Noise Complaint - What to do
Discussion
Thanks for the responses, much appreciated.
No we weren't smoking ganj in the garden
The music in the house was a bit of a mixed bag but nothing bassy as such. We did have the windows ajar though which I will avoid next time. We were literally whispering outside!
As I mentioned the police confirmed we were doing nothing wrong and even said "carry on with your night". I was surprised to see them to be honest as upon looking into this they generally only come out if there's fear of a crime being committed. Whether the 'complainer' exaggurated the situation to get a reaction I don't know. We weren't breaking any Covid rules a there were only 4 of us. The next day I put the music on at the same volume, opened the windows and walked out the house. You couldn't hear anything past our drive which leads me to think it's someone quite bitter trying to make a point.
Clearly if the police thought there was any sort of issue they would have advised us though but this was far from the case. They looked a little surprised they were faced with us chatting and not some crazy house party.
No we weren't smoking ganj in the garden
The music in the house was a bit of a mixed bag but nothing bassy as such. We did have the windows ajar though which I will avoid next time. We were literally whispering outside!
As I mentioned the police confirmed we were doing nothing wrong and even said "carry on with your night". I was surprised to see them to be honest as upon looking into this they generally only come out if there's fear of a crime being committed. Whether the 'complainer' exaggurated the situation to get a reaction I don't know. We weren't breaking any Covid rules a there were only 4 of us. The next day I put the music on at the same volume, opened the windows and walked out the house. You couldn't hear anything past our drive which leads me to think it's someone quite bitter trying to make a point.
Clearly if the police thought there was any sort of issue they would have advised us though but this was far from the case. They looked a little surprised they were faced with us chatting and not some crazy house party.
MattyD803 said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
9am? Why such a late start? 
Many years ago my parents had neighbours (3 or 4 doors over) who every year for their birthdays would host a large gathering and play loud music until probably 3/4am. My dad would take great delight in detouring via the payphone on his way to the newsagent the following morning and giving them a call around 7am, and if he was lucky they'd not cottoned on and taken the phone off the hook so would catch them again a few minutes later on his way back Actually I've just read this bit: "We were literally whispering outside!" which makes the below redundant.
Incidentally, you ask 'What To Do?' I would say nothing. Don't have more frequent get togethers, just have them as you have been. Don't spend more time outside just to exercise your rights. Don't turn the music up - etc, etc.
Just do what you've been doing, which is nothing wrong as far as the police are concerned. If it gets to the stage that these neighbours make a noise or ASB complaint to the council, you'll be informed, but then you can take the opportunity to tell the noise abatement officer/whoever, that the police have already attended on such-and-such a date and time, and told you to carry on.
As you were!
8IKERDAVE said:
.. The next day I put the music on at the same volume, opened the windows and walked out the house. You couldn't hear anything past our drive....
Some people can't stand the sound of people enjoying themselves/being happy - ie, it was probably the laughter especially if someone was retelling a particularly hilarious anecdote or something. It's obviously not the music. Just a thought but maybe the neighbour feels you're coming outside fairly regularly to make more noise than you were, when you were inside.Incidentally, you ask 'What To Do?' I would say nothing. Don't have more frequent get togethers, just have them as you have been. Don't spend more time outside just to exercise your rights. Don't turn the music up - etc, etc.
Just do what you've been doing, which is nothing wrong as far as the police are concerned. If it gets to the stage that these neighbours make a noise or ASB complaint to the council, you'll be informed, but then you can take the opportunity to tell the noise abatement officer/whoever, that the police have already attended on such-and-such a date and time, and told you to carry on.
As you were!
Edited by ReverendCounter on Tuesday 20th July 17:39
Edited by ReverendCounter on Tuesday 20th July 17:42
As others have remarked, it is surprising that police officers came out. This would normally be for the local authority to sort out. Ours (Stirling) has an "out of hours noise team" who have the authority to issue a fixed penalty of £100 if offenders do not comply with an initial warning. Sounds good, if it were not for the fact that they only operate Thursday to Saturdaynights between 20.00 and 22.00. Which is as much use as a chocolate fireguard. 
It is taking the piss in my opinion. Any music after 10pm would piss me off.
They probably feel the same about buying an expensive house and the last thing they want is to subjected to parties through the night.
Im about to move to a 'forever' house and this is my worst fear about it all.
They probably feel the same about buying an expensive house and the last thing they want is to subjected to parties through the night.
Im about to move to a 'forever' house and this is my worst fear about it all.
It's a piss-take. Music till 1 am is stupid. You were not being quiet. How do you "whisper" over music anyway?
You might think you are being reasonable, but you are not. Learn your lesson and be respectful.
If only a common-sense rule was in place that kept people quiet from 11 pm till 7 am. You could even make it a part of the highway code. Oh, wait.
You might think you are being reasonable, but you are not. Learn your lesson and be respectful.
If only a common-sense rule was in place that kept people quiet from 11 pm till 7 am. You could even make it a part of the highway code. Oh, wait.
8IKERDAVE said:
A couple of weeks ago we had a couple over for tea and drinks. The music was on, albeit not at any ridiculous volume as both kids were in bed. We were popping outside throughout the night for cigarettes and about 1am when we were about to call it a night, 3 police officers walked onto the patio! They were extremely polite but advised there had been a noise complaint and of course couldn't say who it was. They did however, tell us not to worry and we were doing nothing wrong. They then swiftly left and bid us a good night.
Congratulations on the new house. Perhaps check the local rules. Most councils have a no noise expectation after 10pm on a work night and midnight on the weekends. In my development most neighbours abide by the same and everyone gets along just fine (presumably with less space between the houses than yours). As an aside, maybe drop smoking; terrible waste of money and health.We have a neighbour about 50 yards away who every 20 minutes or so blasts noise out at 80 decibels. It's unpleasant and in my view unnecessary, but they have a statutory defence to nuisance. Annoying.
At 1AM, especially in warm weather when people will have windows open I think really the music should be whisper quiet in a residential setting.
At 1AM, especially in warm weather when people will have windows open I think really the music should be whisper quiet in a residential setting.
8IKERDAVE said:
The next day I put the music on at the same volume, opened the windows and walked out the house. You couldn't hear anything past our drive which leads me to think it's someone quite bitter trying to make a point.
Was this at 1am or during the day? Ambient noise during the night is far (far) lower, so any other sounds would be much louder.Prizam said:
It's a piss-take. Music till 1 am is stupid. You were not being quiet. How do you "whisper" over music anyway?
You might think you are being reasonable, but you are not. Learn your lesson and be respectful.
If only a common-sense rule was in place that kept people quiet from 11 pm till 7 am. You could even make it a part of the highway code. Oh, wait.
Maybe you are misunderstanding me here. Music was on INSIDE the detached house on a Saturday night. We were going outside occasionally for a smoke, but I didn’t take my stereo with me. No louder than watching a film! You might think you are being reasonable, but you are not. Learn your lesson and be respectful.
If only a common-sense rule was in place that kept people quiet from 11 pm till 7 am. You could even make it a part of the highway code. Oh, wait.
I find it hard to believe that at 10pm on a Saturday night everyone switches all their electrical devices off and doesn’t go outside anymore. I must have been to some strange houses over the years because I’ve never witnessed this.
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