Neighbour Harrassment after Asking to Keep Noises down

Ldeadcycle on 30/03/2023 - 23:48
Last edited 01/04/2023 - 21:53 by 1 other user

I've lived in a townhouse for more than 2 years. For the past year, I've noticed my neighbour who I share a wall with would play their music too loud causing it to rumble. It didn't bother me until I noticed it kept happening everyday after I get home from work.

I thought to myself maybe it's because I haven't fully furnished the house, my side of the shared wall didn't have any carpet on the floor, or a picture frame or a sideboard. So I decided to buy those to at least reduce the impact of the noise and rumbling. It didn't make much difference. It didn't help that I have sensitive hearing, I would hear something or someone before my friends do.

On November 2022 I decided to report the situation to our Body Corporate. The response given to me was to they would give a notice to my neighbour and asked to ask them if they can keep the sounds at a minimum. I told them thank you and said I'm not good at confrontation, and it would be better if they would handle it for me as it looks like a breach of Owners Corp. policy (or rules).

Fast forward to now, the noise was still there. I decided to gain the courage to confront my neighbour. I rang their doorbell and asked politely if they could lower the sounds from their speakers as it causes our shared wall to rumble. They responded that it was still early and the cutoff was 11pm. I responded by saying regardless the sound from your speakers are causing the walls to rumble. He then said OK. I left after and went back to my house.

After a minute or two he knocked on my door shouting at me, telling me I'm arrogant for making a complaint. He also kept pointed out that he was the first to arrive at the area implying I don't have the right to make a complaint. I approached calmly saying the same thing, the noise is causing our shared wall to rumble. He then insisted that I was arrogant and I was also making noises. I asked him back why didn't he make a complaint or let me know that I was being a nuisance.

Eventually his partner came out asking him to stop. But he kept shouting more.

Now I'm worried he will confront me again. I need some advice on how to approach this

Update: Got some advice and decided to get a personal safety intervention order. Magistrate will contact my neighbour soon for summons.

Home & Garden

Comments

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 31/03/2023 - 12:58
      +5

      That makes sense. Cheers.

      • Muzeeb on 31/03/2023 - 13:09
        +7

        It actually does. Obviously 10 people know nothing about acoustics.

        • DashCam AKA Rolts on 31/03/2023 - 13:26
          +5

          Neighbour obviously a big Spinal Tap fan.

        • dd22qq on 01/04/2023 - 09:47

          Up to 12 now.

  • TheMills on 31/03/2023 - 00:08
    +14

    Maybe you should also play music in the morning after 8am!

  • Stopback on 31/03/2023 - 00:11
    +4

    Bogan?

  • freefall101 on 31/03/2023 - 00:20
    +13

    Noise cancelling headphones.

    Honestly, you're probably not going to find a happy answer to this. The dude sounds like a dick and there's no way to predict how he will react but there's definitely no way you can avoid talking to him that also results in no loud music. There's no magic, non-confrontational situation where you can get what you want and everyone will be happy.

  • SF3 on 31/03/2023 - 00:40
    +4

    De-escalate it.

    • jv on 31/03/2023 - 00:44
      +2

      Good idea.

      And only $2 !!!

      • USER DC on 31/03/2023 - 05:09
        +1

        You forgot the delivery charge, $5.99

        Can get that for less than delivery charge @ Coles though

      • foxmulder on 31/03/2023 - 06:08
        +2

        I'm sure the basic ingredient is just lemon.

  • MeesusEff on 31/03/2023 - 00:47
    +31

    Sounds like you need to start playing Baby Shark on repeat at 7.01am and then leave for work šŸ˜Š

  • bdl on 31/03/2023 - 01:54
    +1

    Khe Sanh?

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 31/03/2023 - 08:24
      +2

      Careful, he might be into it and ask op to turn it up

  • loropy9 on 31/03/2023 - 02:14
    +60

    Op, the strata bylaws have a clause about peaceful enjoyment of premises at any time. If someone plays loud music, keep complaining to strata. If the neighbour becomes aggressive or verbally abusive, immediately call the police.
    Donā€™t talk to him, keep everything in writing. Good luck.

    • sheamas88 on 31/03/2023 - 10:37
      +3

      Probably include calling police for the noise complaint too, they would have a lot more power to enforce action against the guy. That said, the rules around noise are very different between states, some have much more tolerance to loud music than others.

      • Iwantthebestprice on 31/03/2023 - 10:49
        +5

        From what Iā€™ve read a noise complaint can only be made after the prescribed times, in NSW and VIC itā€™s 11pm so if his playing music before 11pm has he broken a law? Police are not there to enforce body corp by laws they are far to busy to be dealing with this, if after 11pm then I would call the police but I still doubt they will attend unless they have nothing to do.
        Source - I once called the police on a house part next door which was shaking my windows at 2am in a residential street, the police said call EPA, the EPA replied on Monday saying itā€™s a police matter, spoke to police again then said council issue.. was frustrating and it never got dealt with

        • sheamas88 on 31/03/2023 - 11:46
          +2

          There is a lot of misinformation that gets passed around what times complaints can be made, best is to actually look up what it is for your state. For instance in QLD there is no time-based noise restrictions, and complaints can be made at any time, any day but I still heard a lot of people quote the "11pm restriction" when I was younger. In fact I was at a pool party that had the cops show up at 2PM and gave out a noise abatement.

          There is no state I am aware of that has a blanked 11pm cutoff so it's unclear if the guy in OP actually knows what he is talking about. It's possible they are in a more restrictive state and just parroting misinformation.

          • Iwantthebestprice on 31/03/2023 - 11:53
            +3

            @sheamas88: Yeah your right I looked up my local council and they give the time frames but they Cleary state you canā€™t be making unreasonable noise all the time and there are avenues to have it resolved I guess persistence is key but dealing with someone like OP I feel for them because I donā€™t think the neighbour is going to make it an easy process unfortunately and townhouses are getting worst some designs I see where no consideration is made for the people living there and the benefit is how many can a developer fit on a block rather then good architecture

        • Bluto Mindpretzel on 31/03/2023 - 16:06
          +6

          I used to live across the road from a house who used to pump music at all hours. VIC police told me as long as I can hear the music cleared from within my house, then it is grounds for complaint, regardless of the hour.

          But yeah for every encounter like this one, there is a developer counting their ill gotten millions for building paper walls.

    • deadcycle on 01/04/2023 - 21:57

      Thanks. Already did this too.

  • netjock on 31/03/2023 - 06:18

    If you own maybe explore sound proofing. If you rent noise cancelling headphones.

    They did design headphones for a reason and I think your neighbor should read up.

    If back in the day making so much noise will get you into serious trouble in the wild. Now it won't happen but people still act like barbarians. Unbelievable!

  • Bafranz on 31/03/2023 - 06:33
    +4

    Keep reporting, until then earplugs

  • try2bhelpful on 31/03/2023 - 07:21
    +19

    I would go back to the Body Corporate and report his abusive behaviour as well as his noise. Frankly if the guy wants loud music then he should be the one wearing the ear phones. His reaction is just ludicrous. Also tape the sound using a decibel reader. You can get these for your phone.

  • Archi on 31/03/2023 - 08:02
    -6

    Maybe you should of asked him first before you made a complaint to strata. Too late for that now,

    3 options
    - Bend over backwards and mend the neighbouring relationship and maybe the sound situation 'May' or 'May not' improve.
    - ignore and accept that is the situation, retaliating will only make the reconcilliation harder and living condition 'May' or 'May not' improve.
    - full retaliation, go phycho on them, and they might back off and the living situation 'May' or 'May not' improve

    • bohn on 31/03/2023 - 11:08

      it can go sour either way… if you talk to the tenant first, they might have a similar reaction, and then if you go to owners corp they know it's you ;)

      I've seen both ways result in problems.

      • Archi on 31/03/2023 - 11:20

        you share a wall, either way the person will know its the OP,

        at least if you are non-confrontational and talking about the problem may resolve the issue.

        no complaining required.

        • bohn on 31/03/2023 - 11:28

          yeah I've seen it happen in other situations as well where there is no party wall and it could be more than one person who complained.

          anyway, some people are just pricks. doesn't matter if you ask nicely or complain to owners corp, you still might not get what you want.

  • ForkSnorter on 31/03/2023 - 08:21
    +4

    I'd move out. Could not live next to someone like that. The sun rises at 4.30-6.30am in Australia. To get up that early, you need to sleep 8.30-10.30. Playing loud music at 11pm every night is ridiculous.

    • iNeed2Pee on 31/03/2023 - 08:29
      -1

      Would you just keep moving because of having to live next to someone? šŸ˜‚

      • ForkSnorter on 31/03/2023 - 08:30
        +11

        hell yes. Only got one life. Not going to waste it feeling horrible from lack of sleep or stress from nasty neighbour.

        • serpserpserp on 02/04/2023 - 11:57

          There is a rental crisis at the moment. Not so easy to just up and leave.

      • idonotknowwhy on 31/03/2023 - 17:47
        +3

        I've moved house twice to get away from house partying neighbors.

        • Franc-T on 31/03/2023 - 19:25
          +4

          If you murder once you dont have to move twice

          • bobbified on 31/03/2023 - 21:07
            -1

            @Franc-T: I guess they have tougher noise restrictions in jail!

    • bohn on 31/03/2023 - 11:29
      +2

      what if you bought the place? ;)

      • JIMB0 on 31/03/2023 - 12:40
        +7

        Rent it out to someone with an even bigger stereo, loud car and barking dog.Then the neighbours will move out and you can move back in.

        • WhyAmICommenting on 31/03/2023 - 14:17
          +4

          I could just imagine the rental advertisement. ā€œTattoos and loud music a requirementā€

        • idonotknowwhy on 31/03/2023 - 17:48

          AirBNB it

      • morse on 01/04/2023 - 04:21
        +2

        This would be unfortunate. Before I bought my place I visited the area a few times in the evening and early morning to suss out the noise. Got out of the car and walked around to see if there was any obvious noise pollution from surrounding houses. I also knocked on the door of the neighbours houses in the early evening and introduced myself, said I was looking to buy next door and asked about the area (eg history of crime, flooding) and if there were any disputes with the neighbours. The neighbours were completely fine with this, in fact both invited us in for a chat, which gave us an idea of what kind of people weā€™d have as neighbours.

        I presume this would work in for a townhouse too, youā€™d hear loud TV or music from outside. If you knock on their door and they were aggressive or could hear loud noise from inside you might avoid the purchas. Same could apply for rentals, though from what I hear you canā€™t be too choosy at the moment.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 31/03/2023 - 08:26
    +5

    Well now that the peaceful method has failed, this means war

  • altomic on 31/03/2023 - 08:26
    +1

    Bikies

    • Neptunesblood on 31/03/2023 - 18:26
      -5

      Did you think you were cool to say the lame bikies joke first? Lame.

      • Dreamcast on 31/03/2023 - 21:53
        +1

        It's one of those things that will always remain cool on Ozbargain.

  • Ocker on 31/03/2023 - 08:32

    "I need some advice on how to approach this"

    Join OZB and seek constructive advice from the members.

    • Herbse on 31/03/2023 - 13:00
      +3

      Then never respond to the thread and disappear into the void.

      • deadcycle on 01/04/2023 - 22:00

        I'm here and reading. Already took some legal advice too

  • pharkurnell on 31/03/2023 - 09:38
    +6

    Reason # 923840923840923809234029348 not to live in a unit or townhouse

    • ForkSnorter on 31/03/2023 - 09:50
      +16

      On the other hand, it can also happen with houses. I've heard people playing music that could be heard 200 meters away on a regular basis. I've also inspected a few houses where a neighbour's large, constantly barking dog (probably anxious) could be heard clearly in every room in the house.

      • AnneThrope on 31/03/2023 - 10:49
        +14

        Been there.
        There's no guarantee that a street of 'nice houses' won't include a raucous bogan.

        Former house was on a street of 1/2-acre blocks but 'Loud House' three down on other side of the road (at least 100m away) were simply loud at everything.
        They were a household of 4 including 2 sons in their 20s who all seemed to have substantial hearing loss making it impossible for them to perform any action at normal volume.

        For example; 'pool parties' several times a week - between 2 and 10 people sitting around the pool, yelling profanities at each other over loud music until after midnight. When guests leave, everyone starts their engines then stands on the road talking loudly for an hour or so before roaring away, tooting horns.

        Some people simply have no concern for the amount of noise they make and how inappropriate it is.

        • idonotknowwhy on 31/03/2023 - 17:50
          -1

          Point taken and that sucks. BUT, at least with no shared wall, you can double-glaze the glass, modify the building for better sound proofing, etc.
          A vibrating shared wall really sucks :(

        • Franc-T on 31/03/2023 - 19:26
          +1

          Shared wall is the issue here. If you live in townhouses with shared walls, you should be extra careful not to be an arse.

  • Pumpkin_rrr on 31/03/2023 - 10:10
    +3

    Generally neighbour dispute is a police matter.
    Would suggest you to reply to BC with details of the subsequent events, and tell them you've lodged a police report.
    If he is a Tenant, notify his PM and Owner.

    Also, can you move to another bedroom?

    He sounds like a bully so you must look after you own safety.

    • deadcycle on 01/04/2023 - 22:01

      The noise reaches my other rooms. Will consider a police report the next time I hear noises

  • Iwantthebestprice on 31/03/2023 - 10:11

    Iā€™m genuinely curious what happens in this scenario. If he continues to do this and sticks to the 11pm cut off, which is standard for noise, my apartment has the same rules keeps noise to a minimum after 11pm and before 6am, can the body corp fine him, do they take him to VCAT or can they force him to sell?
    Seeing how australia is obsessed with fitting 5 to 8 townhouses on a 600 square meter block Iā€™m sure this will get worst but I cannot understand what the final solution could be if you live in a housing block with someone like this and he makes everyone elseā€™s life hell.

    • Mechz on 31/03/2023 - 10:43
      +3

      You'll find the LGA will also have rules about disturbing the peaceful enjoyment on ones residence.

      Essentially yes you can make noise, but you can't just have music or power tools going non-stop during normal waking hours.

      • lunchbox99 on 31/03/2023 - 18:31

        Meh … people renovate or build for months on end and nobody will lift a finger if the noise is between allowed hours.

        • Mechz on 31/03/2023 - 18:54
          +2

          Yes but that has council approval because economy etc. Plus it has an end date.

    • Herbse on 31/03/2023 - 12:59
      -4

      Deal with it.

      Sharing walls and confined living isn't a new thing. Millions of people live in apartments and deal with crap like this from all around them.

      It's the price you pay for cheaper, closer to the city living.

      • Gnostikos on 02/04/2023 - 12:19

        Yes, let's succumb to mediocrity and bend over and take it because it's everyone's fault that governments can't do urban planning for sh*t, have urbanised and subdivided urban areas to beyond reasonable limits in the name of greed and decent-sized homes with the bare minimum of boundaries between adjacent properties cost more than most middle-class people can afford because the property industry and entire economy is woefully mismanaged and underregulated.

        Spoken like a true, feckless, apathetic, Aussie with the characteristic "f*** everyone else, I got mine" mentality.

        I'm sure you have the patience, tolerance and altruism of a Buddhist monk and have never gotten so much as a wrinkled forehead from neighbours doing things you find to be annoying, you absolute saint, you.

  • Boioioioi on 31/03/2023 - 10:15

    If he yells at you, call the cops

    • ntt on 01/04/2023 - 09:30
      +1

      wut…

  • enwar on 31/03/2023 - 10:19
    -2

    You say you have sensitive hearing yet you decided to live in a townhouse with a shared wall. In the words of Judge Judy, move.

  • bobbified on 31/03/2023 - 10:42

    You say that you've lived there for the past two years and you said that he said he was there first.

    How's things been in the two years prior to this incident? I'm assuming this isn't the first time you guys have spoken…..

    • deadcycle on 01/04/2023 - 22:03

      First time. This is the only house that don't like being greeted. Tried to and got either a frown or just got totally ignored

      • serpserpserp on 02/04/2023 - 12:00

        That seems a strange reaction to going over and knocking on the door to introduce yourself.

  • lostgoat on 31/03/2023 - 10:42
    +4

    U have a Psycho there m8 .
    You did well not to confront him for a while . Now you have unleashed the Beast .
    Plan you next moves well and GL .

    • deadcycle on 01/04/2023 - 22:04

      Usually around noon until night. Between 4 - 7 days a week

  • Thaal Sinestro on 31/03/2023 - 12:52
    +7

    Noise complaints are very common on the forums, and will increase as the government forces us to squeeze together into ever smaller units, townhouses, and even detached houses on anorexic 380mSq blocks. About 20% of people are sensitive to noise; autists have it worse (sensory hypersensivity is very common among them).

    Low frequencies (bass, below 250 Hz) are the most problematic. The lower the frequency, the better it penetrates walls/floors/windows/curtains/blinds. Asking someone to EQ the bass frequncies by, say, -6Db, should help, but they might refuse to comply. Dumb people who love loud music are almost always bass heads. Sophisticated people care more about sustain notes in the mid-frequencies; vegetables love thumping percussion.

    • lunchbox99 on 31/03/2023 - 18:33
      +1

      Lol, what. The frequency of a noise determines your sophistication? get real. Plenty of low frequency sounds in classical music.

      • Protractor on 01/04/2023 - 10:41

        Sounds very Southpark to me

      • Gnostikos on 02/04/2023 - 12:12
        +1

        He does have a point.

        The genres of music favoured by most of the inconsiderate neighbourhood retards who play loud music to the detriment of others are bass-dominant (i.e. Rap/Hip Hop, EDM/Techno, Pop Garbage, etc.)

        Yes, other genres have bass in them but when have you ever heard of a case of someone blasting Mozart or Tchaikovsky at 2AM next door?

        Having been in this situation myself a few times, the thing about low-IQ retards is that all of this technicality may as well be quantum physics to them; all they care about is "DOOF DOOF MAKE WINDOW RATTLE HURRR HEH HEH HEH" and there's no reasoning with simpletons of that calibre.

        • idonotknowwhy on 02/04/2023 - 22:48

          Yeah, he does make a point. And even if they're playing classical loudly, at least it doesn't sound like they're getting fuсked in the ass at 144bpm with 2000w subs

    • Techie4066 on 31/03/2023 - 21:21

      and will increase as the government forces us to squeeze together into ever smaller units, townhouses, and even detached houses on anorexic 380mSq blocks.

      You know this wouldn't be necessary if we had any foresight in city planning by building European-style midrises across cities full of fast rail causing less congestion. Sydney's footprint wouldn't need to expand beyond Parramatta, Hornsby and Bankstown, and people would live exceedingly better lives knowingly or not. With this being the norm, those that still desire a typical house or acreage could seek that out beyond those city boundaries while being closer to the city and its amenities. Our insatiable appetite for housing estates and expansive suburbia pushing into national parks is dysfunctional and terribly inefficient. People experience its inconveniences every day but aren't critical of the root cause. Case in point, those in Amsterdam live far happier lives in midrises and with quick commutes on bicycle.

  • Herbse on 31/03/2023 - 12:56
    -3

    This is the life of sharing a wall / strata / apartment/ etc. You either put up with the BS or risk creating neighbours from hell.

    Nothing more you can do. He is technically correct about the noise time and will most likely give you the stink eye everytime you pass by.

    From here on you either ignore them completely until one of you move out and put up with whatever above board BS they are doing.

    Or you can take the path much less travelled and use the high road to apologise for the altercation (even tho you didn't do anything wrong), invite them over for dinner occasionally, and turn them into an ally over time, rather than an enemy. Then they might be less likely to be dicks about the noise and you'll be less stressful living in your home.

    • Gnostikos on 02/04/2023 - 12:27

      Or you can take the path much less travelled and use the high road to apologise for the altercation (even tho you didn't do anything wrong), invite them over for dinner occasionally, and turn them into an ally over time, rather than an enemy. Then they might be less likely to be dicks about the noise and you'll be less stressful living in your home.

      Lol.

      Are you into cuckolding by any chance or do you just love to ingratiate those that f**k you over in life?

      Holy sh*t, the level of effete, boot-licking sycophantism you display could make other men impotent just by you being near them.

      Do the gene pool a favour and don't have kids, will you?

  • Dack Smith on 31/03/2023 - 13:08

    Bikies

  • Tee Rex Arms on 31/03/2023 - 15:26
    -5

    Are you and or your neighbour Asian?

    • Archi on 31/03/2023 - 16:52
      +3

      that matters because?

      • Tee Rex Arms on 31/03/2023 - 16:52

        OP Asian neighbour cauc

      • Franc-T on 31/03/2023 - 19:27
        +2

        Because downvoter is looking to wedge a racist comment in the discussion

    • deadcycle on 01/04/2023 - 22:05

      I would say he didn't like that I spoke to him in aussie

  • congo on 31/03/2023 - 16:22

    This is why I became a hermit and moved to the country. Country life is more peaceful.

    • deadcycle on 01/04/2023 - 22:06

      tbh I'd been considered this

  • SpicyStew on 31/03/2023 - 16:38
    +2

    He already knows you can't handle it on your own that's why you asked the authorities.
    He's going to try walk over you to regain his dominance.
    Talk to the partner respectfully and fairly. If his partner has influence over him and is peaceful, it can resolve if not already.
    Otherwise, expect this to escalate if you let it go. You've already stirred the pot.

  • lonewolf on 31/03/2023 - 17:28
    +1

    Since we are only hearing one side of the argument, Its hard to say how loud it is. IF he was there first and if he has always played his music at the same level and no-one else has ever complained and you are the first to complain (which it sounds like) then perhaps from his viewpoint, its not bothering anyone else but you and he may think you are just looking for complaints and issues. Remember we all have neighbours and we have to learn to also deal with them living their lives, not have everyone always cater to our needs. Otherwise other option is to move into an area where neightbours are far away.

    I have a home theatre room. I asked my neighbours to let me know if its too loud. And initially they would let me know if its too lout at night (usually late at night like 10 or 11 etc (always the wife, the husband never had any problems with the sound). And I would always turn it off and came up with other methods to try to minimise the bass going through the floor and walls. But what i did notice after a while, is they started to ask me to turn it down more and more frequently even in afternoons or midday etc and also my volume has been steadily decreasing as i was trying to find a level that never bothers them. Dont get me wrong, this only happens once every few months and only usually when i have people over to watch a movie. But I also realised that at times when someone feels the other person will always keep giving in, they start to push the boundaries further and further.

    I think instead of complaining to body corporate, you perhaps should have first gone and spoken to the person and as someone else mentioned. Its the Bass that travels through walls.

    • idonotknowwhy on 31/03/2023 - 17:52
      +2

      IF he was there first and if he has always played his music at the same level

      Doesn't matter who was there first

      and no-one else has ever complained and you are the first to complain (which it sounds like)

      Maybe they're not sharing a wall, or the stereo is in a room touching OP's unit

      • lonewolf on 31/03/2023 - 17:52

        When you take snippets out of context, you miss the whole point.

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