the recording period they got back to me and said the nuisance wasn't occurring often enough for it to be considered a problem. They counted up the individual entries and worked out the average over the 14 day period, but because I hadn't recorded every one, it totally trashed my case, even though they could see (and hear on the recording) from the 2 or 3 days I'd been very on it at the start what a persistent and intrusive problem it was. It made me feel really disillusioned about the whole process, which was ironically more difficult to monitor for being so frequent.

If you do decide to go down that route be very clear about what evidence they are expecting and whether you'll be able, realistically and practically, to provide it. You can't really keep the recorder running all the time unless you want all your conversations and family noise to be recorded for the delight of the council, so it's a very demanding process to go through.

I feel for you with dog noise. It's the bane of my life since we moved. So many houses by me with multiple dogs who set each other off. From my house I can see the homes of 18 dogs. Some back onto a dog walking field, so every dog that goes past seta of a cacophony of barking from 6.30am until late at night. One household can be reported, but not 8.

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