How to solve the issue with horror neighbors?

Posted by Victorvoncrow@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 29 comments

Not sure what to do with our downstairs neighbors, any advice appreciated! We have been renting our flat for almost five years and got new neighbors moving downstairs, also renting. Mom, dog and two almost teenage kids. From first week issues came, them being very loud, kids playing in staircase etc. We mentioned to them about the noise and mom promised they will be more quiet. Weeks go by and noise continues and gets worse. Son is fighting every week mom and sister, shouting as loud as he can, swearing and once I heard him yell "I will kill you". He keeps yelling how he hates the mom and I believe he hits the sister since once I saw her running out crying. These fights can be very long, very loud and giving me anxiety since it can happen several times a week, we hear it over TV and makes me feel like the fight is happening in our flat. It is very rare there is silence here when they are around. I spoke with mom again and explained I am autistic and noise is really loud and disturbing. She said we need to move out if we cant handle it and go live in forest if we want silence. She has said this is normal kids sounds, but I never have yelled to my mom f word and I hate you for an hour. Second issue we are having is with their dog. I really love animals and I feel bad for the dog. They have a small garden where is fake grass and they let their dog poo there all the time. Our bedroom is above the garden and we are getting the smell and flies in. Haven't been able to open window sometimes for days! We tried to speak to letting agency and council about this. Council said it is against Enviroment Act and need to be dealt with and agency are responsible. When I call agency, they say we cant do anything about it. Now since neighbor know we have complained about the poo, they made sure not to pick it. Sometimes there is 10 piles of poo, garden full of flies and they let dog run there with kids. She even dries their clothes next to dog poo! Is there anything we can do besides move out? Everything is so expensive atm and we are not able to leave. Thankbyou for the help

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29 Comments

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Vinjhar@reddit

Hey everyone, I’ve been dealing with noisy neighbours for a while — constant loud music, barking dogs, late-night parties. I was exhausted, frustrated, and honestly didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to escalate things or cause bad blood, but I also needed my peace back. That’s why I ended up building something I wish I had earlier — a free AI tool that helps UK residents quickly generate polite, firm, or formal noise complaint letters you can give to your neighbour (or even use for council records). No logins, no ads, no catch — just something simple that might help someone else out there. 🔗 https://www.noisyneighbourletter.co.uk You just answer a few short questions (like what the noise is, when it happens, how it affects you), and the tool instantly gives you a 3–4 paragraph letter you can print or email. I made this because I know how overwhelming it can be — and I hope it gives you a gentle first step before things get too stressful. Would love to know if it helps you. And if you think it could be better, I’m all ears 🙏 Stay strong and good luck to anyone else going through this.

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sleepyprojectionist@reddit

I have similar neighbours. They have at least two screaming matches at each other every week. They set off the fire alarms for the whole building at least twice a week. They leave stuff stacked in the corridor so not to clutter up their own flat. I have nearly fallen flat on my face several times trying to get into my flat. They are looking after a dog for the guy’s ex and kids. Whenever the dog is left alone it barks and howls non-stop. On a couple of days I was off work sick and the dog was howling for around eleven hours. I had a banging headache. The property management company have no interest in doing anything as long as they are getting paid. The only option now is to fill in a complaint diary over the course of a week and submit it to the council noise complaints department. The neighbours have apologised once about the dog, but other than trying a vibrating collar that didn’t work, they have done nothing about complaints from multiple residents. My tenancy is up at the end of July and I am giving serious thought to moving.

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LittleSadRufus@reddit

It's really short sighted that management agents let the good tenants leave because they don't want to evict the bad tenants

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error23_snake@reddit

If they are blocking a communal corridor you can try looking into fire safety? Local council or fire station may be interested if your escape route is obstructed. It's really really important to have nothing at all left in communal corridors: imagine having to crawl though if there is a lot of smoke, how easy would it be for something to get knocked over and stop you getting through, how disorienting it would be etc.

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Victorvoncrow@reddit (OP)

That sounds even more horrible!

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Haunting_Side_3102@reddit

The property management company should take an interest in misuse of fire alarms and storing things in corridors. Ask them for a copy of their fire assessment, which by law they must have and must provide to occupants on demand. If they aren’t interested, then the fire brigade and council will be.

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size_matters_not@reddit

>Mom 🤔

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Victorvoncrow@reddit (OP)

Sorry, english is not my first language, family downstairs has mom, two kids and dog.

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terahurts@reddit

You could try the RSPCA for the dog shit issue. They have the power to seize animals if they're being kept in unsanitary conditions but don't hold your breath. It *might* fall under sections [79 ((1) (e & f)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/43/section/79)) and [80](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/43/section/80) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which your council is responsible for enforcing. r/LegalAdviceUK might have better knowledge though. Kids are going to be noisy, especially teenagers. But if you think there's physical violence going on, call the police.

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Victorvoncrow@reddit (OP)

I feel like RSPCA won't do anything since they are very busy...and would say as long dog has outdoor space, food and water, they can't do anything. Dog looks healthy. I have been to their flat twice when they in the beginning asked to take dog out before they got dog walker. Was trying to be nice and helpful, hoping this will help in the future. Flat was messy and dog had peed there every time I went. Garden smelled horrible.

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bitesizejasmine@reddit

Still keep trying to help and maybe try and help the sister. They clearly need help. If you can. Don't get used though. Good luck.

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Alert-Performance199@reddit

Can still try, don't assume what they will say

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DeepStatic@reddit

I had neighbours fighting with smashing plates and slamming doors. It got to the point during the world cup that if England played poorly we would stay at a parent's house in anticipation of the arguments. Then one day during one of these arguments we heard a child screaming 'daddy stop'. Called the police who turned up in under 5 minutes. It turned out that a different neighbour was distracting their kid from hearing the argument by tickling them, but the police visit was enough for the problem neighbours to realise how bad their behaviour was, and we haven't heard a single argument in over 2 years.

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MissFlipFlop@reddit

This is askUk... Are you in the UK? Mom is not used in the UK.

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Difficult_Egg_4350@reddit

Domestic abuse is a priority for many police forces and they will attend a call out where someone is shouting that they want to kill their parent and hitting their sibling. To be honest if the son is that violent there is a reasonable chance the mum is afraid of him too - not that it excuses her behaviour, especially regarding the dog, but she might be worried about how he will react if she tells him to quieten down.

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20C_Mostly_Cloudy@reddit

What is a "mom"?

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QuiteFrankE@reddit

Noise issues are a council matter. Make a complaint to them and keep a noise diary. Don’t let them fob you off. Just to reassure you, none of what you describe is normal. Kids do not behave like that when taught properly.

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Victorvoncrow@reddit (OP)

Thank you for you advice. Council has said they can't do anything about kids shouting :( I start losing hope that I am the issue here and being the annoying neigbor

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QuiteFrankE@reddit

Ok I understand where you are coming from. I am autistic too and struggle with these things but I can also tell when it is my autism and what anybody would struggle with if it is unreasonable or not. You are not the issue here. It is very common for the council to say they can’t help. In fact, I think they just say that to everyone to filter out who is serious or not. They CAN help but you need to pester them. In the meantime, do the noise diary anyway. It will come in handy for the future, and will also be evidence, to yourself too, that you are not the issue. It doesn’t matter what the noise is. If it is stopping you from having peace in your own home then things can be done. Fair warning though, it will take time and persistence.

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Victorvoncrow@reddit (OP)

Thank you I will do that

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heyitsed2@reddit

Do you have the same landlord and can you contact them directly? You local councils private sector housing department might be able to help with the dog poop issue.

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Victorvoncrow@reddit (OP)

Yes we all have same landlord but agency won't give the details

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heyitsed2@reddit

You can look it up on land registry for a few quid

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Alert-Performance199@reddit

Keep pestering the council

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poptimist185@reddit

Letting your dog shit in the garden and leaving it there is disgusting and puts paid to the mum’s protestations that they’re a normal family. I second the post which suggests asking the legal advice uk sub for a more detailed action plan, they definitely qualify as neighbours from hell

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Victorvoncrow@reddit (OP)

Yes, I think so too. I know lot of people say kids are kids, but it is not normal in my standards to yell so much. I don't know what is the mom's interest to keep the garden full of shit and dry her laundry there....They are acting like this better middle class family that rules don't apply to them

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txe4@reddit

You're renting, so move. Not that other commenters are wrong about possible legal/authority angles, but such things are GRINDINGLY slow.

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Bulbasaurus__Rex@reddit

Go back to the council and explain the problems still persist. Escalate it to your ward councillors as well. Start keeping recordings of the noise issues and take some photos of the dog fouling as well.

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