What if neighbour is loud AND crazy??

Hiya,

I know there have been a lot of posts in the past about loud neighbours, but I have a slightly different problem and I'd be really grateful if anyone has any advice.

We live on the top floor of a three-storey rowhouse. The ground-floor tenant is an older man (50s-60s) who lives alone. He seems like a nice enough guy overall, but he is driving us crazy by playing his stereo 24 hours a day (literally). It started a couple months ago. My husband initially asked him to turn it down, and he turned the music down but left the bass really high. So what we deal with now is not per se loud music, but rather the thumping bass. Which never...ever...stops.

The problem is that the usual techniques for dealing with loud neighbours either don't work with him, or I'm reluctant to use them. He is not entirely rational -- the last time my husband asked him to turn the bass down, he said it was the radio station's fault and we should call the radio station to complain (he was serious). His flat is filthy and his clothes are usually dirty. No one ever comes to visit him, he doesn't seem to have family or friends looking after him. Sometimes we smell weed in the hallway so I think he's also smoking up. Apparently he plays the radio 24 hours a day, even when he's sleeping or gone out, because he doesn't want anyone to steal his things (yeah, I don't know...)

Basically, he drives me crazy but I also feel really bad for him. He's a council tenant and I'm afraid if I complain to the police or the council noise service, he might get in serious trouble somehow (especially if they find the weed). I looked up elder services for our council but they are really taxed to the limit so I'm not sure they would help him as long as he's not a danger to himself.

I'd like to help him but, selfishly, I'd also like some peace and quiet and be able to sleep again (earplugs help a little but they don't block out the vibrations from the bass). Does anyone have any other ideas?

Also -- there is a separate owner for each floor of the house, so our landlady can't do anything directly. Is there any way to find out the landlord for his flat (without asking, obviously)?

cheers
j

If he really does seem to be a bit out of it, you might want to contact Social Services.  They probably can't do anything with regards to the radio (though they might be able to persuade him to turn the bass down), but they should at least be able to do a basic welfare check, to make sure the man is alright.  If they think there's a problem, then they can take it from there.

Its tricky, but with the weed thing thats not your fault and you cant do anything about the trouble he might get in to. Sorry for the lack of advice I hope it works out

As he's causing a disturbance, I would call your local police station and have a chat with the duty seargent.  It sounds like this fellow may need medical or social services help and the police will call on whoever is appropriate to deal with it.  I doubt he will get into a lot of trouble unless he is already known to police.  For the council to move him or evict him there would have to be a lot of complaints over a long period.  (It took several years for them to get rid of a drug addled prostitute who lived above my grandmother and who was abusing her child and stealing from all her neighbours).

(NB: If he's a council tenant then it's the local council who is his landlord).

 
What does the other tenant say (the one in the middle)? Presumably they are affected by it.

What about the neighbours on either side (if you have them)?

I really feel for you guys who have bad/loud neighbours. I have been fairly lucky in the houses I have lived in. But I suppose these are things one won't discover until after moving in.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

I think I would like to bring social services in somehow, I just wouldn't want it to kick off some spiraling process that ends up with him evicted or something, so it's helpful to hear that it's not so easy (well, helpful in this case -- I guess a lot of times it must be annoying!)

We did speak to the middle tenant, they do get it even worse and totally understand why we are annoyed -- but basically, they have been dealing with it for years and have learned to tune it out (how???) and also their bedroom is in a sort of extension off the back so they are more insulated from the noise at night.

I was actually looking into getting a white noise machine, as I've heard these can be useful -- has anyone tried these? Apparently they really do help if you get a good one. We're also expecting a baby so it might be helpful later on anyway...

Loud neighbors are so annoying!!! 

I was actually looking into getting a white noise machine, as I've heard these can be useful -- has anyone tried these? Apparently they really do help if you get a good one. We're also expecting a baby so it might be helpful later on anyway...

Loud neighbors are so annoying!!! 

I have a white noise machine - purchased because I am sick to death of listening to the old man who lives downstairs talking very loudly on the phone every night at 9!  I love love love it - even on a low volume, it easily covers his voice droning through the wall.  I have a Sound Oasis one (the travel version) and it goes with me any time I travel for business.  I have found it really helps and I no longer suffer from the "first night in a hotel room=no sleep".

Ooooh thanks, that's good to know! I think we will definitely be getting a machine. Yesterday I was so desperate, I bought a white noise MP3 off amazon and put it on repeat, listening on headphones, and it really helped! So I think we'll get the machine for sleeping, I just wondered if it was too good to be true.