Neighbour Noise
- Thread starter diver
- Start date
OFTEN
consider the following if you decide to complain to your neighbour direct
if s/he is less intimidating than you, then threaten him/her with the law/violence/unknown repercussions
if s/he is more intimidating than you, then consider these options (for the dog):
- poison
- stun gun
- kidnap
- the RSPCA
The Council noise teams are unfortunately hopeless. We were on at Lewisham BC to sort out the reggae upstairs for over a year and nothing happened. They don't want to get involved, irrespective of whether it is private/council land.
puppylover
Active Member
can i just add ...
I had problem neighbours for years - we couldnt use our back bedroom because of the noise from their 3 Rotties that were kept outside in a shed, never walked ever in the 7 years that we lived next to them and they howled everytime a fire engine went past or a car came down our road (we live near a station!) - 24/7!!
We tried talking to the neighbours about the problem and he told me to f*** off - that's what guard dogs were meant to do (not sure what they were meant to be guarding like....)
Anyway we went to the council and they said we should talk to the neighbours and that we needed to fill in a daily diary - I explained that talking to them would achieve nothing but an earful of abuse so they said they would send round a mediator to sit with us all and to discuss the prob.... I said that would be futile cos you cant talk to them - they just abuse you loudly rather than have a conversation.
I then called the RSPCA to report them for ill treatment of the dogs as in my mind it was totally cruel to leave massive dogs with no exercise ever and the reason they constantly barked was that they were likely distressed, being a dog owner I know what mine were like if they didnt get regular exercise! apparently not, the RSPCA kindly informed us that its not illegal to not walk your dogs, as long as they are fed and watered and have shelter its fine by them and if we had a prob with the noise get in touch with the council...
Anyway - the only time we got any respite was when they moved...... we gained fantastic neighbours and extra rooms to use .....
I hope your council are better than ours - good luck...!!!
I had problem neighbours for years - we couldnt use our back bedroom because of the noise from their 3 Rotties that were kept outside in a shed, never walked ever in the 7 years that we lived next to them and they howled everytime a fire engine went past or a car came down our road (we live near a station!) - 24/7!!
We tried talking to the neighbours about the problem and he told me to f*** off - that's what guard dogs were meant to do (not sure what they were meant to be guarding like....)
Anyway we went to the council and they said we should talk to the neighbours and that we needed to fill in a daily diary - I explained that talking to them would achieve nothing but an earful of abuse so they said they would send round a mediator to sit with us all and to discuss the prob.... I said that would be futile cos you cant talk to them - they just abuse you loudly rather than have a conversation.
I then called the RSPCA to report them for ill treatment of the dogs as in my mind it was totally cruel to leave massive dogs with no exercise ever and the reason they constantly barked was that they were likely distressed, being a dog owner I know what mine were like if they didnt get regular exercise! apparently not, the RSPCA kindly informed us that its not illegal to not walk your dogs, as long as they are fed and watered and have shelter its fine by them and if we had a prob with the noise get in touch with the council...
Anyway - the only time we got any respite was when they moved...... we gained fantastic neighbours and extra rooms to use .....
I hope your council are better than ours - good luck...!!!
diver
Well-Known Member
Olly, Pupplover
Thanks for your replies.
It is unfortunate that I am unable to go down any unlawful routes to resolve the matter quickly!
I have however now got to fill out a diary sheet for the local council who have sent the selfish w$%ke%rs a letter. It seems to appear that the noise enforcement officer will be quite helpful with my predicament. Must act before the council cuts!!!
Lets see if things improve
Thanks for your replies.
It is unfortunate that I am unable to go down any unlawful routes to resolve the matter quickly!
I have however now got to fill out a diary sheet for the local council who have sent the selfish w$%ke%rs a letter. It seems to appear that the noise enforcement officer will be quite helpful with my predicament. Must act before the council cuts!!!
Lets see if things improve
West London Shadow
Active Member
In London, they send out Environmental Health Officers to investigate.
I know this for all the wrong reasons...
I am now a middle aged complainer not a youthful complainee.
I know this for all the wrong reasons...
I am now a middle aged complainer not a youthful complainee.
puppylover
Active Member
Good Luck - its worth persevering if you can down the legal channels - i was so stressed at one time I had offers from some "security" guys who actually offered to kneecap him for £15
For a nanosecond I was almost interested as it seemed a "bargain"
but then quickly thought about the fallout from that if I went down that route...... 
For a nanosecond I was almost interested as it seemed a "bargain"
but then quickly thought about the fallout from that if I went down that route...... Good Luck - its worth persevering if you can down the legal channels - i was so stressed at one time I had offers from some "security" guys who actually offered to kneecap him for £15
For a nanosecond I was almost interested as it seemed a "bargain"
puppylover
Active Member
djcadenza
Active Member
im a dog owner myself,but when you find yourself deprived of sleep and evenings of peace and quiet after a long day at work...you can find yourself contemplating the committing of certain acts!..i had a neighbour who had a dog that literally cried for 7/8 hours a day non stop when the owners left the house for work!..this went on for nearly a year and i pleaded with them to do something as i was suffering as a result..to no avail..the mut got out one day,and out of nowhere a local moggie came to my aid,and had the dog chase it around the block a few times,which finally ended by the mut looking like a spatchcock chicken under a car..."oohh happeey daaayyys"!!
blackswan555
Active Member
Record the offending noise. Then every time you go out/Feel the neighbours are asleep, Play it back at a similar level, They soon get pissed off
Tim
Tim
Boardgrrrrl
Active Member
Record the offending noise. Then every time you go out/Feel the neighbours are asleep, Play it back at a similar level, They soon get pissed off
Tim
A good plan if they are immediate neighbours but what if they're a few gardens away? We have several by us - a terrier that barks like you've trod on it's toes, 2 massive white fluffy pointless things that yip like the terrier and one large dog with a relentless monotone bark whose location I have yet to obtain. I found this summer that standing on my back yard and shouting SHUT THOSE BLOODY DOGS UP had a successful short term effect AND made me feel better.
blackswan555
Active Member
Bigger sound system
Tim
Phone the RSPCA anonymously and say you witnessed the owner kicking the dog.
If the dog is being kept in poor conditions, they might seize it, but at least they will come to inspect and have the owner on file.
If a couple of other neighbours were to call in the near future then....
Failing that, record the sound of a lion and play it through the fence.
If the dog is being kept in poor conditions, they might seize it, but at least they will come to inspect and have the owner on file.
If a couple of other neighbours were to call in the near future then....
Failing that, record the sound of a lion and play it through the fence.
diver
Well-Known Member
Bit of an update
Olly,
You were right. I filled in dairy sheets and there is not enough evidence. Apparently you can make as much noise as you wish between 7am and 11pm.
Here is a copy of an email I have just sent. Do you think it sounds sarcastic? It is not meant to be.
Some of the names have been changed to protect the innocent http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdHLn_iHTSs
Dear XXXX
I apologise for not responding soon after the two week monitoring period came to an end. I have been busy trying not to focus on the noise nuisance having taken the earlier advice from your colleague XXXX.
To begin with, I have been unable to provide the evidence of nuisance that I envisage you requiring to take action. I have therefore not included my diary, which was started but not finished (you could have this for the unused material for any future file). It is a difficult situation that I find myself in, which may be compounded by the fact that I am a shift worker. I cannot provide you with a two week diary as the monitoring times differ. Some days I will be at home all day, some days I will be in bed all day, some days I want to go to bed early and some days I want to stay in bed later. It seems to be acceptable for the dog to bark constantly for 1 or 2 hours at a time, or for us to have to telephone the owner so that we can sleep or just relax? But it is inconsistent, therefore difficult. I could go sick from work with exhaustion or stress, then I would be able to provide more evidence in my diary sheets?
I will provide you with some facts (in no particular order);
1. The dog at XXXXX barks.
2. The dog is large and the bark is extremely loud.
3. The barking is not at set times or for set periods of time.
4. The barking is not within the realms of “unsociable hours.â€
5. My neighbours are affected by the barking but are ignorant of what assistance English law my be able to provide.
6. The dog barking causes me unnecessary anxiety.
7. The dog barking, on occasions prevents me from sleeping, in turn affecting my work.
8. The barking is undoubtedly so loud that it affects other neighbours.
9. The occupants of the house know that the dog is barking because they look at it through the windows.
10. I expect the dog to bark even when it does not.
I asked in my last email the question of “what examples could you give where there has been a successful outcome?†This was directed at any similar cases that you may have dealt with but unfortunately you were unable to answer this. This gives me an indication that the problem is difficult to resolve. So far, I can see that you have tried to help by writing to the dog owner and asking me to fill in some diary sheets, this is clearly not enough to resolve the nuisance. I would expect you to do more than this. I am no expert on noise, you are.
I would expect perhaps the following;
A visit in person to my home address to discuss the matter.
Enquiries with neighbours.
Discreet visit to the area to obtain an initial assessment.
Instalation of sound monitoring equipment.
Visit in person to dog owner to provide advice or issue a warning of some sort.
Reassurance.
You could spend your time writing a lengthy reply, or just call round to discuss matters with me, you are more than welcome. In fact, come round now and share in the pleasures of a barking Rottweiler with me. Perhaps I will never have the outcome I would like?
Sincerely
XXXXXXXX
Olly,
You were right. I filled in dairy sheets and there is not enough evidence. Apparently you can make as much noise as you wish between 7am and 11pm.
Here is a copy of an email I have just sent. Do you think it sounds sarcastic? It is not meant to be.
Some of the names have been changed to protect the innocent http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdHLn_iHTSs
Dear XXXX
I apologise for not responding soon after the two week monitoring period came to an end. I have been busy trying not to focus on the noise nuisance having taken the earlier advice from your colleague XXXX.
To begin with, I have been unable to provide the evidence of nuisance that I envisage you requiring to take action. I have therefore not included my diary, which was started but not finished (you could have this for the unused material for any future file). It is a difficult situation that I find myself in, which may be compounded by the fact that I am a shift worker. I cannot provide you with a two week diary as the monitoring times differ. Some days I will be at home all day, some days I will be in bed all day, some days I want to go to bed early and some days I want to stay in bed later. It seems to be acceptable for the dog to bark constantly for 1 or 2 hours at a time, or for us to have to telephone the owner so that we can sleep or just relax? But it is inconsistent, therefore difficult. I could go sick from work with exhaustion or stress, then I would be able to provide more evidence in my diary sheets?
I will provide you with some facts (in no particular order);
1. The dog at XXXXX barks.
2. The dog is large and the bark is extremely loud.
3. The barking is not at set times or for set periods of time.
4. The barking is not within the realms of “unsociable hours.â€
5. My neighbours are affected by the barking but are ignorant of what assistance English law my be able to provide.
6. The dog barking causes me unnecessary anxiety.
7. The dog barking, on occasions prevents me from sleeping, in turn affecting my work.
8. The barking is undoubtedly so loud that it affects other neighbours.
9. The occupants of the house know that the dog is barking because they look at it through the windows.
10. I expect the dog to bark even when it does not.
I asked in my last email the question of “what examples could you give where there has been a successful outcome?†This was directed at any similar cases that you may have dealt with but unfortunately you were unable to answer this. This gives me an indication that the problem is difficult to resolve. So far, I can see that you have tried to help by writing to the dog owner and asking me to fill in some diary sheets, this is clearly not enough to resolve the nuisance. I would expect you to do more than this. I am no expert on noise, you are.
I would expect perhaps the following;
A visit in person to my home address to discuss the matter.
Enquiries with neighbours.
Discreet visit to the area to obtain an initial assessment.
Instalation of sound monitoring equipment.
Visit in person to dog owner to provide advice or issue a warning of some sort.
Reassurance.
You could spend your time writing a lengthy reply, or just call round to discuss matters with me, you are more than welcome. In fact, come round now and share in the pleasures of a barking Rottweiler with me. Perhaps I will never have the outcome I would like?
Sincerely
XXXXXXXX
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A bashing might sort out your neighbor