Way to Deal with Fire Smoke and Noise from Neighbours?

Emerald Owl on 18/04/2020 - 21:21

Hi,

So I live next to a very loud family of adults. Whilst I’m inside trying to work, etc, they are always outside making loud noise. They do not train/quiet their dog, get drunk outside 5 nights a week with loud music, invite whole basketball teams over to practice on their driveway, etc. The parents in particular have long conversations outside yelling throughout the day. They even crammed a whole wedding into their backyard.
Recently, they have gotten what looks like an oil barrel, fill it with something, light it and sit out there. This is suburban Sydney, not a farm. The smoke is heavily coming into my house.

I’m really over it. They are beyond inconsiderate and the most ‘look at me’, loud people I’ve ever seen. I cannot overstate the frequency, length and level of noise. I have literally zero issues with other neighbours, even one guy who works on cars in his driveway all day - he is quiet. I have asked them nicely, to no effect. I’m not proud of the fact that I’ve started yelling out the window at them in frustration. Trouble is, I can’t even yell loud enough to get their attention lol.

Besides earplugs, does anyone have any solutions to help? I’m thinking about shutting my windows more by getting an aircon to run all day for air, expensive.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Slippery Fish on 18/04/2020 - 21:31
    +6

    Ask the local council to do the noise test.

  • Euphemistic on 18/04/2020 - 21:33
    +3

    Renter or owner? Time to move?

    • Emerald Owl on 18/04/2020 - 21:36

      Owner, maybe it is.

  • pinchies on 18/04/2020 - 21:38
    -1

    Sounds like maybe some bridges are already burnt. I guess you gotta decide where you want to take things. Having a good relationship with the neighbors is a valuable thing, maybe a good idea to take over a peace offering and apologise for the yelling at them. As long as things are not happening during unreasonable hours of the day, then I don't think there is much you can reasonably expect from them regarding the social noise.

    Regarding smoke, sounds like they have a meat smoker. May be too late to ask them to smoke some meat for you too sadly. I imagine if you call your council they can give you some advice. I would have thought there would be some rules about smoke and ventilation, like whether they need to have a chimney to prevent nuisance smoke hanging around etc. The council could also advise re animal noise.

  • ssquid on 18/04/2020 - 21:41
    +13

    Recently, they have gotten what looks like an oil barrel, fill it with something, light it and sit out there.

    Careful OP, if you annoy them they're likely to go full-on Donkey Kong.

  • brendanm on 18/04/2020 - 21:51
    +1

    They must have a very large driveway.

    • Emerald Owl on 18/04/2020 - 22:11

      Not really, which makes it more annoying. They would be so much better going to the courts which are less than 2 min away.

  • Mechz on 18/04/2020 - 22:01
    +4

    Call the fire brigade?

  • newak on 18/04/2020 - 22:01
    +4

    invite whole basketball teams over to practice on their driveway, etc

    Can they do this at the moment with COVID restrictions?

    • Emerald Owl on 18/04/2020 - 22:03

      They haven’t had the teams over lately, still have like 5 of them out there bouncing five balls at once.

  • Quantumcat on 18/04/2020 - 23:21
    +1

    Do you have a family member or a friend who you can go to their house to work during the day?

    • resubaehtgnolhcs on 18/04/2020 - 23:55

      Does COVID-19 restrictions allow that?

      • Quantumcat on 19/04/2020 - 00:13

        Not sure what it is in every state but in ACT one person can visit a household.

    • Emerald Owl on 19/04/2020 - 01:04

      Thx, good idea when it is at its worst. Can’t go there every day though.

  • Caped Baldy on 18/04/2020 - 23:32
    +7

    Out of curiosity, what area in Sydney OP? you're allowed to call them bogans, if they are.

    You can police on the non emergency number (131444) to report them if they're not social isolating and being noisy. Police aren't that helpful in my experience and will take their time.

    Depending on what they're burning it could be illegal https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/air/open-burning….

    Stock up on cheap speakers and play your own doof doof music at all hours to annoy them.

    Otherwise, look at other places to live.

    • Emerald Owl on 19/04/2020 - 01:02
      +2

      Thanks, yea they are ultrabogans. They were two families from Campbeltown who moved into the one house. I live in Menai, this mob are definitely an outlier.

      • Miami Mall Alien on 19/04/2020 - 01:23
        +4

        I feel your pain OP.

        I've seen my fair share of neighbours like these too.

        There's no sense in trying to talk to them, if anything it only makes them double down on their commitment to acting like absolute retards and makes you a focus of their rage/resentment if or when local authorities get involved.

        The only two things that solve situations like these are:

        • Either party leaving the area.
        • The police/local council getting involved repeatedly over a period of months, with complaints from multiple neighbours.
        • If they're tenants; the landlord/real estate agency receiving repeated complaints over a prolonged period from multiple parties.

        Besides earplugs, does anyone have any solutions to help? I’m thinking about shutting my windows more by getting an aircon to run all day for air, expensive.

        Roller shutters are a good investment in general, not only for their acoustical-attenuating properties but also for the thermal insulation, light regulation, enhanced security, weather protection and better privacy they offer.

  • John Kimble on 19/04/2020 - 06:56
    +6

    Get a security camera and start recording so you have some evidence to share with us/police.

  • franco cozzo on 19/04/2020 - 08:01
    +2

    loud vintage receiver amp + floor standing speakers + sub pointed directly at them + obnoxious tunes….until they get the hint that noisy neighbours is a 2 way street

  • Arthur Dunger on 19/04/2020 - 08:27
    +6

    Call Tracy at "A Current Affair". They love doing stories about Bogans.

  • morse on 19/04/2020 - 08:49
    +2

    Noise
    https://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/Outdoors/Pollution/No…

    Air pollution
    https://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/Outdoors/Pollution/Ai…
    https://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/Development/Certifica…
    Report the air pollution
    https://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/Home/Report-It/Report…

    Call 131444 when they are playing loud music at night particularly if they are drunk or you think they have guests

    Noise cancelling headphones for your own sanity.

    Close windows and consider an air purifier or aircon (set to fan only if it’s not too hot)
    https://www.choice.com.au/home-and-living/cooling/air-purifi…

  • mreddie on 19/04/2020 - 09:38
    +1

    Sorry sounds awful, we've had similar problems and in the end had to move out.

  • Traveller107 on 19/04/2020 - 10:07
    +5

    Sound like my new neighbours.. I've got a 3 generation family of dole bludgers next to me who sit on their deck 4m away from my deck and Windows and smoke all day!! All DAY LONG!
    2 elderly parents around 70yrs, 3 middle aged "kids" around 50s, and 4 "grandkids" in their late 20s and 30s. NONE OF THEM WORK! They just sit outside all day from 9am to 10pm smoking drinking and arguing! I haven't been able to open any window in the last 5 weeks :(

    This is what happens when so many professional dole bludgers are given a "payrise" by the government with excessive hand outs. They move to waterfront properties in family suburbs and ruin everything.I can't even imagine how much they "make" as a family of 9 unemployed adults given the current centrelink rates.

    Usually in such situations if the council or the police won't do anything then there's not many options but to ride it out and move away for your own sanity. I'm thinking of moving!

    • franco cozzo on 19/04/2020 - 10:17
      +1

      yeh ive got some ultra bogans renting next door too……feel your pain

    • Caped Baldy on 19/04/2020 - 12:47
      +2

      Part of the reason why I have mixed feelings on the dole. I get that some people need support but there's far too many cases like this.

    • Quantumcat on 19/04/2020 - 22:09

      They wouldn't make 9X the single payment. As a couple the second person would get about half, and by that stage I can't see any further adults of a household making any further money. The only way they would get 9X the single payment is if they're all committing fraud

  • BewareOfThe Dog on 19/04/2020 - 12:45
    +1

    Time to get some manure for your garden/lawn?

  • whooah1979 on 19/04/2020 - 16:23

    Moving is your best option.

    You don’t want to end up like this.
    https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/a-c…

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