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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask my neighbour to take down her windchimes?

63 replies

orangemoon · 13/07/2009 14:02

I live on the ground floor of a block of flats, my neighbours balcony in right above my living room and bedroom window. Recently my neighbour has hung up 2 sets of windchimes, i can hear them all day and night even with my windows closed, i couln't sleep the other night because all i could hear were her windchimes, so AIBU to politely ask her to take them down?

OP posts:
CyradisTheSeer · 13/07/2009 17:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

blinks · 13/07/2009 18:11

garden ornamentation is clearly a minefield.

HolyGuacamole · 13/07/2009 18:14

ROFL blinks

reducedfatkettlechip · 13/07/2009 20:47

We had some once and our neighbours asked us to take them down, we were glad to as they were starting to irritate us too!

My parents had some which made an eerie humming noise and one of their neighbours came round to say they were actually giving him nightmares!

They should really be banned I guess!! Would never get any more!

wasabipeanut · 13/07/2009 20:48

YANBU - I detest the bloody things. My neighbours ones irritate the bejesus out of me.

FaceBoak · 13/07/2009 20:50

it does't matter how lovely they sound. any persistent noise is a fecker at night. sweet heavenly angels could sing outside my window and i would shout at them to feck off.

Original poster
orangemoon · 13/07/2009 20:58

Thanks for the support. Well i went round earlier and told her that although i appreciate she might enjoy the sound, they were keeping me awake all night long and would she mind taking them down, that didn't go down too well with her it seems, she said no it's her flat she can put up whatever she likes, hmmmmm where do i go from here?

OP posts:
samplesale · 13/07/2009 21:07

Oh dear.
Are they likely to be bugging other neighbours too? Is there strength in numbers?

corriefan · 13/07/2009 21:10

I was thinking that, maybe mention the chimes the neighbour's funny stubborness to other neighbours and see what they say. If more mention it she may back down!

spicemonster · 13/07/2009 21:12

Look in your lease? Terms of freehold or whatever? There might be something in there that forbids her disturbing your peace. I have to confess I have some tiny ones outside my back door but they only tinkle very quietly and I would take them down if the neighbours complained

squeaver · 13/07/2009 21:15

Poor you. Wind chimes are the work of the devil.

Any chance they could be involved in some sort of freak mini-tornado which destroys thme in the dead of night?

Original poster
orangemoon · 13/07/2009 21:23

There is something in my lease about disturbing the peace, looks like i will have to go through the landlord then. I have looked and if i open my window really wide and stand up on the windowsill then the windchimes could magically disappear, but my neighbour knows now that i don't like them.

OP posts:
ElfOnTheTopShelf · 13/07/2009 21:23

Asking nicely = fine
Writing to the council to complain about said wind chimes without prior asking neighbour = bad
My parents neighbour did the latter; the council investigated (!) and said they were fine; I then used to rattle them on purpose
In my defense, I was about 15!

LittleMissBliss · 13/07/2009 21:23

That would bug the hell out of me!

Hopefully she will realise she is BUR and take them down. What is she like normally? Do you often talk to her?

busywheels · 13/07/2009 21:25

You did the right thing by asking her to take them down, but as the friendly approach has not worked I suggest you wait a day or two (she may have a change of heart) then contact the environmental health dept at your local Council. If the noise from wind chimes is causing you noise disturbance, then the council can take formal action if a statutory nuisance is being caused. Further info is at www.environmental-protection.org.uk/neighbourhood-nuisance/pollution-and-nuisance/here. Start keeping a log of the disturbance you experience. Good luck

RenagadeMum · 13/07/2009 21:27

In which case I think you need to find something equally irritating for her.

Any suggestions? Perhaps a cat to crap on her balcony? A yappy type dog (you love it so the yapping won't bug you), or perhaps Enya played softly but persistantly through your open window. 'sail away, sail away, sail away...' etc.

Move out for a couple of weeks with the last suggestion.

Original poster
orangemoon · 13/07/2009 21:37

LittleMiss, i've not really spoken to her, she only moved in 3 months ago with her little girl who she is constantly screaming at to shut up.
Thankyou Busywheels, will definately give it a couple of days before taking any further action, altough i'm sure she's making more noise than usual tonight, all i want is to be able to sleep i felt really bad asking her to take them down but when it comes to 4am and alli can hear are those windchimes i could quite happily commit windchime murder!

OP posts:
LittleMissBliss · 13/07/2009 21:43

Well in that case Enya it is!

Renagad that made me chuckle, dp asking why i'm laughing at the computer again!

Poor little girl. She sounds like a cow.

Kbear · 13/07/2009 21:44

I bet she takes them down in a few days. Sh won't do it straight away, just to make a point.

If she doesn't, get a broom and bang the ceiling for two hours at midnight and she how she sleeps.

Kbear · 13/07/2009 21:44

I bet she takes them down in a few days. Sh won't do it straight away, just to make a point.

If she doesn't, get a broom and bang the ceiling for two hours at midnight and she how she sleeps.

Kbear · 13/07/2009 21:45

YOu might need to ask some friends to join you, in a broom ceiling banging rota. Make a night of it.

Bumperslucious · 13/07/2009 21:49

Windchimes freeeeak me out. They remind me of the calm before the massacre storm in horror movies.

ZacharyQuack · 14/07/2009 07:03

You need a machete on a stick.

Or bagpipes.

purepurple · 14/07/2009 07:13

send her a fake letter from the windchime police telling her if she doesn't take them down they will send in the gnomes

TheChilliMoose · 14/07/2009 09:29

The windchime police with their army of gnomes I like it.