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Original poster

Neighbours bbq noise

21 replies

Grannyg1 · 25/04/2021 03:46

My neighbours 70 foot long garden and joins my side fence, they have made a play area and bbq area at bottom of their garden, so nearer my house than theirs, just under my bedroom. I can cope with young boy ringing his bell early morning and through day, but the noisy smelly bbq under my window is grating on me. My other adjoining next door neighbours bbq area is further away than theirs, not sure what to do? Can't have window open (double bedroom large tilting window because have asthma and mainly as noisy. Doesn't seem fair to be nearer my house than their own? Their own neighbours side on are happy as noise at bottom of gardens away from their houses, but means right next to mine literally about 4 to 5 foot away? Don't want to be rude but not sure what if anything I can do without upsetting them.

OP posts:

user1471538283 · 25/04/2021 07:47

This is so typical. I had this. The BBQ right by me but as far away as possible from their door. The smell didn't bother me really because they never did it for long. What did bother me was the noise from music or people all day and evening long.

I would tell them that you need to open the window so they have to move it. And that you need them to be considerate about noise.

beginningoftheend · 25/04/2021 07:49

Do you rent or own? If you rent I'd complain more, if you own I would be more cautious due to resale issues.

PegasusReturns · 25/04/2021 07:53

I think this is just part and parcel of having neighbours: complaining about peoples reasonable use of their garden is going to achieve nothing other than causing you stress.

Can you try and reframe your thoughts?

sunnyblackwidow · 25/04/2021 07:54

Surely the BBQ is only actually on a couple of hours at a time at most?

Our BBQ is outside our own windows, and we just close the windows for a while and open them up again afterwards. It doesn't cause any problem.

PegasusReturns · 25/04/2021 07:54

I would tell them that you need to open the window so they have to move it

Come on!! Telling your neighbour they need to do something is never going to go well.

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 25/04/2021 08:08

Ask them nicely to move the BBQ further up their garden?

Otherwise, water your lawn in such a way that water sprinkles over the fence, occasionally.

GintyMcGinty · 25/04/2021 08:16

You can ask them nicelyto move it.

But there's nothing more you can do than that. It's inconsiderate for sure but they can put it there is they want and there's nothing you can do to get them to move other than appealing to them.

Londongent · 25/04/2021 08:24

Part and parcel or having neighbours I'm afraid. You could try talking to them nicely asking if they would mind moving their bbq away from your house a little. No guarantees they will, but if you mention it considerately it may weigh on their conscience. If you tell them to move it, then I doubt they will as it's in their garden and technically they are doing nothing wrong, you will just annoy them

Muststopeating · 25/04/2021 08:26

And it begins...

Your post sounds like if they move the bbq to accommodate you then they'll make it worse for others? So there is no way to please everyone? I doubt very much they've put the bbq at the bottom of their own house to avoid the smell as that just makes it a hassle to carry everything back and forth.

Mumsnet is full of threads where people generally don't think other people should be allowed to use their own gardens (or woodburners or in fact allow their children to cry). But I really do think this year we need to cut people some slack. People who have been following the rules are FINALLY allowed to meet people again, but only outside. The weather has been fabulous and since people haven't been allowed to go on holiday they are going to revel in it (even more than Brits normally do).

Plus the smells from a bbq (generally) are really not offensive.

I don't enjoy other peoples noise and therefore I don't live in a semi or even a street for that matter. In fact I live in the back end of beyond!

If they are making a raquet into the night, night after night (as opposed to once in a blue moon) then you have grounds to be cross. If they are cooking a few sausages on sunny days then you really really don't! And as for kids playing... in a garden... during daytime hours...

silverstrawberry · 25/04/2021 08:28

Invite yourself over! take drinks.. become a bore and a misery that they question themselves everytime they bring up the thought of having another good old bbq 🍗

idontlikealdi · 25/04/2021 09:01

I don't think you can do anything. From what you describe you have no garden? They can have a bbq in their garden, wherever it is.

Original poster

Grannyg1 · 25/04/2021 10:03

Thanks for all your comments, that's what I thought really. It's not the smell, it's the noise and smoke and lack of thought for others. I have a 70 foot long garden too, but back onto no one.if it were me I would please everyone and try it in middle of garden or even move it to far right of their patio then it would be 20 foot away from my window and still away from their direct neighbours, it would still probably be noisy, but not under my window. Invite myself round 😁 I wish, but wouldn't be that cheeky and would probably be knackered after shift and in bed😁😁 I have 7 gardens sideways going down my garden, it's because our street joins on another street on a hill. Yes hard year for all, working shifts in hospital quite taxing, we all need the sun and relaxation😊 and perhaps, consideration for each other, seen so much loss, could still do without the smoke and noise so near though😉😉 I may move our lawn and goal posts for my younger kids to practice goal scoring, to under my window so that the occasional ball can go over their fence - only joking that's not me😅😇

OP posts:

Changingwiththetimes · 25/04/2021 10:12

I appreciate your dilemma but everyone on mumsnet must have neighbours who party hard all day and night. I have a bbq every once in a while when we have company, it's near my house and my neighbours. It's smoky for about an hour to hour and a half while heating up and cooking, and then it's just a trickle of smoke. Ten of us fed, no loud music (if there is any music at all, off by 10pm). And no running around screaming, even when the kids were small. My other neighbours have grandkids over and only tiled garden (so noise bounces off), they run around and shout a bit, but it's just background noise. I live between two schools so many families, but I just don't register the noise as anything other than normal family life. I like it.

cheshirecat777 · 25/04/2021 10:16

Oh gosh i think practically you cant do much. This sort of low level continuous noise/air pollution can br maddening i know

if you rent and its an on going issue or is part of a wider range of issues maybe move if it irritates you that much

if you own the property then not sure i wouldn't raise it in any overt way as it may risk a future sale

if its any compensation i think many of us are feeling the pain of being surrounded by other houses noise. I know my house has a private ish garden but is situation amongst lots of other houses and the noise they generate does irritate me but sadly not much you can do other than move somewhere with less houses surrounding you

surreygirl1987 · 25/04/2021 10:16

The smell and smoke wouldn't bother me but the noise would. However, unless it was late into the evening I wouldn't say anything. I live in a terrace and the gardens are tight- we have neighbours who have noisy bbqs sometimes. It's only occadional though so I just get through it. Are your neighbours' ones every night? Late into the night? If not, it sounds annoying but reasonable use of the garden and there's not much you can do about it!

ThisIsStartingToBoreMe · 25/04/2021 10:18

Are you a single parent and are the other neighbours coupled up? I only ask because my neighbours are less polite and considerate to me in general than they are to the houses that have a man living there

Seeline · 25/04/2021 10:22

You could try sitting at your window, gazing down on them. Perhaps join in with the conversation, comment on the food etc. They genuinely might not have thought about how close it was to your window.

Original poster

Grannyg1 · 25/04/2021 10:27

Thanks all. Feel better after sleeping, hard working shifts and having to try and sleep , I personally wouldn't allow any of my kids to ring a bell before 9am or all day. I wouldn't stop their fun but bit of moderation. It's only summer time bbqs and don't wish to spoil anyone's summer fun, be nice if it was further away from my window though. I can't move bedrooms full house and two of us work shifts , one early mornings so in bed by 9 and he(18 yr old son) has a back bedroom too. I have 4 kids one was 18 during lockdown bless , we did have a bbq for us 6 but luckily we are far from neighbours houses , no loud music, perhaps in too considerate and should let them all go for it . Anyways housework and ironing call before second job. Thank you all again, nice to bounce of other people's thoughts 😃keep safe and well.

OP posts:

Original poster

Grannyg1 · 25/04/2021 10:29

@Seeline

You could try sitting at your window, gazing down on them. Perhaps join in with the conversation, comment on the food etc. They genuinely might not have thought about how close it was to your window.

Haha nice one Seeline , I like this thought 😉😁

OP posts:

Ginjanotaninja · 25/04/2021 18:35

Slightly passive/aggressive, but Comfrey could be your answer. Grow some comfrey and make the best tomato fertiliser with it. Place bucket or barrel with a lid- very important - fill with water and harvested comfrey just the other side to their bbq and when they are there, go and stir it, whist holding your breath. You'll still smell your tomato fertiliser, but honestly the smell is so, so bad that your neighbours, won't be able to breathe let alone bbq. It will erm...discourage gatherings.

SJaneS49 · 25/04/2021 20:04

I like the comfrey idea. Our newish neighbours (renting) have their hot tub right against our fence and are out in it every day for a couple of hours, even when it was snowing. The sound of the motor, the steam and their music are a right pain the a*se - not to mention the recently divorced from other people frolicking that seems to go on judging by the squeals and giggles!

So in comparison, a neighbours bbq every now and again, no problem!

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