Noisy neighbours

[sgtohk]

Hi, I have 4 adjoined landed properties adjacent my house. They all put their washing machines and driers in their back yards directly under my bedroom.
At 5 am their damn maids are already loading up (not blaming the maids, pretty sure its their power-crazed employers/exploiters who are sanctioning this). It sounds like a plane is spooling up with 4 spinners going. Is there no generally accepted principle of 'quiet' between 11pm-7am in this country? I've dropped the NEA a note but I'm not sure how much use they will be. Regardless I'm going to be knocking on all these ignorant jokers' front doors at 5am tomorrow and we'll see then how they love an early morning call. Any advice on regulations here?

[the lynx]

To be honest, there isn't any way that the enforcement or any authority is going to do anything to help you about it. Usually a gentle confrontation to the neighbours may help.

Really our pet peeves. Maybe some personal (and crazy) tips from this thread on noisy neighbours will help you

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... asc-0.html

[phil30k]

Hi, I have 4 adjoined landed properties adjacent my house. They all put their washing machines and driers in their back yards directly under my bedroom.
At 5 am their damn maids are already loading up (not blaming the maids, pretty sure its their power-crazed employers/exploiters who are sanctioning this). It sounds like a plane is spooling up with 4 spinners going. Is there no generally accepted principle of 'quiet' between 11pm-7am in this country? I've dropped the NEA a note but I'm not sure how much use they will be. Regardless I'm going to be knocking on all these ignorant jokers' front doors at 5am tomorrow and we'll see then how they love an early morning call. Any advice on regulations here?

NEA can help you check if the noise breaks any regulations. You can reach them at 1800-CALL NEA (1800-2255 632).

[Brah]

Great, now we have this problem with the new people upstairs (Europeans shethinks..., not that that matters).

I suggested missus visit missus with an offering of felt pads for chair legs as an icebreaker and to welcome to the condo, and to let her gently know how thin the walls are and how loud we hear them dragging the furniture around at all hours.

Ain't gonna happen though....

[QRM]

Dont forget some new families moving here have never lived in a flat before and have no idea how easy noise travels through concrete.

We just moved to a house and it great not having to worry about the kid playing with golf balls etc.

[katbh]

+1 . It is funny, when we lived in high rise I could of sworn the kids played with marbles.....ALL the time at ALL hours

[JR8]

We used to live beneath a group of Korean flat-sharers who had the insidious habit of bouncing a golf ball on the floor each night until about 2-3am.
Bang ... bang-bang
Bang .... bang-bang
Bang .. bang-bang
Bang [what, a 2, 3, 4 second gap, what will it be this time???]
[AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!].


- Step one. Deal with it early, don't let it start eating you up.

- Step two. You think they know they're making the noise, but 98% certain they are completely oblivious.

-- So, going and screaming in their faces will not help. In fact it'll do the reverse, they'll conclude that YOU're the problem.

- The route is.... [smiling, take a huge breath ... let it go, bite your lip] 'Hello! Excuse me, I'm sure you had no idea, but...

-- Neighbours usually wish to be considered neighbourly, most are oblivious to any problem they're causing.

- Assume and proceed with goodwill. Good intention usually reaps a just result.

[nakatago]

I used to have a flatmate who didn't realize him playing a dancing game with a Kinect sounded like stomping.

[JR8]

I used to have an upstairs neighbour, a ballet choreographer, who didn't know doing 10-12 step leaps/moves across my ceiling, about 200-300 times in a row, caused a problem. (London > Victorian floors > their carpet > 1/2" floorboard, 9" joist, 12.5mm plasterboard with a 5mm skim of plaster at my ceiling, all about 1-200 years old. Unfortunately these timber sandwiches can act like a drum, and amplify noise).

The problem is.... IMHO... at the point you finally go and address the issue, you're boiling with fury. The other party are completely oblivious. They open the door smiling, and you feel like attacking them.

In some ways I think it can be better to drop off a 'friendly note' instead before things come to such a physical head. A) It immediately makes you feel better, and B) lays down a marker that can be followed up.

[reytvibe]

I had a similar issue as above, I lived in an old converted building with wood floors and the guy above would run up and down his apartment all day non stop for 12+ hours. No idea what he was doing but it sounded like an elephant.

[QRM]

I lived in a london victorian apartment, it had a mezzanine floor sleeping area, every morning instead of using the stairs I would leap over the railings and grab the balustrade half way done and land on the floor, (always impressed the ladies )

A woman living below came and knocked on my door saying she was very curious what was causing the huge single thump she felt every morning for the last 6 month.

She had a sense of humour about it and I never did it again.

[reytvibe]

haha. I guess it goes to show you often don't realise that what seems completely normal to yourself probably has someone scratching their heads wondering what the hell is going on up there.

[JR8]

haha. I guess it goes to show you often don't realise that what seems completely normal to yourself probably has someone scratching their heads wondering what the hell is going on up there.

That is exactly it.

I lived once above three young professionals (London, same era housing, 1860-70s). All their doors had those nasty regulation auto door-closers. Just, in this case they were set to close too fast.

As a result between about 6.30-7.30 I'd hear a door slam maybe 50+ times, kitchen>bedroom>bathroom> [repeat]... etc right around their property, by three people.

To them it was just their busy morning routine, they had no idea anyone else heard noise from them...