Neighbours Kids Driving Me Insane

the fig man on 07/10/2023 - 10:51
Last edited 07/10/2023 - 11:23

I bought an art deco apartment about a year ago. I love it except for one problem — I can hear the neighbours below me and the ones below them (I'm on the top floor). The building has wooden floorboards and doesn't seem to have any noise isolation between the floors. The neighbour directly below me is away a lot so I don't hear him much. The real problem is the neighbours on the ground floor whose kids run around every night until well …. I heard them at 2am last night. Usually they're up till 11pm/12am most nights. Their dog's also up / barking late. The kids are approx 5-7 years old.

This wasn't a problem when I first moved in. But I've got a new job and get up 5.30am every day now. I brought it up with them once and the dad kind of laughed it off. The mum told her kid to apologise to me, which felt weird and a denial of personal responsibility.

They told me to call them if it's causing issues, but I'm tired of messaging them every night. They should be respectful. I've asked them to consider buying rugs / even thought about buying them myself and getting them delivered to them.

It's a shame because I liked these people when I moved in, but it's testing my patience and I've soured on them heaps. Also weird that kids that young are up so late. My dad would've whooped my *** if i was up that late.

Right now I sleep with noise cancelling headphones, but they fall off, I sleep on my side and it's a PITA. I also have a fan on for white noise, but this kind of noise sort of 'cuts through' the white noise.

So…..
Can I raise this with the Owners Corp and get them to pay for noise isolation ? It wouldn't be cheap…

What other options are there ? (Don't want to sell)

Need advice (Melbourne metro)

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Hybroid on 07/10/2023 - 10:56
    +6

    More info on your options here: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/noise/neighbourh…

    It's going to be very challenging going up against just "noisy kids", rather than specificially something like drumming all night or using loud equipment or excessively loud vehicle etc that can be monitored and switched off.

    Pretty much impossible to expect noise isolation to be installed for you at no additional significant cost I reckon.

    • bohn on 07/10/2023 - 11:09
      +4

      Pretty much impossible to expect noise isolation to be installed for you at no additional significant cost I reckon

      also even if OP pays for it themselves, the sound that gets through still might be annoying.

      maybe in a few years the kids won't make so much noise ;|

    • relentless on 08/10/2023 - 08:45
      +3

      just run a lawn mower

    • HeWhoKnows on 08/10/2023 - 08:49

      Absolutely Correct hybroid and bohn!
      This is how art deco apartments are built unfortunately so it not a design fault that must be rectified.
      And usually taking noise islation action refers to noise travelling DOWN through floors

      From experience OP has 4 options:

      1) hope they move out eventually
      Kids cant last in an apartment for too long
      Eventually they need more space and a back yard.

      2) Check if the noisy apartment has (bare) floor boards or carpets.
      If floor boards then OP has a case to put to both the owner of the apartment and to strata that the floorboards must be covered with a suitable noise isolating/absorbing surface

      3) Under strata laws the occupant of a lot must not cause any noise or disturbances that affects the peace and enjoyment of other residents in the building. So OP has the law on thier side. Hence complain to strata. And if rented, discuss with the owner. Call strata and discuss your options. But in the first instance, strata will only send a letter to the resident. Taking things further (such as to the tribunal) might be difficult and not achieve much.

      4) for OP to install noise isolating floor substrate at ther own cost.
      However this wont stop the noise coming up through the walls!

      OR IF OP WANTS TO RETALIATE:

      Play loud music or have thier TV turned up LOUD late at night

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 07/10/2023 - 11:11
    +8

    Can I raise this with the Owners Corp and get them to pay for noise isolation

    Owners corp: bruh

    • DoctorCalculon on 08/10/2023 - 01:07
      +5

      Excellent for sucking up cash but doing f*** all.

      • peterpaoliello on 09/10/2023 - 06:28
        -2

        Owners Corp are volunteers..

        • Jackson on 10/10/2023 - 18:16

          Who don't know their arse from their elbow and don't realise that as soon as a contractor knows the job is for an owners Corp the price doubles or triples

  • Aureus on 07/10/2023 - 11:15
    +10

    That is just how it is living in an apartment without good noise isolation. Captain hindsight, but you should have thought of that before your purchased the apartment.

  • afoveht on 07/10/2023 - 11:17
    +16

    I read a reddit AITA recently with the same situation but they decided to finally respond by blasting music late in the night as a response - and it made the point and the sounds stopped.

    • foxmulder on 07/10/2023 - 14:03
      +2

      Music past midnight is not allowed right?

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 07/10/2023 - 14:20
        +6

        Play Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, performed by elephants.

      • nobro25 on 07/10/2023 - 19:52
        +1

        Okay yelling kids in the middle of night, music in the middle of the night is still noise. Doesn't make any difference.

      • furyou on 08/10/2023 - 22:09
        +4

        blast sounds of yelling kids

    • NatoTomato on 10/10/2023 - 09:58

      I did this once. My neighbour had their TV up really loud, so I got my bookshelf speakers, turned them around, and started blasting metal. Turned down pretty quick.

  • AustriaBargain on 07/10/2023 - 11:19
    +6

    Buy rugs and ear plugs. Or sleep with music going. Your brain will turn off the music by itself but it'll still cover background noise. Or sell the apartment and buy a better one.

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 07/10/2023 - 11:22
      +9

      My toddlers need white noise to sleep - at first I found it super irritating but now even I can’t sleep without white noise haha

      • Poor Ass on 07/10/2023 - 18:31

        have you tried playing meditation at the start and when they fall asleep don't need the noise anymore?

  • [Deactivated] on 07/10/2023 - 11:24
    +2

    Your ground floor neighbours may be doing 'gentle parenting' where their kiddos rule the roost & make a lot of noise that disrupts the neighbours.

    Have you checked with the other neighbours?

    • the fig man on 07/10/2023 - 11:32
      +6

      Yeah. The ground floor neighbours and the middle floor guy had a beef while back when middle guy moved in and played music late on weekends. Ground floor would call me and complain… try and get me to side with them…. I pointed out the irony of this…. which they kind of brushed off. I can't imagine how noisy it would be for middle floor. But he's just a renter and ground floor are on the owners committee.

      • [Deactivated] on 07/10/2023 - 11:51
        +2

        Is it just the 3 apartments?

        There should be noise provisions contained within the Strata by-laws. If they're not being adhered to then formally raise it in writing with the noisy owners & then escalate via Strata.

        Additional soundproofing may be a wish-list unless you can get agreement from majority of the owners & then there is the cost.

        I used to live in a top floor apartment & noise carried irrespective of how good the acoustics are within the building. There only needs to be a partially open window & you would swear the ground floor dwellers were in your guest room! However, carpeted floors do make a big difference noise-wise, even rugs - found this out after the middle floor apartment did a reno.

        • nobro25 on 07/10/2023 - 19:56
          +2

          I'm in the same situation as OP. Sound proofing only world with low frequency noises. That's the same with windows. High pitch noises goes right pass.

          At the end of the day it's lack of parenting. I don't have kids but I get it. Kid gets loud, unless them are autistic the parents should actually do something about it. Not just laugh it off. It means the parent is lazy and selfish. That's actually a minority most parents I see actually discipline their kids, but all it takes is one screaming child to ruin the serenity of the entire complex. Which is unfortunate.

          I condone child play and development. Take them to the freaking park and vent out there not at where people live. Common sense peoples.

    • ssfps on 08/10/2023 - 00:12
      +8

      'gentle parenting'

      Not sure if you're saying they're doing pretend "gentle parenting", but I thought in gentle parenting kids have boundaries, just communicated gently. Did you mean to say "permissive parenting", i.e. when parents don't set boundaries, or don't apply boundaries consistently?

      • jjjaar on 08/10/2023 - 09:23
        +4

        Exactly what I was thinking. Gentle parenting has nothing to do with letting kids get away with things.

      • [Deactivated] on 08/10/2023 - 18:58
        +1

        It's a joke. It's what cray cray parents tell you, after you witness their kids acting like they're possessed.

      • Cusack on 09/10/2023 - 16:31
        +2

        Ned Flanders parents

  • Muzeeb on 07/10/2023 - 11:35
    -3

    I bought an art deco apartment

    So you purchased a 100 year old apartment and wonder why it has poor noise insulation properties?

    • try2bhelpful on 07/10/2023 - 12:42
      +3

      They would be much better than modern buildings.

      • Muzeeb on 07/10/2023 - 12:53
        +1

        External walls - maybe
        Internal walls - possibly
        Floors and ceilings - not a chance
        Glass - no way, it was super thin 100 years ago.

        • try2bhelpful on 07/10/2023 - 14:52
          +2

          External and internal walls are probably better.

          The floors may well be better depending on what material was used. Glass will depend on what was used then and now. Later occupants may well have put in double glazing.

          Also the number of flats with an art deco building are likely to be less.

          Given a choice I would, always, go the art deco building.

      • Iwantthebestprice on 07/10/2023 - 16:25
        +7

        That’s not true. I lived in an apartment building built 5 years ago, had triple glazed windows and I swear concrete between all floors and walls, never heard anything from anyone and this was an inner city apartment near Melbourne CBD and near a uni which had alot of younger people living in it.

        • try2bhelpful on 08/10/2023 - 00:50

          On average older apartments will, still, be better.

          • mavis30551 on 09/10/2023 - 13:52

            @try2bhelpful: ive owned 2 apartments in the last 10 years both off the plan and Noise cancelling and energy efficiency was phenomenal. I highly doubt any old apartment could trump them.

    • Protractor on 07/10/2023 - 13:11
      +11

      They didn't have noise back then.

      • rumblytangara on 07/10/2023 - 13:20

        They didn't have children back then either!

        • kiitos on 07/10/2023 - 15:58
          +15

          They did, but they had to get up early to walk to school uphill both ways.

          • Muzeeb on 07/10/2023 - 16:32

            @kiitos: They also did it barefoot according to my family stories.

  • hasher22 on 07/10/2023 - 12:05
    +4

    If you have some cash to spare, you could prob get some sound proofing underlay but even then, that prob won't fully block out the noise, just minimise it.

    If the problem is in your bedroom only and you don't mind anywhere else, maybe just do your bedroom floors? But who knows the results of minimising the sound.

    • Malik Nasser on 07/10/2023 - 16:38
      +4

      You don't have much /any control over what other people do, so you can only action what is in your power.
      First thing I would try is foam earplugs (get the good quality comfortable ones).
      If this doesn't do it for you, then definitely look at sound proofing the bedroom. Build yourself a room inside your room to provide even better sound absorption.
      It may cost a bit, but what price do you put on your sanity?

      • surg3on on 08/10/2023 - 23:06
        +1

        3M soft ear plugs from Bunnings. 80 for $22.

        If that's too cheap carpeting the bulk of OPs apartment with noise dampening underlay will likely help but it's likely the bedroom walls would also need some insulation installed as well which would get messy as heck.

  • Protractor on 07/10/2023 - 13:10
    +9

    In shared living environments, if you have a choice,buy with your brain not your heart.
    Art deco doesn't = everyone else is there for the look.

    Go away for a few days. When you return put powder all over your face to look pale.A few spots of rasperry jam under your nostrils. Tell the family with kids you have been in intensive care after having a near death experience with a deadly nocturnal tiger snake in the yard. Visit a gym, find the biggest bloke with the most tatts, flick him $50 to knock on loud music guys door next time he arcs up. Tatt guy just says, 'keep the fkn noise down mate, or I'll flense you in your sleep".
    Wait a few days. Enjoy life.

    Or move

    • ihfree on 07/10/2023 - 13:15
      +7

      Visit a gym, find the biggest bloke with the most tatts, flick him $50 to knock on loud music guys door next time he arcs up. Tatt guy just says, 'keep the fkn noise down mate, or I'll flense you in your sleep".

      Sounds like bikies with extra steps

      • Protractor on 07/10/2023 - 15:48
        +1

        Bikies double booked

    • Nugs on 07/10/2023 - 13:55
      +4

      Flence?
      slice the skin or fat from (a carcass, especially that of a whale):
      Whoa
      .

      • elgrande on 07/10/2023 - 15:30
        +6

        Yep, I've decided to move just from reading it..

  • brendanm on 07/10/2023 - 13:25

    apartment

    And

    I can hear the neighbours below me and the ones below them

    This is a self inflicted issue, many such cases.

  • lgacb08 on 07/10/2023 - 13:34
    +1

    If it's a three storey apartment and noise would travel 2 level up then your best bet is to sell. You'll run into noisy neighbours from time to time anyway, they'll just popping up like mushroom after rain.

  • Cheaplikethebird on 07/10/2023 - 15:15
    +2

    Trying to think tactically here… you could find some really cool slippers (the type with a fabric sole) with a licensed design like these paw patrol ones and gift them to the kids. Otherwise you need to have another conversation with the neighbour and communicate to them that while you would like to keep the relationship positive the noise is severely affecting your quality of life and that you plan to take further action until the issue is resolved.

  • Some Human on 07/10/2023 - 15:36
    +6

    Foam earplugs are a thing. They don't usually fall out unless you have a cat.

  • rave75 on 07/10/2023 - 16:48
    +2

    Turn on white noise sound.

    • CodeExplode on 08/10/2023 - 14:10

      They said they do, as well as noise-cancelling headphones.

    • nobro25 on 07/10/2023 - 19:59
      +8

      Lol you have no idea what screaming kids are like, especially those that do it for hours. It gets into your mentality. You expect to condone this kind of behavior for 5+ years. Common… completely unreasonable. Everyone should be able to enjoy their peace inside their homes.

      • Camelface on 07/10/2023 - 21:54
        -5

        The peace is in you mind, not outside. If you don't have this problem, you'll have something else, and you will have wasted your time trying to find peace.

        • coffeeinmyveins on 07/10/2023 - 23:32
          +1

          Thanks Confucius.

          Next time I'm being tortured with concert music I'll remember your wise words

          • Euphemistic on 08/10/2023 - 10:52

            @coffeeinmyveins: Tortured by concert music - or getting to listen to a concert without buying tickets? The difference is a state of mind.

            If you can’t cope with the sounds in your area, you need to move. People get used to living in a flight path or next to a train line all the time. Those that get annoyed by it just suffer.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 07/10/2023 - 17:09
    -2

    A TV company should pay for a series on OP moving into a sharehouse. That would be quality content.

    • Loopholio on 08/10/2023 - 10:31
      +1

      No, it wouldn't be.

  • Drakesy on 07/10/2023 - 17:15
    +4

    Step 1 - earplugs, much more effective than NC headphones and comfier
    Step 2 - dob in the dog to the council/ take a recording of how often it barks.
    Step 3 - If all else fails move out.

  • coolroy on 07/10/2023 - 17:36

    Am i right in thinking that any noise especially excessive noise after 11pm at night is reportable?

    • ChickenTalon on 07/10/2023 - 22:13
      +2

      No. Not any noise. Generally only for things like TVs, A/C, pool pumps or other devices and animals making noise. Kids making noise is generally not covered.

      Although wtf are 5-7 year old kids doing awake at 2am. Unless there is some medical reason it’s pretty shitty parenting

      • smartazz104 on 08/10/2023 - 04:31
        +1

        Kids making noise is generally not covered.

        OP should play a recording of kids laughing and playing at a high volume every night.

  • SteveD on 07/10/2023 - 19:06
    +7

    Sydney family fined for kid’s being too noisy
    Victoria might have similar rules.

    • Oahu on 09/10/2023 - 20:57

      Wow, super uncomfortable that they included photos of the kids.

      • rumblytangara on 10/10/2023 - 12:32

        It's going to be the father's choice to have allowed that, ACA would have a stack of standardised legal documents for them to have signed, including permission for the kids to appear on TV.

  • superuser on 07/10/2023 - 20:41
    +1

    Time to invite ozbargainers to your house everyday for dinner and then keep knocking on door telling them be quiet on the way out.

  • hopper on 07/10/2023 - 21:16
    +4

    invest in a smart speaker like amazon echo, play a rain sound or thunderstorm playlist night time with low volume, might help you. sometimes u can't argue with Dumb and idiots, I deal with neighbours barking dog in the same way.

  • Maxi Pad on 07/10/2023 - 21:38

    Perhaps consider an anonymous threat to report the family to the department of Human Services for neglect.

    I don't think anyone is going to have their kids taken away for letting them stay up too late but an appropriately worded letter may just have the necessary effect.

  • belesci on 07/10/2023 - 22:11
    +3

    Not sure if anyone mentioned in comments. White noise is the way to go until you sort it out. It’s pretty annoying at first but it gets you good REM and deep sleep times.

  • juki on 07/10/2023 - 23:23
    +7

    slam the door on the way to work at 0530, the smart speaker that plays rain is an alternative idea

  • coffeeinmyveins on 07/10/2023 - 23:29
    +2

    can I raise this with the Owners Corp and get them to pay for noise isolation

    You can most certainly raise it with them

    Be prepared to be absolutely embarrassed at how loudly they laugh at you though.

    Also everyone suggesting you blast music and be an (profanity) are forgetting that not only will you be annoying the neighbour between you, but you'll become the recipient of totally valid noise complaints.

    I don't believe that your neighbour between you is ok with this, it would be much louder for them. What do they say

    • juki on 08/10/2023 - 22:39

      yeah but if you make the kids wake up early they might sleep earlier

  • dogzilla on 08/10/2023 - 00:43
    +7

    I've had this happen twice to me. Bought a place with common floorboards (semi) and had a family rent the other half - previous person was respectful. This persons kids thought running up and down the hallway like Usain bolt was fine - so i ran with my wife up and down the 30m hallway at 11am with both of us hitting heels into the floorboards…..kinda got the point across.

    Second one was a bloke with a dog that barked for HOURS….it was locked in the front room two doors down and you could hear this dog literally from 8pm-12pm every night. Eventually i went around and said "you know your dog barks for like 4 hours straight every night right" and he also laughed it off.

    I think the point is, some people just have no idea their screwing with people around them.

    As others have said, patience works here, but also - i think you just need to be a bit direct. Kids running around till midnight every night isnt acceptable when it disturbs your neighbours, sure some are more sensitive than others, but they also need to be aware that the issue its causing you.

    Go and have a chat, explain that whilst they have no clue, its actually keeping you up - can you do anything, can you assist in some way to help them put their satanic children to sleep and basically just tell them up front that its driving you insane. A reasonable person will listen - an unreasonable person will continue to be a tool.

    At least you will find out which one your neighbour is.

    Don't die not knowing. That crap eats me up so i just go the confrontational route.

    • coffeeinmyveins on 09/10/2023 - 09:44

      I think the point is, some people just have no idea their screwing with people around them.

      People tune out their own noises, especially when it's their kids.

      I've seen parents completely oblivious at cafes that their child is running around screaming and annoying everyone else.

      • Protractor on 11/10/2023 - 11:05

        "I've seen parents completely oblivious at cafes that their child is running around screaming and annoying everyone else."

        Funny thing is that is ALL I see. Isn't it the default human paradigm now?

        Fruit falling close to the tree

    • Camelface on 09/10/2023 - 18:22

      A very sensible comment.

    • Protractor on 11/10/2023 - 11:02

      Comments like this represent 2 things to me.
      (1) There is hope, in knowing ppl like you exist.
      (2) I think your wisdom may be lost or wasted on most of the needy threads on Ozb
      and
      Because ppl would prefer to self medicate with faux peers validation.

  • smartazz104 on 08/10/2023 - 04:32
    +5

    Should play a recording of a very high frequency noise that only the kids will hear every night.

  • matt_will_fix_it on 08/10/2023 - 06:13
    +2

    Buy the kids a Xbox Game Pass subscription. You'll never hear them again as they will be glued to their screens :)

  • TheRealCher on 08/10/2023 - 07:07
    +2

    Bose sleep buds or a sound system that plays brown noise. I prefer the sleep buds but the battery is probably only 8 hours.
    What I'm guessing is the noise is also causing pre sleep anxiety which ironically makes you more sensitive to noise. This is where controlling your own environment is helpful and setting up a space where you control the sounds is good.
    The situation is really frustrating. The parents won't act as adults respectful of shared space, for whatever reason, and they don't seem open to reason, so working on your own health and mind will be important here.

  • serpserpserp on 08/10/2023 - 07:28
    +1

    The only reasonable approach to take here is to burn the entire building down and move somewhere else and start over again.

  • Rob-4x4 on 08/10/2023 - 08:42
    +3

    I use these. After years of travelling with work and sometimes having noisy hotel rooms I just got myself used to sleeping with earplugs.

    https://www.earjobs.com.au/collections/sleeping-ear-plugs/pr…

  • Sinnerator on 08/10/2023 - 09:13

    PSA: wooden floors are NOISY, consider this before buying/moving

  • fozzie on 08/10/2023 - 09:21

    If it’s the running the most annoying definitely contact strata and ask about installing carpets. I’m sorry you are going through this op! It must be so hard having the work and not getting enough sleep.
    I wonder how these kids function at school…..

  • JIMB0 on 08/10/2023 - 09:21
    +2

    Is this the story on ACA?

    https://amp.nine.com.au/article/c7c3cc3a-fb90-4b51-bfc9-ad06…

  • skillet on 08/10/2023 - 11:36
    +3

    Does the kids to to school??? How does a kid who sleeps at 11pm-12am able to wake up on time for school???

  • May4th on 08/10/2023 - 15:13
    +2

    leave your morning alarm at 5am on maximal volume and do not snooze each time they stay up till 2am being loud and obnoxious and the point will be made quickly

  • fullmetal on 08/10/2023 - 16:01

    Call the police/state child protection hotline for welfare check. There could be legitimate concern on the child welfare.

  • RefusdClassification on 08/10/2023 - 16:34
    +1

    It's really hard to block out noise, compared to blocking out light. Sound waves ricochet off everything or just vibrate through barriers. Good quality ear muffs like the Peltor brand (I purchased mine from Sydney Tools, they were cheaper than elsewehere) are better at nullifying medium and high frequencies (noise cancelling excel to low repetitive frequencies like motors and jets and wood chippers). If you have hyperacusis the best thing you can do is put as much space between yourself and others (using the inverse square law to your advantage), but unfortunately land has become extremely expensive in Australia and most people are forced to live in pigeon coop apartments.

    Other than layering it in multiple layers of rugs, I'm not sure how you could otherwise attenuate the noise coming up through the floor.

    An alternative to ear muffs when sleeping is foam ear plugs, but they tend to slide out, especially if you have narrow ear canals like I do.

    As Jean Paul Sartre wrote, "Hell is the other person". Most of our misery is attributable to other humans.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join