Herd of elephants living next door!
Discussion
We just moved back into the semi we had rented out for six years, and discovered a zoo has been opened next door. Or that is what it sounds like! Every afternoon from about 4 to 9 elephants run around and the booming of their footfalls echoes through our house. It is a rental house.
Our tenant had kindly insulated three of the four adjacent rooms with some sort of false wall, but I think it reverberates through the floor joists.
The elephants are actually two small kids who seem to run everywhere from when they get home from school,
until bed time.
Tonight I think their owner/keeper has gone out as I vouyeured through the back window from the dark of our garden and there seems to be a youngish teenage girl running the length and breadth of the house with the eh little 'uns , playing some sort of chase game. I assume she is a babysitter... or she could be the mum...
Damn, not been in here four weeks and it is driving me nuts already. Not sure whether to go and complain, or wait umtil they grow a bit and spend all their free time with their face in a mobile.
Or sell up and move into a detached place again......
Our tenant had kindly insulated three of the four adjacent rooms with some sort of false wall, but I think it reverberates through the floor joists.
The elephants are actually two small kids who seem to run everywhere from when they get home from school,
until bed time.
Tonight I think their owner/keeper has gone out as I vouyeured through the back window from the dark of our garden and there seems to be a youngish teenage girl running the length and breadth of the house with the eh little 'uns , playing some sort of chase game. I assume she is a babysitter... or she could be the mum...
Damn, not been in here four weeks and it is driving me nuts already. Not sure whether to go and complain, or wait umtil they grow a bit and spend all their free time with their face in a mobile.
Or sell up and move into a detached place again......
alfie2244 said:
Not being funny but one of your previous topics may be more relevant as to why it irritates you so much.
No, I don't really think so. Our tenant spent his own time and money insulating three rooms because of noise coming through, so it is not specifically me. Maybe I should get the fourth one done?The floor of the zoo looks to be carpeted, though our own uninsulated room has that awful plastic floor shyte in. May pay to put a heavy carpet in there to damp things down a touch?
Or I could build a tv room into the loft of my garage?
chilistrucker said:
No harm in knocking on the door in a civil and polite manner explaining the situation, and asking in 'the nicest possible way' if it could be rectified?
The reply you get will then determine the best way forward
I came close to that a while ago, but things have gon quiet now. Tonight was a special night, louder than usual, I think the keeper has gone out for the evening. The reply you get will then determine the best way forward
When we lived here before we were woken up more than a few times by a baby crying in our room, which turned out to be next doors new baby, in their bedroom.....
I had not realised the walls were so thin, as the guy who was in there for the first two years never made a sound.
A year or so ago I had said there was no way I would ever live in a semi again, but things have changed....
Don't bother with the additional false wall. I have similar with my neighbours - and have also had false wall / insulation added to my lounge and bedroom.
For 'normal' noise it made a huge difference - I e loud talking / shouting etc. But it makes virtually no difference to low frequency noise such as running constantly on laminate flooring.
My neighbours seem to believe their kids (under 10) should go to bed as late as them, so sometimes they are still running around after 10pm. I always wondered how they could run inside the house so much - they have their blinds closed 99% of the time, but one day they happened to be open. There kids play football in their lounge....
For 'normal' noise it made a huge difference - I e loud talking / shouting etc. But it makes virtually no difference to low frequency noise such as running constantly on laminate flooring.
My neighbours seem to believe their kids (under 10) should go to bed as late as them, so sometimes they are still running around after 10pm. I always wondered how they could run inside the house so much - they have their blinds closed 99% of the time, but one day they happened to be open. There kids play football in their lounge....
King Herald said:
alfie2244 said:
Not being funny but one of your previous topics may be more relevant as to why it irritates you so much.
No, I don't really think so. Our tenant spent his own time and money insulating three rooms because of noise coming through, so it is not specifically me. Maybe I should get the fourth one done?The floor of the zoo looks to be carpeted, though our own uninsulated room has that awful plastic floor shyte in. May pay to put a heavy carpet in there to damp things down a touch?
Or I could build a tv room into the loft of my garage?
Young families make noise that's just the way it is IMO.
King Herald said:
We just moved back into the semi we had rented out for six years, It is a rental house.
As was yours for 6 years.Just saying. And when they go it will be a rental again and no doubt others in your street will be too. If you can in any way at all move do it now and see what is available in the detached market
Anyone who lives in flat with young families as neighbours will feel your pain. It's something young kids do, little people are incredibly loud.
The trouble is the family won't really notice themselves too much and you can't dictate to someone else what you time you think their kids should go to bed!
There are loads of soundproofing products available but all the effective ones are meant for installation during build or refurbishments.
It took me a while but I've become a bit more zen about neighbours noise. Unless you can afford a detached property with lots of land you're never going to escape it.
The trouble is the family won't really notice themselves too much and you can't dictate to someone else what you time you think their kids should go to bed!
There are loads of soundproofing products available but all the effective ones are meant for installation during build or refurbishments.
It took me a while but I've become a bit more zen about neighbours noise. Unless you can afford a detached property with lots of land you're never going to escape it.
NeMiSiS said:
Mr Herald.
Have you seen the film, Falling Down?
Seen it? I wrote it. Have you seen the film, Falling Down?
Yes, I know the neighbors aren't actually doing any more than any family with kids, and previous neighbors have probably cussed at moaned about noises we have made in our house, before we realized the walls were so very paper thin.
I have set up camp in the tiny spare bedroom which is away from the neighbors shared wall. When the wife arrives I guess I'll be expected to move into a main bedroom with her. But noise after bedtime is not really an issue, just the time when the kids arrive home from school until their bedtime.
Moving house is a distinct possibility. I have my self-built garage here, but moving to a detached house may provide a garage as well, hopefully. We have two houses to sell, a minimimal mortgage to settle, but moving yet again will be tedious.....
Few years back, my neighbours had a baby girl. Who once she moved into her own room (shared wall) would often keep me awake at nights with her crying. When I chose my flat I made sure the bedroom don't share a wall with the neighbours. I completely forgot to think about the 
s who live above me.
Every day from 8am to 12midnight if they are in they are smashing into things or banging doors or dropping things or shouting at each other. And the child is obviously noisy, but he/she isn't the one stamping around the place! Often with large banging noises at random o' clock that wakes me up at anything between 2-4am. Its not clear to me if either of the occupants actually work. The noise is too constant. When I've had days off it's happening whether I'm there or not.
First step was to work out if they were renters or owners. Google and Zoopla said flat was bought in one month then up for rent a few later. So renters
Then I contacted the management firm to get the owners contact details. But due to "data protection" they wouldnt so I got them to forward an email to the owner of the flat mentioning the noise.
After 2 weeks. ZERO change. Still banging about constantly.
After 4 weeks. I got the arse one day and banged on my ceiling in retaliation
Got a visit from the male occupant within 1 minute who came down and pounded on my door until I opened it. Who then proceeded to ask me "whats your fking problem, I get letter from landlord !"
We talked. He said that the previous owner of my flat had also complained about his noise. But that wasn't him either
He didn't commit to anything, he was adament that I was more noisy than him. (noise doesn't tend to travel upwards IMO) That he didn't make a sound as his mrs would have a go at him. He also was fishing to see if I worked weekends as in his mind it meant he could do whatever he wanted.
Inevitably NO change. (Well in fairness he did stop his death metal screaming he used to practice!) So 2 months later. Another letter to the landlord via the management company (who have been civil but impotent. What do I pay them for apart from a crappy gardener every 4 weeks who cuts the grass but nothing else!) saying essentially "it stops now or I go higher. Council and or Police for harrassment" Started to keep a detailed list of times and noises.
Another month on, no change.
So earlier this month, I've started involving the councils noise people. First person was interested. Second person less interested, trying to play it down, saying that you cant stop people from living. (Which is fair enough, but this is beyond that!) But eventually said they'd write them a letter. I have to leave it for 2 weeks to see if they improves
Guess what. No change! Last night it stopped at after midnight. (But was still woken at 4:05 by loud bangs) Then they started up again at 8:10 this morning!
Next step according to the council is noise recording equipment in my flat.
Having sunk my life savings into getting on the ladder. I am not in the financial position to be able to move. Which would be the ideal scenario. But barring a win from Euromillions or some long lost relative leaving a sizeable wedge (and my family isn't that big ) I feel the OPs pain.
My ultimate goal now is to have them evicted. And if the next renters are as bad, then they can have some as well! Curiously, the people either side of me are completely fine. I occasionally hear a toilet or a TV or currently a washing machine, but that's just normal living. And the people below me have not made any complaint since I moved in (we had a chat about the laminate flooring in my flat which I have removed. See other post about sound deadening elsewhere) so I'm guessing I'm not actually a problem generally
s who live above me.Every day from 8am to 12midnight if they are in they are smashing into things or banging doors or dropping things or shouting at each other. And the child is obviously noisy, but he/she isn't the one stamping around the place! Often with large banging noises at random o' clock that wakes me up at anything between 2-4am. Its not clear to me if either of the occupants actually work. The noise is too constant. When I've had days off it's happening whether I'm there or not.
First step was to work out if they were renters or owners. Google and Zoopla said flat was bought in one month then up for rent a few later. So renters
Then I contacted the management firm to get the owners contact details. But due to "data protection" they wouldnt so I got them to forward an email to the owner of the flat mentioning the noise.
After 2 weeks. ZERO change. Still banging about constantly.
After 4 weeks. I got the arse one day and banged on my ceiling in retaliation
Got a visit from the male occupant within 1 minute who came down and pounded on my door until I opened it. Who then proceeded to ask me "whats your f
king problem, I get letter from landlord !"We talked. He said that the previous owner of my flat had also complained about his noise. But that wasn't him either
He didn't commit to anything, he was adament that I was more noisy than him. (noise doesn't tend to travel upwards IMO) That he didn't make a sound as his mrs would have a go at him. He also was fishing to see if I worked weekends as in his mind it meant he could do whatever he wanted.Inevitably NO change. (Well in fairness he did stop his death metal screaming he used to practice!) So 2 months later. Another letter to the landlord via the management company (who have been civil but impotent. What do I pay them for apart from a crappy gardener every 4 weeks who cuts the grass but nothing else!) saying essentially "it stops now or I go higher. Council and or Police for harrassment" Started to keep a detailed list of times and noises.
Another month on, no change.
So earlier this month, I've started involving the councils noise people. First person was interested. Second person less interested, trying to play it down, saying that you cant stop people from living. (Which is fair enough, but this is beyond that!) But eventually said they'd write them a letter. I have to leave it for 2 weeks to see if they improves
Guess what. No change! Last night it stopped at after midnight. (But was still woken at 4:05 by loud bangs) Then they started up again at 8:10 this morning!
Next step according to the council is noise recording equipment in my flat.
Having sunk my life savings into getting on the ladder. I am not in the financial position to be able to move. Which would be the ideal scenario. But barring a win from Euromillions or some long lost relative leaving a sizeable wedge (and my family isn't that big
) I feel the OPs pain. My ultimate goal now is to have them evicted. And if the next renters are as bad, then they can have some as well! Curiously, the people either side of me are completely fine. I occasionally hear a toilet or a TV or currently a washing machine, but that's just normal living. And the people below me have not made any complaint since I moved in (we had a chat about the laminate flooring in my flat which I have removed. See other post about sound deadening elsewhere) so I'm guessing I'm not actually a problem generally
Rich, there was a great video on YouTube about guy in your situation who created a system that would record noise, then a few seconds later play it back three times, and amplified. He installed it into a false ceiling he built in his flat, so the 'tards upstairs would get a taste of the noise they were producing. It apparently worked.
Also, a guy who worked on my ship had your very problem in his own London flat, and he built a false ceiling using wood and Celotex foam stuff. Reckons it made a hell of a difference, shut out the continual screaming arguments from upstairs. He admits he did like his music loud, which was something the people above him complained about in return. So he solved two problems.
Also, a guy who worked on my ship had your very problem in his own London flat, and he built a false ceiling using wood and Celotex foam stuff. Reckons it made a hell of a difference, shut out the continual screaming arguments from upstairs. He admits he did like his music loud, which was something the people above him complained about in return. So he solved two problems.
King Herald said:
Rich, there was a great video on YouTube about guy in your situation who created a system that would record noise, then a few seconds later play it back three times, and amplified. He installed it into a false ceiling he built in his flat, so the 'tards upstairs would get a taste of the noise they were producing. It apparently worked.
Also, a guy who worked on my ship had your very problem in his own London flat, and he built a false ceiling using wood and Celotex foam stuff. Reckons it made a hell of a difference, shut out the continual screaming arguments from upstairs. He admits he did like his music loud, which was something the people above him complained about in return. So he solved two problems.
Much as I find the first idea fun. The guy having met him and his mannerisms when f-ing and blinding at my door. I suspect giving him a atase of his own medicine would enrage him further. Plus Id lose the argument in terms of trying to get them evicted via legal means. And I wouldn't put physical violence past him. I guess with any luck once Article 50 is triggered he's only got 2 years before he has to fAlso, a guy who worked on my ship had your very problem in his own London flat, and he built a false ceiling using wood and Celotex foam stuff. Reckons it made a hell of a difference, shut out the continual screaming arguments from upstairs. He admits he did like his music loud, which was something the people above him complained about in return. So he solved two problems.
k off back to whatever eastern European country they're from! Saying that I'm sure this gobberment and civil service incompetence will grant citizenship to undesirables and send home the people was actually need. But that's another point for another post.If the legal methods fail then I will pursue other methods in more detail.
Second point. The shouting is a problem, but it's mostly impact type noise. I guess in an ideal world the landlord would install a good couple of layers of high quality sound deadening inside the flat above. Would need to be in living room, bedroom 1 and the hall. I can't imagine whoevers buy-to-let the place wants to stump up £10K on work.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Bow old are you??? Besides, I'm just having a piss and moan about it. Something people use to be able to do on PH once, without somebody getting their little thrills telling them how wrong they are about it! Something that seems to happen on nearly every thread nowadays.
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