Noise, and your rights to live your life?

[911hillclimber]

I have a sensitive natured neighbour.

He does not tolerate noise, I've short bursts of an angle grinder during the day such as 2 minutes once a month kind of thing.
With the thought of doing some work on my 911 there will be some metal dressing after welding so I'm sensitive to an issue arising. My other neighbours seem to take this in their stride. I don't do this kind of thing after 4.40pm.

I know.read that those who want total silence 24/7 have the rights to demand noises issues are stopped, but do not I have the right to live my life too?

I can't find anything about the people who make noise and their rights to live only about those who feel aggrieved.

Can anyone shed any light on what I can do or is it a case that I can't live my life out unless it matches the disgruntled neibourghs life style?

I can understand the right to have a quiet environment after before working day hours, Ie before 9.00am and after 5.00pm but Monday to Friday working hours should be fair for some occasional noise, and I mean occasional, once a week or once a month?

Any thoughts please?

[Bewildebeest]

You have PM

[Gary71]

Can't give you any legal view on it, but your actions sound entirely reasonable and fair. Has he made a formal complaint?

I always keep the garage door shut when doing anything too noisy and don't angle grind past 7:00pm, so you stopping at 5:00pm is really good!

[911hillclimber]

Thanks for the pm, very helpful.
Gary, you know me and I hope you know I am not the Sod Them type, but surely I can have my hobby?

No complaint made as far as I know.
I guess I will know if or when the Council arrive to monitor things.

If I restored cars all day long with tin bashing etc then ok, but it is very infrequent and I don't run nosey engines etc either.

I guess I could ask the Council what defines a nuisance level, but if somebody wants tranquility 24/7 then this is unreasonable?
That is then, demanding total tranquility is a nuisance to me!

[smallspeed]

I'm interested to understand a bit more about this too, more for interest than any plans of action!..

I have a complete pain in the arse neighbour who hates my guts (a couple of ddk'ers have experience of her window slamming). Fortunately she's v.passive aggressive, and her husband is about 8stone, so funnily it's never escalated!
Other neighbours have kids so I do what I can but never past 7pm and never until after about 9-9:30 am on a Saturday. I never really do anything on a Sunday other than the odd bit of wiring or other pottering about type activities.. I'm probably less friendly than you in that I'm not doing it during work hours. Fortunately for me the other neighbours are morons so it's me who fixes their kids bikes and things, hence no one else ever mentions it.

I can't really give you any advice legally, however I would say it doesn't sound like you're being unreasonable, so f*** that guy, do your thing, and if he gets physical, get the police involved immediately (or put him under the patio and keep the 5-0 out of it ). Sounds like he's completely unreasonable to everyone not just you so I can't see he has a leg to stand on

It's hard these days as cars are not exactly popular hobby, and no one really does their own maintenance any more so it's not considered to be normal.. I think there's a lot less acceptance of it now. That said, screaming shite kids and barking dogs seem to be completely fine

[911hillclimber]

It is a changing world.
I have been doing cars for decades and decades and never have had a problem with anyone, indeed, many are fascinated at what I have done and in the garage.

The 911 charms many, the Lola makes mouths drop as happened with a total stranger today from many houses up from me.

As I am now retired, doing car work is done during the day and we are out many weekends racing or enjoying the car events around and about.

Most do not wash their cars here, down to the lads on the other side of the town and pay £5, so car maintenance which may be some rattle of the trolley Jack etc is normal, but during the working hours of the working week.

I think I will have a good case if the man from the council arrives.
My immediate closest next doors are fine.

[smallspeed]

I hope so - I do think it's completely un reasonable at times when people complain about things like that..
Don't get me wrong I've done A LOT in my single garage over the last 3 years (must start a build thread some time) but I do try and be reasonable - I worry though that if anyone did officially complain I'd loose on the basis that no one else would really understand or have any sympathy

Best of luck with it all - I think if it did get nasty while it's not as common as it was there is a VERY strong car community on line who probably have similar concerns to you and I who would get behind you in a heartbeat

[Gary71]

Does he mow the lawn? Probably no louder than a few minutes with an angle grinder

[Uk911]

Graham,
Just playing silly at the mo, but would your neighbour moan if you had builders at your house at 0830 till 1700hrs building an extension approved by council or a longer project like building a new house in the street.??
I think your being very reasonable stopping at 1630hrs and if the garage doors down there won't be that much noise depending on how far away he is.

[911hillclimber]

Last year he had contractors in to do the back garden, trucks with sand and railway sleepers, days of power saws. Other people across the way the same 3 times in 2 years, vans scattered everywhere.

however, that is more acceptable to many as it could be something they want to do at some time, so won't say anything as it will be turned against them. It did not bother me as these things happen and even for weeks, but stop.
Live and let Live

Bit of car restoration? For this person too much clearly.

We all have noise thresholds.

It irritates me if there is blaring music outside the working day, the gym across the busy road beating out music to encourage the gymnasts inside, but I have the same music in the evening, and I don't want it, but live and let live.

Some lawn mowers are droning away, but that is life for most/everyone. If it is done at 6.00am in the morning as opposed to 2.00pm then you react differently. I always do mine with a Honda mower but during the day and less than once a week as do most by me here.

[hot66]

not sure if im reading this right .. but you're worried he might say something .. but nothing has happened yet ?

If thats teh case then it seems a lot of worry before its needed.

I usually find with most things .. go and speak to him, invite him around to see the cars and explain waht you're plans are . Take him out for a spin in the 911 .. he then becomes 'involved' and more likey to work with you on teh noise front

[911hillclimber]

Take your point, and thanks for the ideas.

2 years ago he came onto my property and threatened me, fists clenched, about the 911 and my danger to children playing in the street and on my driveway...nothing to do about noise and he was not co-herent.

Thus I doubt I can socialise with him at any level.

His wife seems ok.

I looked into what the police could do after this threat, but the law is they can do nothing unless it happens again, within 2 weeks (iirc) and about the same subject.

[Bruce M]

Angle grinder is the worst. I cringe when I use it and feel guilty. The bench grinder is much less aggressive in sound. Sometimes wonder if I could use a polishing machine instead (same machine but runs at a lower speed) but I'm guessing it's less effective.

My only suggestion is to keep a detailed diary of dates / times / activity. In case he calls in the council so you can demonstrate you are being reasonable.

[smallspeed]

maybe get one or more of these three things for your garage..



word of warning: if you get a dog with cropped ears you'll have my mrs to deal with, and that might be worse than your physically violet, alcho neighbour!

[mycar]

In the unlikely event of him making an official complaint, he will be advised to keep a diary of what he considers to be your anti social behavior.

You may want to keep a diary of your own.

And hammer frozen sausages into his lawn when he's not looking.