Super noisy German neighbours - what can we do?

[Scootergrrrl]

Can anyone give me any ideas what to do about our neighbours? We live in a lovely area of Germany which is brilliant APART FROM the pub 200 yards from our house which has parties every month or so - another one last night - where they playing banging techno at top volume from midnight until 7am. We've tried called out the German police - knowing, as we do, that you're not allowed to mow your lawn after 8pm because it's too noisy - but the pub just turns down the music a fraction til the police go away then turn it back up even louder. Please help (yawns.....)

Not sure why it is relevant to mention that they are GERMAN neighbours .... IMO many English pubs can be very noisy as well. That is the problem if you choose a house near a pub. On the plus side these houses are often cheaper, so it is all about trade offs.

I think the reason for mentioning it's German is to catch other people who live in Germany who can give OP some personal experience of what they did, what authorities they spoke to, give a bit of 'on the ground' info as it were.

I think the difference is that, as Scootergrrl said, rules about noise pollution are much stricter in Germany than in the UK. She hasn't actually said the neighbours are German, they are just in Germany :)

Have you asked the police why they can't do something about it, Scootergrrl? Or spoken to your neighbours to see what they make of it?

Have you spoken to your other neighbours? How do they feel about it?

I would also suggest that you need to be persistent. If they turn the music up again as soon as the police leave, could you call the police again, and again until the police get sick of it and do something about it?

Otherwise you would have the option of filing a suit against them but again this might be better done with other neighbours if they feel the same.

Also perhaps you could try posting on some expat forums as you will get more people living in Germany who will have more local knowledge.

Good luck, it sounds grim

I thought it was relevant to mention they were German because we are not, and have little knowledge of the wider laws, apart from the ones we know we're supposed to stick to! We have called the police twice, and they come, make them turn it down, then leave. Everyone on our patch is affected by the noise - we are a couple of streets of just English people working in Germany so no one knows as much about the law as maybe we could. Still going on though! They've got stamina if nothing else...

Oh, I am surprised, as lived in Germany with my german husband, and everyone was so well behaved and they had strict rules of codes of behaviour, which were adhered to, but we did live in a village. They do work and play hard, and love celebrating, but no-one got aggressive. Many germans start work very early, so they do not celebrate on a week day. And you say it is only once a month or so, then I assume it is on a Saturday night? German houses are better insulated than ours due to their very low winter temperatures, so I am surprised the noise is so disturbing for you. And also surprised that a pub - they celebrate at home for up to 30 people usually-, was allowed to be built so near dwellings, as their planning permission is also very strict. Where do you live in Germany? As you have tried and the police have done what they have to, I don't think there is anymore you can do. Have you befriended any german neighbours and have they complained?

Ps. Just read that your couple of streets are all english people and no german neighbours - says it all I think. And yes they do have stamina and can hold their drink