How to approach neighbour about 6am screaming…

[Larrythecatforpm]

My neighbour opposite has young children, I sympathise and understand kids that age are going to make noise, it’s just what they do.

However every single weekend for the past 6 months since then moved in (and I imagine most of the summer hols) the neighbour has been letting them play out in the front garden from 6am or getting them in the car and they just scream full pelt non stop.
It’s right opposite my bedroom window, they wake me up and I can’t get back to sleep.
I am absolutely sick of it. They are council tenants can I put in a noise complaint? I have mentioned it to the mother before and she didn’t seem to see the issue using the excuse they’re little.

This morning it was from 5.45am.

I think you've handled this like a pro OP. No idea if comptalning to the council would help but perhaps the threat of it has done the trick? I would definitely follow through with a complaint if necessary. She definitely does not need to let them out so early and as you say she could take them to the park but she can't be bothered. Hard for her direct neighbours who have to hear them through the wall but maybe they can complain too. I do feel slightly sorry for this poor woman I must admit but she needs to handle parenting better.

Approach her in super nice mode. Explain that you have an issue. She will either act like a prat and treat you like rubbish or she will take in what you said. If she acts like a prat write a letter to city hall explaining exactly what she said how you found it offensive etc. that's all you can really do. For anyone annoying you.

You want to come to our place for a couple of hours. We live in a tenement so each block of flats at the back exit in to one large courtyard, with a fence for each block. So with the courtyard being as I describe, the kids all play together, and yes they scream. The kids scream all day long, and they always have. This is something that has always fascinated me, as I don’t remember hearing kids scream anywhere else like they do here. They don’t bother me though, I seep wearing noise cancelling headphones playing white noise and an eye mask.

She puts them outside so they an scream there not indoors in her ear. Some kids love the sound of screaming. Tell them to stop and they'll scream even more. Time to get some earplugs. Perhaps get the mother to pay for them! Kids usually grow out of screaming for fun.

Yes shout at them or get someone to do it for you. Record them , establish that they are doing it and then if someone complains it is your 'word' against theirs'

You cant effectively complain officially because kids' noise is probably protected

Shouting at them lets everyone know you will escalate if they don't want to be polite. Your sleep is more important than some kids screaming unnecessarily

Absolutely this! Doubtless the pp is a fully paid up member of the #bekind brigade. 🙄

I hear you. My next door (terraced houses) has a boy that has screamed his head off since he could walk! I have to shut my bedroom window overlooking the gardens and bang on the bedroom wall when he's yelling for mum at stupid o'clock!

Can I just say something I am at the other end I own my house and my children were playing basketball in the house at 18:30 the neighbour daughter came in her bathrobe accusing us of banging walls I said I work a day and kids at school don't know who bangs walls but certainly not us she started talking in a rude way I said well we don't do that and my son started playing basketball and she said so it is the ball that causes it I said please do not come on my door next time for such a thing and on such hours her own daughter smokes cannabis all evening and the smell comes through to my kitchen and after 20:00 my house is a dead house even i go to bed as knackered waking up doing chores and working her daughter who is 18 bangs doors at unsociable hours and bangs doors at 1am as her mother has not given her the house keys like this is getting beyond control but my 5 year old showed her the ball and said listen this ball says indoor don't know what she is on about but I am done with her daughter slamming doors and shouting and gaslighted us. I am looking to put a formal complaint to environmental health as her cannbis smell comes in my kitchen and living room..

Reminds me of Wayne and Waynetta Slob!

Unfortunately for some type of noise there is no protection, like night toilet flushing, dogs barking and so on. The first resort is always suggested to talk to the person making the noise, in the hope they didn't realise how much it is disturbing you.

Honestly very polite approach but it would only work with polite people.

However the council people are human, they might decide to do something or not.

Give your council a call and see what they say.

You are definitely not being unreasonable but there isn't necessarily a solution.

Same happened to me when a neighbour lit fire repeatedly to their garden waste during hot nights. We were coughing but the firemen said if there is an adult and the fire is unattended they won't do anything.

Still try to speak to the council noise, abatement department, in some areas they might take initiative.

Don't think that renting a council flat is anyway helping your cause and I find this comment honestly not appropriate.

Sedatives, more like! I’d get annoyed, go round and tell her it isn’t acceptable l we did it with neighbours, the younger of the 2 girls literally screamed all day. Zero parenting, all 3 dc in the garden as long as it wasn’t pissing down, older girl made up impossible to win games, it was horrific. Went round, told them it was unacceptable and could they not take her inside? They did. Now she’s grown up, has a child of her own who doesn’t scream, thank fuck.

I think that we share neighbours, OP!
One evening, the grandma and father were arguing and shouting loudly in the front garden when I finally felt it was safe to garden and I snapped and shouted 'shut up' and it worked.

Scream out your window at them to shut the f up. I would.

Yes, if its the council housing stock your neighbours are living in, the Housing Dept. should deal with it. It's a valid complaint as builders aren't even allowed to start that early in the morning. Housing department should be dealing with it as this is unacceptable behaviour from their tenant. They probably have a complaints email address on the Council website. Keep records of everything and if you don't get the result you want, escalate it to the Corporate complaints Dept, whose number should also be on the website.

It drives me nuts when bad neighbours like this think they have the right to destroy their neighbours right to a reasonable level of peace in their own homes. People who let their kids out at 6am are ignorant, selfish and stupid!

I live rurally. At that time of the morning there would be complaints here too. They’re children, not animals, and as such they can be taught to respect the fact that it’s much to early to be making that kind of noise.

The playing outside is not ok, bit perhaps that’s the only way she can function right no. Putting them in the car, can hardly be helped. She can’t stay in as her children don’t like going in the car. I imagine it’s very stressful for her. Maybe play some white buse or wear ear plugs.

I would go and have a chat again and say it’s not only you this is affecting but it’s affecting others as well. Other neighbours say they hear her shouting and screaming at kids at all times if the day. I would suggest this isn’t normal behaviour. Maybe ask if she needs help in the way SS can help? Is she coping? Etc. etc.

Once you begin fixating on something, it becomes intolerable. Totally understandable that you are at your wits end. Presumably there are other neighbours also disturbed by the early noise? Could you get together and go en masse to request no pre 8 am outdoor play? My son's piano playing led to neighbours presenting him with a timetable of acceptable practice times. (Aged 30!)

Eww at the smoking at 5.45am 🤢

It is very unreasonable

Jeez, can sympathise, kid next door booting football against garage door all day!!! No consideration for neighbors !!! 🤬

You can’t. I had a neighbour complain about my kids (playing in normal hours) and the housing association told me kids playing isn’t anti social behaviour.

Nobody has to put up with noisy neighbors! Jeez, we've got em on both sides, inconsiderate, self-entitled morons. 😠

You are a considerate neighbor mm, just wish my neighbors would take in to consideration people don't want kids making a racket outside their back door every day, there is a park just down our road where they can kick a football round 🤨 for god's sake just get off your ruddy phone and take them there to give us some peace! 🙏

Their chance to play is not her responsibility.

What about her chance to sleep? It's way too early.