Neighbours complaining about noisy dc in garden

[Xmasinthegarden]

We got the dc (8 and 5) a lot of presents for the garden (mud kitchen , outdoor toys, football/goals basketball hoop etc) they both have AuDHD and need to let off steam in the fresh air.

They were in the garden 10-1. Then back out again after lunch 230-430.

We had had a text from the neighbours at 115pm saying ‘we have guests today and would appreciate a little less noise from the garden thanks’ which I ignored but when the dc went back out at 230pm we had them knocking and telling us that they have family there and some are quite elderly and want peace and quiet and their niece has a newborn and all the commotion from our garden is very irritating as they are trying to relax in their conservatory. I said that the dc were not being that noisy and they wouldn’t be out there past 430 anyway. They said if this happens again tomorrow they will file a ‘noise complaint’ and may call the police!

The dc were just playing, not screaming or fighting. Just running about. Some ball bouncing yes but nothing terrible. They play out pretty much every day and this hasn’t been an issue before ? The neighbours moved in Feb this year so obviously it’s their first Xmas here but they would have known our dc play out a lot ?

They have text now with a ‘gentle reminder - tomorrow needs to be a calm peaceful day. Thanks for your cooperation’ wtf !!!

AIBU to ignore this ? We are home in the morning them leaving at 1230 to see my parents so if the dc play in the garden it wont be for that long just 2/3 hours in the morning.

Is this AI? The beach?

Yes they need a lot of time outdoors it helps to manage their behaviour and they sleep well if we make sure they are active every single day. Plus 90% of their Xmas presents were for the garden !

They are being unreasonable, your children are allowed to play in their garden during daylight hours, any complaints they make about that will go nowhere.

Block and ignore. They need to get a life

I've enforced noise nuisance for a local authority and it's not that children's play is exempt, it's that what you describe just isn't a nuisance in the first place either as a statutory, private of public health nuisance.
All nuisance has 'a reasonable person test' in that it has to be what a reasonable person considers a nuisance not what someone who wants a sleep in the day considers a nuisance. Nuisance also doesn't alow for 'abnormally sensitive plaintiff'. Meaning that just because you are sensitive to noise due to your specific situation doesn't make it a nuisance in law.
Children playing usual activities in their garden during daytime hours is not a noise nuisance. Early morning and later evening might be looked at differently. But not the times you are saying.

Lots here calling your neighbours unreasonable... But are they really??

Is it the tiniest bit possible that your kids were really loud ? And while there is no law against kids noise, is it possible that you could have had a little more respect for your neighbours???

On MN it seems everyone should just put up and shut up with other people's kids in the garden..but personally, I'd be doing a little bit of reflection if my neighbours were really upset with the noise from my garden.

Maybe your neighbours are intolerant arseholes, I really don't know. Maybe you could have been slightly more considerate, I really don't know that either.

Ignore

th oolice won’t do anything. The council won’t either

you can’t be done for excessive noise during the day.

what horrible people.

I tore ignore! Your kids are not on iPads all day!

To ge honest I think it really depends on their noise level. You think it's not excessive but the neighbours clearly think differently for some reason today. No one on here can judge really. You're bound to play it down.

My DS8 was in the garden today with his new football launcher 🤣

I'm childfree and this wouldn't bother me at all. Your neighbours are being unreasonable. Very much doubt anyone is going to act on a noise complaint about children playing in the garden during the day.

Ignore. And tell them if they msg again YOU'LL go to the police for harrassment

This

they don’t want noise then move somewhere with no neighbours. I would tell them that also!

it’s so healthy for your kids to be outside playing.

They have not got a leg to stand on, as you can’t complain about normal family household noises as others have said.

However, you say the kids have been far noisier for far longer periods of time in the past and they haven’t complained - so this behaviour is out of the blue. It might be worth reflecting, for the sake of neighbourly relations, whether the kids are doing something genuinely really annoying (such as repeatedly bouncing a ball), or whether perhaps there could be someone truly struggling in their house - because this sounds out of character for them based on what you’ve said. You have to live next door to these people, it seems unlikely they’ve turned into complete monsters overnight - there’s got to be more to this. I’d want to find out, and work with them if I could.

Give them a ‘gentle reminder’ that they need to stop harassing you otherwise you’ll be the one filing a complaint then block them. They are using your number to bully you now so block them and don’t answer the door. Just make a record of all of the texts and door knocking for your own complaint. Do you have a park or playground nearby where you can let them run about for a while?

Agree with this. They don’t complain every day, so maybe cut them some slack. Someone elderly could be struggling with the noise.

Everybody seems to be ignoring the fact that it’s Christmas Day and maybe your neighbours after 3 hours of your kids being out there the first time wanted to enjoy their day too, with their guests, without hearing your kids - Can you not see this?

I think your neighbours are being unreasonable provided that the noise is within the ordinary parameters to be expected from young children and not non- stop screaming at highest pitch of voices etc.

That said, I’d think you would prefer where possible to remain on good terms with them. Can you say politely that ordinary sound of children playing is to be expected in a family neighbourhood and not illegal but meet them halfway perhaps by ensuring a quiet period for part of the day? You’ll want to avoid any escalation of hostilities or retaliation on their part.

They don’t live in a detached house

OPs kids were just being kids in their garden

I have young kids who are in the garden daily. It really does depend on the noise they make.

I find, given where I live (ie people right next door) I have to police my kids noise level a lot.
and that doesn’t mean just standing on the porch and shouting at them. They find it hard to
contain themselves and left to their own devices get louder and louder.

only yoi know how loud they are. And will
know if they are being OTT. But just because something is allowed it doesn’t make it social.

I’m going to go against the grain here and say that kids playing noisily (your word) in the garden all day would piss me off. They barely had a break. I think it’s respectful to limit neighbourly noise - kids or not. Don’t know why people spout laws and ‘legs to stand on’ on here - just be respectful.

Totally ignore. Your children are allowed to make normal play noise in the garden, and if your neighbours can't handle it they should have moved to a property with no neighbours.

Especially as even the title of the thread says noisy!

5 hours in the garden, screaming, shouting banging footballs? Sorry, I'd absolutely hate living next to you. Sounds horrible.
Why do you not go out for them to let off steam sometimes? Instead of inflicting your children on others - and this is what you're doing.

There's always one.

How much ball bouncing. Constant bang if basketball or football is awful