My neighbour has complained about the noise from my front door

[fruittellas]

I moved into my new house in June. It was previously a rental and not very well looked after. Many things had not been replaced since it was built 40 years ago. Over the last 3 months, I’ve had a few repairs and updates done, but as we all know, money doesn’t stretch very far. I’ve had to prioritise certain things such as a new boiler, a couple of windows, repairs to the driveway and a surprise leak in the bathroom. It all adds up. I’m still working through everything but it takes time. One thing that needs replacing is the front door. It’s worn out and constantly sticks. I have to slam it shut otherwise it doesn’t close properly. It’s a pain, but it’s functional (just about). I had the hinges tightened and the locks changed, which seemed to help for a while but it’s started again. I’ve had a couple of quotes for a replacement, but I don’t currently have the money for just a door. I plan to get it done in the future, just not right now.

Now, onto the issue. My next door neighbour knocked on my door a few weeks ago to complain about the noise from the door. She said it’s very loud and keeps disturbing her. I apologised and explained that I was aware of the problem and would eventually replace it. I told her I would do my best to close it quietly. I thought that would be the end of it, but she knocked earlier and complained again. I said I’d look into getting it replaced ASAP and left it at that. While I understand it’s annoying, I think she’s slightly overreacting. I don’t go out every day as I work from home. Today was the first day I’d left the house since Saturday. Last week I only went out Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. There are noises that irritate me sometimes (my other neighbour goes into his garage everyday and I hear that door slam shut constantly and my other neighbour messes around and revs his motorbike outside on weekends). It’s just part of living near other people in my opinion. I know the noise can be irritating, but surely hearing a door slam once or twice every few days isn’t that big of a deal or a huge disturbance? If I had a money tree in the back garden then I’d get it fixed straight away.

If your NDN complains again, tell them to either pay for the door so it can be quieter, or tell NDN to fuck off.

AND you should complain to them about the noise they make as well.

Your NDN is an unreasonable cunt, especially after you have made them aware you would deal with the door in your own time. You owe them nothing.

I was preparing to read that your stuck door was being slammed incessantly because people were coming and going whilst work was being done and then I read that you haven't even used it for several days and now I think you were too nice to your neighbour telling them that you'll replace it ASAP.

YANBU!

If you don't have the money, then you cannot replace it yet, and that's an end to the matter.

You have acknowledged the issue, told her your plan. She will have to be happy with that. A door slamming, even once or twice a day does not constitute noise nuisance so she'll just have to live with it.

If she wanted perfect silence she should have bought a detached rural home. (and there would still be noises for her to contend with). I have a neighbour who whines constantly about the local deer barking. I think some people just like having something to grumble about.

YANBU. It isn’t being open and closed all day and night. You cannot afford to replace it. Replace it when you can afford to. If she comes round again, just shrug.

Impact noise is terrible for people with trauma. It may be that there’s a reason she’s so upset.

However, sympathy and all that, you simply don’t have the money.

From what you have said about your house the issue with the door can't be a new one. I wonder if she was constantly complaining to the previous tenants or the landlord? Or whether she sees you as an easy target to bully.

I do accept that slamming doors is annoying. My own neighbours slam their front door. And their back door. They also slam their internal doors. I've never complained about the slamming. I just accept it, as you say, as part of living in an adjoining house.

I think you have been more than reasonable and polite over the issue with the door. And I think if she complains again you just need to tell her that there is nothing more to say on the matter.

Tell her ONCE AGAIN I apologise, but I don’t have the money to fix the door. You, however, are infringing on how I live my life. Good day, madam.
Then slam the goddam door.

We rent from the local council yet our neighbour who owns leaves her terrior dog to bark over 7 hours at a time alone. We are totally fed up of it and are hoping to move she asked us to let her know if she barked and now blanked her after we told her
U

YABU. Fix the door. Good chance it doesn't need replacing and just needs properly adjusting, you can do it yourself.

She's done that. It's in the op.

Guessing it's pvc not wood? If it's wood, it'll be sticking more due to the wet weather, wd40 will help temporarily and sand the side down a bit.

Sand or plane the bit that sticks if wooden. They swell in the wet.

Talc on the frame and door may act as a lubricant.

We rent from the local council yet our neighbour who owns leaves her terrior dog to bark over 7 hours at a time alone. We are totally fed up of it and are hoping to move she asked us to let her know if she barked and now blanked her after we told her
U

Shit tonnes of WD40 all around the door and the frame might help.

It will smell absolutely overpoweringly horrible. I don't think it will do the trick either. The door needs planing.

I'm team neighbour. Slamming of doors isn't neighbourly, especially in a terrace. It needs to be stopped.

What kind of door is it ' why do you need to slam it?

mind is wood and when it swells it takes a bit of effort to close, but I don't want to sand it, as when it's not swollen there's already a gap! (I'm replacing it soon ish)

my neighbour has a pvc stable door that will only shut if slammed, its out of alignment & needs replacing (but they just put up with it) they're good neighbours so U just put up with it, & curse it when Ilook after their cat for them!

Maybe I missed this, but are you in a detached house or semi? If semi/terraced, the slamming likely reverberates into their house and would be bloody annoying! In saying that though, it doesn't seem often, nor at all hours of the night.

I agree with others, if its a wooden door, get a planer and shave off the bit that keeps sticking.

Are you offering to pay??

if not, tough. It's annoying but the world won't end.

I get what you mean about the gap, but if OP is planning to replace it anyway planing the sticking bit would at least solve the issue short term.

Sounds like the neighbour is an annoying, intolerant person but I'd try to solve the issue because I hate slamming a door myself.

We don't know that it's made of wood though.

If it's UPVC for example it's going to need lubricant but having said that, it sounds as though it hasn't been readjusted very well.

What type of door is it? You might be able to just stick a seal around it to muffle the noise upon closing.

I said I didn't want to sand MY door because of the gap,not that she shouldn't sand hers.

mine is a bit of a pull involved, it doesn't 'slam' as such and given the racket next doors makes many more times a day, they'd be CF to say anything anyway. Not that they would because they're not & they appreciate how fucking annoying their door is.

I wouldnt entertain them. Now youve explained the door is broken and youll fix it as soon as you can afford it.

There's nothing else to be said.

Unless youre slamming it after 11pm or before 6am, in whichcase it might be reasonable to complain again.

From now on id not even answer the door

If this was me I would go in and out through the back door until it can be replaced or if there's wood involved, plane the door or door frame as a temporary fix, or keep repeating the adjustment that improves it. Maybe re-hang the door using something that doesn't slip as much eg "wet n fix". A dehumidifier in the hall for a couple of days may help, depending on why its out of shape. I know this sometimes helps internal doors that have warped a bit. I would find the sudden noise startling. They may have sensory processing issues.