An upset parent took to social media to complain about her noisy neighbours
A family who can’t sleep because of their noisy neighbours has taken to social media to complain. Venting frustration on Mumsnet, the upset parent asked social media users: “Would you be happy if your neighbour’s children were fighting, shouting and screaming whilst playing football in the garden until 9pm?”
The mum said: “The three children are aged 7-16 and the older ones tend to bully the youngest which causes him to shout and argue with them. The parents never intervene or ask them to keep it down.
“It’s waking up our 3 year old and 7 month old, even over white noise, as their rooms overlook the garden and we’re in a Victorian terrace, so we’re getting frustrated with it. The sound is so loud that I can hear it through the monitor clearly.”
Explaining her upset, she added: “We genuinely don’t mind playing, laughing, talking, we get that kids are loud, but the constant shouting, bickering and screaming as balls constantly bash against the wall is starting to drive us a bit insane. How much do people tolerate before asking the parents to intervene?”
Replying to the post, someone said: “They’re in their own property and 9pm isn’t late. Yours will be doing the same soon enough.” A second comment said: “I think it’s obnoxious but also perfectly legal. I can’t see what you’d achieve by talking to the parents except creating a bad situation but you’re the only one who knows the family.”
However, another viewer wrote: “The screaming is just a hard no for me! My kids were screaming in the garden and I told them we had a letter from Environmental Health. They can play, laugh but cut the screaming out. I would be having a word.”
A different reply said: “I don’t even let my dog bark for over a minute in the garden during the day time! I let her out for a wee and she can stay out if she is quiet but a few too many barks and she is lured back in with a biscuit so the neighbours can enjoy their garden. I often feel I live in a different world where everyone just does whatever they like thoughtlessly.”
Someone else thought: “It’s selfish and antisocial. And I say that as the mum of a footie mad teen. We’ve never allowed screaming or shouting, and the ball is not allowed to be kicked against the fence, he has a net. And it’s dark at 9pm now. Can you go around and have politely talk to them? Would they listen?”
Unfortunately, it sounds like the family has been dealing with excessive noise for some time. When one commenter asked: “Are they shouting aggressively or just being noisy and annoying?” the mum replied: “Shouting aggressively as they argue whilst playing football, which results in the older ones kicking balls at the youngest, he then screams. Rinse, repeat for 2-3 hours straight.”
In another comment, she said: “Sadly, this isn’t just a summer thing, it’s pretty much all year round.” She added: “It seems like there’s very much a divide on this and what’s acceptable.
“We get that kids will be kids but these are teens and preteens, aside from the younger two siblings, shouting, fighting and screaming. A baby genuinely cannot help but cry, so feel like you can’t really compare to purposely shouting when it’s possible not to.”