Noisy Neighbour - What Are Our Options?

itsHughesy on 23/10/2022 - 09:25

My wife and I are currently renting in Brisbane, and our neighbour really, really likes sad music - normally this wouldn't be a problem however he hits the play button at 8AM and it doesn't stop until 8PM or later most days. My wife and I both work from home, and there isn't a room, area of the house or yard where his blaring sadsack music can't be heard.

He's an unreasonable person, and when approached wont wear headphones or lower the volume.

What are our options here? It's getting really close to the petty revenge aspect but we'd much rather he just shut up.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • SadKen on 24/10/2022 - 09:09

    Simple.

    You will need the following items.

    1x paper bag
    1x turd (preferably dog turd but I'll leave that up to you)
    1x lighter

    Place the turd of your choosing into the paper bag. Set it by your noisy neighbours front door. Light the bag on fire, ring the doorbell and run like hell

    • tephra on 24/10/2022 - 23:50

      you forgot a mobile phone to record the action with and a tiktok account to post it once done

  • Socialsuicide01 on 24/10/2022 - 11:43
    +4

    A few years ago this young guy was playing his music so loud we could hear clearly one street away. One day when he was playing his music loudly I herd him scream in panic "what are you doing!" followed by the sound of a door being kicked in, turns out his neighbour got fed up and I'm assuming trashed his stereo. No more music and a couple of months later the young lad and his dad moved away.

  • AS2035 on 24/10/2022 - 11:52

    Depends how loud the music is.

    Write a letter to strata committee.

    • [Deactivated] on 27/10/2022 - 02:06

      They have yards and houses. It's not strata.

      • AS2035 on 31/10/2022 - 13:02

        Council or call the police.

  • Dack Smith on 24/10/2022 - 13:39
    +2

    Throw some stinky eggs on his roof every few nights - that will attract enough bugs and wildlife to force him out eventually.

    You have to teach inbred people accountability the hard way sometimes.

    • John Kimble on 24/10/2022 - 13:51

      Where do you get stinky eggs from?

      • iCandy on 24/10/2022 - 15:31
        +13

        Stinky chickens

        • Kangal on 24/10/2022 - 21:30

          From Stinky Farms?

      • surg3on on 27/10/2022 - 08:56

        regular eggs+time

  • Euphemistic on 24/10/2022 - 13:53
    +8

    Can you get to their fuse box?

  • gromit on 24/10/2022 - 16:16
    +2

    If they aren't reasonable and the police/council/EPA won't help then you either live with it or fight fire with fire. maybe some joyful wiggles music or baby shark turned up to 11 or afterall it is that time of year you could do xmas carols.

  • AustriaBargain on 24/10/2022 - 16:38
    -1

    8am to 8pm sounds reasonable to me.

    • lonewolf on 24/10/2022 - 20:09
      +1

      What are the normal hours where you are allowed to make noise? I thought those hours sounded ok? I am sure there is still a certain level of noise that is acceptable but at those normal hours i presume the level of noise acceptable is quite loud. Considering there are people who work on cars and rev engines and do all sorts of other things at those hours.

      Is there a rule for acceptable level of noise but being played for too long continuously?

      Curious to understand what kind of sad music can be so loud. Generally from my experience being into Audio. its Bass and lower frequencies that disturb people the most and can travel the easiest / furthest / through walls etc. Sad Music i generally wouldnt put down to having that much bass except for perhaps the occasional Organ music.

      • xordis on 24/10/2022 - 22:36
        +2

        There are no hours where you are able to make unreasonable noise.
        However, what is reasonable at 2pm is obviously different to what is reasonable at 2am, it's all subjective.

        Either way though, it's within your right to report the noise and have the police attend.

      • [Deactivated] on 27/10/2022 - 02:05
        +1

        It doesn't have to be loud to make you miserable in your own home. It just has to be someone else's noise. Imagine being someone who listens to punk having to listen to classical from the neighbour's house 12 hours a day.

        • lonewolf on 27/10/2022 - 09:55

          Truth be told thats their tough luck in a way, shame but if the person isnt overtly loud and is within the noise levels as well as times allowed then the other person just has to learn to live with the fact that there are other people in this world who like different things. Of course if its over the allowed levels of sound or outside the normal hours then its a different story. But people seem to be assuming its too loud just because you dont like whats being played.

          • [Deactivated] on 28/10/2022 - 06:06

            @lonewolf: Yeah he did say it was loud though. I'm glad to live where I do. None of the neighbours play music except at times like Dec 31. Sometimes the guy across the street does when detailing his car. And there used to be someone a few streets over who would "THUMP, THUMP, THUMP" every Saturday (couldn't hear the music itself). That started to get a bit old, but he disappeared a couple of years ago. There's even a caravan park and bowling club nearby. The club has live bands on weekends and the caravan park fills up every public holiday with kids playing soccer and screaming in the pool until 9 or 10pm. I'll take these any day over the 12 hour daily drone of music.

            • lonewolf on 28/10/2022 - 15:35

              @[Deactivated]: I have heard loud cars (the DIY car people who put in engines and change exhausts etc to make cars sound like planes…. And Bassy music you can hear from far away. But being someone who like a lot of different types of music. Generally Rock and Dance / Bass music can travel. I have never found classical or "sad" music to travel far at all and even less likely to travel at the normal hours of 8am - 8pm, I am interested to hear how loud it is and if the speakers are pointing right out the window and right into their window or something.

  • askvictor on 24/10/2022 - 20:29
    +7

    So this might be a bit devious, but… train him to associate the sound of his music with physical revulsion. Probably the easiest way is to do this with smell. When the music starts, a horrible, doom-inducing smell wafts over his way. When it stops, the smell stops. Either he gets the hint and stops the music, or develops a Pavlovian reaction to his choice of music and stops listening to it as it makes him feel sick.

  • roundnumbersonly on 24/10/2022 - 21:18

    Is the neighbour renting or do they own the place? If the former, try and find out the property manager and/or landlord and complain to them about it.

    • monkeyfood on 25/10/2022 - 18:21
      +1

      why would the landlord care as long as rent is coming

  • fredk1000 on 24/10/2022 - 22:29

    How about the neighbour playing music on loop? which they think is relaxing.
    I have been to two funerals at two different locations and they both played the same tune.
    Every time they swim the music comes on and it reminds me of the funeral…

  • xordis on 24/10/2022 - 22:38
    +1

    Report it on PoliceLink. I can understand when you call the station they aren't interested, but if it's in PoliceLink they have to attend.
    If it continually shows up in there it will be investigated and looked into.

  • RefusdClassification on 24/10/2022 - 22:52
    +3

    I am seeing a lot of complaints about noise lately on OzBargain. So many sources of noise: radios, TV, stereo systems, airplanes, helicopters, chainsaws, people fighting, pool cleaners, birds like Koels, woodchipppers, … It is even worse for me because I have hyperacusis (hypersensivity to sound), but about 10% of the population report being frqunetly bothered by noise outside their control. As we are forced to live closer and closer to one another, things will only get worse unless humans stop being sociopaths and start developing empathy and consideration for others.

    Most of your problems and misery are caused by other human beings. No wonder people are electing to tree change and exchange the city for a sparsely populated countryside.

    • jaimex2 on 26/10/2022 - 13:59
      +1

      You cant escape assholes. Even in the country you end up with someone who:

      • Has yappy abandoned dogs ( bark sound carries for kms )
      • Burns all their green waste daily
      • Has concert speakers
      • Is a grub with a mouse/rat infestation
      • Is a weed factory with tall grass
      • Is a wreckers/snake breeder with 80s rusting derelict cars everywhere.

      My advice is grief is the only language these people understand. There's plenty you can do but the comment would be moderated.

      Mars is the only place for serenity.

    • [Deactivated] on 27/10/2022 - 02:29

      chainsaws
      woodchipppers

      Sorry about that… The good news is I've nearly cleared the area of vegans so it won't be for much longer.

  • Donaldhump on 25/10/2022 - 00:36
    +3

    Cotton eye joe on repeat all day 24/7.
    Wear headphones and relax

  • darkmoss on 25/10/2022 - 03:35
    -7

    Get used to it, or move.
    They hours you've mentioned are very reasonable.
    .. and who knows, they might be playing it to cover up whatever noise that YOU are making that they find annoying.

  • living4music on 25/10/2022 - 04:02
    +2

    If you play this music very loud over the fence towards their house non stop for a week, I guarantee they will sell their house and move. Trust me.
    https://youtu.be/HxMmPgPpPl8

  • Jared17 on 25/10/2022 - 08:24

    I sympathise. I have issue with my fellow tenants upstairs, not music but closing the main door so loudly . Especially since my room is right next door, less than a metre away. Sometimes they listen to my requests, sometimes they don’t.

  • Zapwap on 25/10/2022 - 11:44

    Maybe just approach again and tell him that you're seriously considering filing a formal police complaint if he won't stop. Record the conversation.

    And as others have commented, if he won't stop, keep reporting unless police hauled their asses to your neighbour's door step

  • idonotknowwhy on 25/10/2022 - 12:30
    -1

    Aim a hi-fi system at his house, blast Baby Shark on repeat 8am-8pm

    • ribze1 on 25/10/2022 - 13:38

      as the father of a toddler this is gold.

  • geeteezy on 25/10/2022 - 12:56
    +1

    Shazam his music and play it as loud but on a 10 second delay

  • Hangryuman on 25/10/2022 - 16:52

    google the address to find out whether it was last rented by an agent or sold - to see if they might be an owner or a tenant

    if a tenant, then the standard Qld residential tenancy agreement - https://www.rta.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-06/Form-… - includes

    1. '(2) The tenant must not – …
      (b) cause a nuisance by the use of the premises; or (Examples of things that may constitute a nuisance … causing loud noises …)
      (c) interfere with the reasonable peace, comfort or privacy of a neighbour of the tenant; or
      (d) allow another person on the premises to interfere with the reasonable peace, comfort or privacy of a neighbour of the tenant'

    disturbing a neighbour is a breach of their tenancy agreement - and you can notify the agent that repeated breaches are grounds for termination of the tenancy.

  • Improv on 25/10/2022 - 18:51

    Jack Osbourne has a solution … blast Swedish death metal at the neighbours … https://youtu.be/q55MbmRfcqU?t=700

  • LoserScott on 25/10/2022 - 20:25
    -1

    Only do this if police do nothing on event numbers, and you've tried everything.

    The secret to pissing off neighbors…(honestly I'd rather this downvoted)

    1 shove fecal matter in their mail box…
    2 drop syringes in their mail box with fecal in them.
    3 send syringes with fecal letter with the persons name and address to the land lords agency.
    4 place a sign near the station about the address selling drugs.
    5 use a boom box shove it in the bathroom ceiling cutout (if one) then shove a boom box in there playing rnb music.
    6 steal their mail and do research on their life and turn the tides on weaponizing their life.

    • JelIyfish on 25/10/2022 - 21:17
      +2

      You need help.

    • Mistredo on 26/10/2022 - 12:31

      What do you expect will happen next? Yes, they might give up, but they also might retaliate and do the same thing or even worse to OP.

      • LoserScott on 26/10/2022 - 20:19

        If each step is followed accordingly very unlikely, plus the best would be directing the anti social behaviour towards the land-lease agency with some insane behaviour unheard of in mail form with their address, and direct quote on quote "Fu"

        It may not do anything, but they will know they have a problem tenant, and when they confront them(or report the issue) that's when you create issues with syringes in stairwell.

        Then you escalate the issues creating problems for them(alienating them based on their behaviour, given they don't clearly care or respect others) then you ramp up the temperature where now you can add the boom box.

        Yes it's extreme but we are dealing with scum, so best to be scum for a while until they educate them selves on standards of living.

        And yea we all know the police are useless on these matters.

    • jizmo on 26/10/2022 - 13:32

      I'd say. Probably will need help with line 5 getting the boom box up there.

  • justgooddeals on 25/10/2022 - 20:49

    Bikies.

    • The Value on 25/10/2022 - 21:01

      Bickies.

      • [Deactivated] on 27/10/2022 - 02:35

        Brickies

  • WhoGiveAShxt on 25/10/2022 - 22:40
    +4

    A nasty solution for you

    Directional loudspeakers + song like this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6PGKV0C-Ok&t=65s) in loop mode.

    Nobody will hear a damn thing but your moody neighbor.

    • 91rs on 26/10/2022 - 10:07
      +1

      Use tones, not music, find one that's rather annoying or just vary the tones being played until you find something that he doesn't like.

    • PistaGreen on 26/10/2022 - 17:26

      Fantastic.. Directional speakers!!.. any suggestions of a good one.. I couldn't find any in the market..

      • WhoGiveAShxt on 26/10/2022 - 22:59

        Cannot get into details too much about this because it is a slippery slope for op and op's neighbor.

        Don't want to get up in one morning and discover a news with headline "neighbor killed next door family because of non-stop moody music"

        Australian are too lovely to have these kind of shxt.

    • ProjectZero on 27/10/2022 - 09:57

      How about this one on loop, it supposedly goes for 10hrs by itself?

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MJsz7mStoA

  • ComputersCommode on 26/10/2022 - 10:10

    Buy a giant EMP and blast it towards his house. Knocking out all eclecticals on his property

  • Miss B on 26/10/2022 - 13:37

    Drop some prozac in their letterbox.

  • 100KK on 26/10/2022 - 16:21

    United have had this problem for a long time now; just take out more debt then sell to Saudis 🇸🇦

  • sharkie0123 on 26/10/2022 - 16:28
    +1

    As someone who likes loud music, i like to sound proof my walls so neighbours dont have to hear it, if your neighbour doesnt want to do this to help you maybe an option is sound proofing your room so you cant hear it

    • PleasureMe on 27/10/2022 - 07:21

      This is probably the best solution on here that I have read. People can't work from home and expect there to be no noise during the day. Sound proofing your home office is the best solution for sure. It protects you from all noise, not just one neighbour.

  • PistaGreen on 26/10/2022 - 17:24

    Check the link below might be of some help. Make noise complaints with digital decible recordings(Video) and produce them as proof, keep a log. lot of work.. but no other way

    https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/laws-and-permits/complaints-…

  • Wayne7497 on 26/10/2022 - 17:27

    All the revenge advice ignore it youll just make things worse for yourself.

    As to loud music complaints they fall fairly and squarely with local councils environmental health officer. They possess the correct equipment for measuring noise.

    As to the Police in your instance it isnt a core function of Policing, its not that theu are not interested its just not their job, really even at 2am, why do they attend then because council officers work Monday to Friday 8 till 4. So just like every government agency it gets palmed off after hours n weekends to the Police.

    There are exceptions in my day if it was extremely loud, we would issue a noise abatement notice. If breached we would return forcibly enter if need be and seize offending equipment and then refer all to local council officers for prosecution.

    Loud would be considered according to my local council at anything 80db n above.

    So doubtful youll get any help at until it's unreasonable time and approaching 80db

  • Andrewskates on 26/10/2022 - 17:34

    What is sad music? Is it for people who whinge about things?

    • [Deactivated] on 27/10/2022 - 02:38

      All the music styles I don't listen to are sad. Thanks for asking.

  • PeterPonting on 26/10/2022 - 17:56
    +1

    Why dont you get yourself some cancelling earphones - just because you don't like it doesnt mean he doesn't.

    'loud' is open for interpretation. if you said this was from 8pm to 2am yeah fair enough. suggest you harden up.

  • nutella9 on 26/10/2022 - 21:05
    +1

    How loud is loud? Somewhat audible? And what is sad music? Is that your judgemental view of your neighbour's music? Maybe put your big boy pants on and close your windows? I've been living with construction opposite me for the last 2 years I'd take 'sad' music over the incessant thumping, drilling, banging going on everyday. But hey… life goes on.

  • Bumblegrum on 30/10/2022 - 23:33

    Play AC/DC up loud all day, that should fix the problem

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