Neighbour complaining about noise from our pool

[crusoe16]

We bought a house about a year ago, one of the reasons we bought it was because it had an outdoor pool. The pool is walled, and part of the wall forms the back of our neighbours' house. They bought their house around the same time as we bought ours and there is no way they couldn't not have known they were metres from a pool.

They are a retired couple and we have 4 DC. A few weeks after we both moved into our properties the lady made a comment about the children being noisy in the pool. I knew then that we were likely to have a problem so we remind the children not to scream and shout when they're in the garden or pool.

We heat the pool for about 4 months over summer and the children use it whenever they can. Probably for up to two hours a day and never after 6pm. There is obviously some noise, laughter, shrieking, jumping in etc from the children. There certainly isn't any offensive language or screaming. Occasionally the children will have friends over and then there is probably a bit more shrieking but we're talking a couple of times a month at most. We were away all of July so there hasn't been any noise for the past 5 weeks.

It was my son's birthday yesterday and we had a party at home, the children all swam and the noise level admittedly was quite high. The neighbours called tonight to complain "it was unbearable and we had to go out". I apologised for the noise and for not warning them about the party. They went on to suggest we never have a children's party in the pool again which I objected to; one of our four DC is a summer baby and it's likely we'll have his party at home every year and that the children would use the pool. I promised to give them good notice next time and that it would only be an annual thing.

They then went on to complain of constant noise from the pool. I objected to this as I've already said it's for a couple of hours a day max, never in the evenings and we've been away for all of the summer holidays until now. During term time the children are obviously at school so it's only generally used at weekends. They said they the noise from the children ruins their enjoyment of their garden. I was polite and apologetic and even went as far as promising not to let the children in the pool next Sunday as they are apparently entertaining but my DH doesn't think I should have said that in case they take to entertaining on a daily basis!

I'm unsure what to do or where we stand. I don't want to fall out with our neighbours. They clearly find any noise from the pool irritating and I can't realistically eradicate the noise

I've lurked on this for a while.

It's time to let the Council's noise team decide. Unfortunately, they can't come and assess the noise for you, it will have to be as a result of the complaint from your neighbours. So unless they're going to do that (put an official complaint in) there's nothing you can do.

Once the council receive a complaint they'll write to you. You'll know if a complaint has been made.

Obviously the minute you get any official communication you call the officer assigned to the complaint and tell them it's vexatious and part of a bigger picture of harassment.

In terms of pursuing the harassment angle without an official noise complaint, I'm not sure what you'd do. Good old 101 (ha, how mumsnetters loves 101) is an option just to make a log of it, but I really have no expertise here.

In terms of noise complaints being assessed it needs to be pretty bad for the council to take action. They will investigate even if it's going nowhere-they're duty bound to, so keep in touch with the noise team. They'll be looking for a statutory nuisance which has an onerous burden of proof. There are no hard and fast rules (things like permitted times or volume or duration) so a huge burst of ridiculously loud noise may be considered a nuisance or continual low-ish level noise could be if it can be heard clearly in the complainants property. There are no decibel limits or time limits.

Like pp said, block their email and carry on until such a time that they formally complain.

Toofarfromcivilisation , if I remember rightly the OP was there first the complainers are the newcomers

You could always tell the children not to play in the pool (say it needs cleaning or something), but have your friend and her kids over and then let them make as much noise as they like in the garden. Maybe then your neighbors will see it's not the pool, it's the noise, which unfortunately is going to happen in a family house in an areas with lots of family homes.

But please don't stop using the pool, some people just don't like noise or like to complain for the sake of it, and others like in previous posts I've read, like to dictate what other people can do, and time and time again, these people are never happy and continue to dictate to their neighbors even further. They have no legal right, but you do, so enjoy the summer with your children and splash in the pool.

Ignore them! There is no way they will get anywhere making a complaint.
There is nothing unreasonable about enjoying your garden.
Don't change your plans, make the most of your lovely pool.

Email them back saying that if they have a problem, you have provided the number of the Noise Officer and they can take it up with him. Then say that you do not expect to hear from them again in the issue, and that you are blocking their email.

Then ignore. If they continue to be irritating, and start calling/writing more, tell them that they are harassing you for the perfectly legal use of your own property and that any further instances will be logged with the police.

Then enjoy your summer. :)

*on the issue

Op just enjoy your pool and leave the dementers to it.
You sound very reasonable about noise levels so stick to your guns. Ignore any emails and let them complain to the council.

I'd love to be your neighbour, but only if you let my kids round to use your pool!

And you could remind them that they will have to disclose all neighbour disputes when selling their property.

It's the hottest day of the bloody year today (at least, down South). Of COURSE you're going to use the sodding pool!

Honestly, please don't capitulate to their outrageous demands. If you change your plans, that will convince them that you think they have a point.

They moved to a house next door to one with an outdoor pool. Tough shit.

Have your friends over, have your children's friends over, stop the curfews.

They won't be happy unless you stop using it altogether. There's no point in trying to reason with people like this.

And I agree that you should reply to this email with a reminder of the contact details of the noise enforcement officer and a statement that you will not be replying to any further communication from them on the matter. Then divert their emails to a 'fuckwit neighbour' folder and enjoy the rest of your summer hols

or you could throw a few parties with real noisy people - let me know if you want a couple of DCs to borrow!! throw a mumsnet festival party over the weekends

And don't forget that they are also ruining your enjoyment of the garden, by making you paranoid about every little squeak.

They sound like people who will never be satisfied, however quiet you are. There are threads on here that relate tales of unreasonable neighbours complaining about the most ridiculous things. Sounds like your guys are heading to that sort of territory.

Go buy a trampoline, some basketballs and maybe a few supersoakers. Ask a bunch of kids over and let them all loose in the garden. No shushing.

Then go see the neighbours and tell them sweetly that you have heard their complaints about the pool, so today you made sure noone was using it. Are they now satisfied?

But seriously, it's kids playing in their garden. Unless the noise is far above what can be generally expected from children and/or at unsocial hours, they are being totally unreasonable. I would either ignore the email or reply that you have already been very accommodating but you are entirely entitled to use your own garden.

You should absolutely not cancel your lunch plans because of your neighbours! You have already made efforts and shown consideration, but this isn't being reciprocated. They are harassing you despite the concessions you have already made, and it's ridiculous to deprive your children and friends of using the pool when true summer weather is a rarity!

They sound like the kind of people who will always complain about the sound of other people enjoying themselves. When they bought their house and saw your pool, what did they expect? Koi carp?

If I had a pool in my garden, I'd be jumping in, shouting and squealing, never mind the kids :)

Ignore the miserable neighbours

Let your kids enjoy their pool

So knowing that they can't stand the noise why don't you just slip a note through the door when you are having visitors in the pool? You don't need to not do stuff but given fair warning they can decide whether to go out or ride it out. Why don't you suggest a schedule to them? E.g. Children's noise between 12 and 6 and just splashing at all other times? I think once people know certain times when they can either enjoy a relaxing time in their own garden or have friends over for a chat without having to shout then it eases the situation. I know you don't have to do any of this but it's neighbourly and you'll be old one day!

Honestly, please don't capitulate to their outrageous demands. If you change your plans, that will convince them that you think they have a point.

This. It is ludicrous that they've told you not to use your own pool today. They have no right to do that, and by complying, you're letting them think that they do and that this is a reasonable reaction.

Either direct them to the councils' noise team or filter their emails so they go into an unknown folder somewhere and don't be tempted to check it unless you need the emails for evidence.

op in the nicest possible way, grow a fucking backbone.

It's YOUR house. You paid good money for it. Don't you dare change your plans! I'm cross on your behalf but what are you thinking changing your plans, seriously? Use your pool.

Ignore ignore ignore. Woman up.

Do not change your plans for these people.

You have been really accomodating and this is getting ridiculous.

why cant people just let the kids enjoy the summer. ok other people should be able to enjoy their summer to. but kids are mostly at school part from school holidays. neighbours have loads of time to enjoy the garden. did they not make noise as kids.

you not even been there for most of the summer op. seems they are moaning soon as there is noise but not appreciating when its quite. they want it all ways. just carry on enoying the rest of the summer.

You sound really accommodating OP, and you are trying your best to keep the noise down. I would ignore them. Don't respond to any more messages and continue using your pool as you wish.

I bought a house that backs onto a children's play park, and on a day like today - hot, sunny, summer holidays - it is crowded and noisy. The sound of children shrieking and laughing (and sometimes crying). But it's the sound of children enjoying summer, so to me it's a lovely sound!

Your neighbours sound like miserable fuckers and if they wanted a silent garden they should have bought a house in the middle of nowhere!

Please tell me you've changed your plans back and are currently in your pool! You're making it worse by pandering to them, now they think they have the right to tell you when you can and can't use your pool!

Strongly worded email sent and we used the pool. I've said I don't believe we are making anything like an unreasonable level of noise and asked they direct all future complaints to the lovely noise officer. I spoke to him again today too.

Thank you MNetters. I needed to hear from a lot of strangers that I wasn't BU. All my friends said I wasn't but that doesn't always count.

Good to hear you didn't back down. They knew they were buying a house next to a pool. Had you capitulated they would not have been satisfied once you had stopped using it. They would have then insisted you stop using your garden too (whilst also expecting it to be kept tidy). Then noise around the house would be unreasonable along with frequency of visitors, noise made by cars, gates, doors, breathing.

I have nothing useful to add but I am SO JEALOUS.

As a kid I desperately wanted a pool but my parents said no. Your kids are so lucky to have that in their garden. Enjoy it. And invite me next time please! I'll bring an inflatable flamingo and pina coladas!