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Live in flat what time can I run a bath on a sunday

Sharebear

Hi, random i know, I live in a first floor flat. I'm in social housing however my neighbour downstairs owns the property. She has her moments of moaning about everyday noise, or granddaughters visiting. I feel like she believes as she owns it she can do what she likes but I have to be quiet when she says.

I appreciate we all wake at different times etc but wondered if I have to wait until a certain time to shower or bathe. I've been up since before 4am and really want a shower now. They tend to wake later. Her son usually around 9.30.

I already can't take advantage of my washer on low rate electric at night. They however make noise when they like. Lots of DIY noise often too.

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Comments

Freesia123

Any chance you can look for somewhere else to live? As that's what I would be doing.

You can't keep 'pussyfooting' around just to suit them.

You should be able to do what you want, when you want in your own place. I mean being reasonable, I wouldn't go playing loud music and stomping around. But unable/afraid to have a bath or use the washer, that's not on 😔

anisty

Generally 'quiet hours' are between 11pm and 7pm for noise complaints - those are the hours the police might come out for noise complaints.

I have seen issues before where people start running a vacuum cleaner in the middle of the night - not a criminal offense but a bit inconsiderate!

I'd say any time is perfectly ok for a shower - how noisy can that be?! Definitely from 6 or 7 am.

Any noise complaints arising during sociable hours (7am til 11pm) must go through environmental health dept - but i think your neighbour won't get far from complaints about normal things like running a shower or washing machine.

It's loud music and barking dogs that environmental health will take action on.

Just do what you need to do - sounds fine to me.

Kimi87

I live in a ground floor flat.

I do get a bit annoyed when their washing machine is going at 11pm- always on a very long cycle so lots of noise with the repeated spins.

However that is an annoyance and if I complained to EH, I'd probably get laughed at.

Personally I'd carry on doing what you want to do, your neighbour is free to complain to EH or your landlord but she won't get very far.

You can absolutely use your washing machine and shower exactly when suits you, not her.

If your neighbour complains at you again you can tell her to take it up with LL/EH, simply ignore her, or smile, nod, say nothing and carry on exactly as before. Don't let her dictate your life to you.

whistles

If it's social housing, how does the neighbour own the property?

Kimi87

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/966320#Comment_966320

I read it as downstairs is privately owned, upstairs is social housing.

hmass01

Shes probably bought it on a right to buy but that doesn't make her god!!

Reasonable noise at reasonable times unless your bearings have gone on your washing machine its gentle hum shouldn't trouble anyone.

My neighbours are social housing & are noisy as all hell but its family living noise so you suck it up.

You are entitled to the enjoyment of your own property. Social housing usually have a support officer perhaps speak to them regarding the harassment from your neighbour. In the meantime keep a diary of any time she contacts you regarding noise.

HappyDays62

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/966325#Comment_966325

If that's the case she has NO RIGHTS, at all, with respect to what you can and can't do in your property. The only people who can are the council, or whoever owns your flat. Read your tenancy agreement and see what it says in there. As a landlord, I can almost certainly guarantee there will be nothing about when you can do whatever you need to do, obviously, within the limits imposed by the EH as others have mentioned. Have a lovely, splashy bath and enjoy it! If she continues to complain, report it to the council/owner and find out who owns the freehold as they *might* help settle a dispute XX

Littlefatfriend

Please don't allow your neighbour to control you Sharebear, they aren't your boss.

If they have a complaint about your noise there are official channels they can use and they wouldn't be allowed to control your bathing.

I appreciate we like a peaceful and easy life but I encourage you not to accept their mithering, that's all they're doing. If the shower or bath (or washing machine) make too much noise your neighbour should take that up with your landlord or improve their sound insulation. It shouldn't be your problem, you aren't doing anything unreasonable.

Good luck

Luke

WhatThe

Washing machines do not hum gently at any time of the day, even the quiet ones!

OverlyAnxious

People keep using washing machines at night in my block and I find it really uncomfortable. I can't even use my own washing machine any more which makes it like torture being subjected to theirs. Nothing I can do about it though. The noise of water hitting the bottom of a bath or a shower tray is also very loud from downstairs. I certainly wouldn't want it overhead at 4am. I would say anything after 9am at the weekend is acceptable. Our landlord also allows gardeners to run lawnmowers and hedgetrimmers from 8am, right outside our properties. I hate being here with all the noise now but legally they're allowed to do it.

troublethomas

I think in terms of showering you should be able to do that at any time of the day.. if you worked nights per say and came home and showered or worked early and needed a shower that really shouldn't be a problem. In terms of the washing machine that's a little different as they can be noiser. I kmow it's difficult in this climate to find somewhere else to love but they may be the only way you have piece of mind.

hmass01

May be worth looking at this site.

It gives guidance on time & DBA levels not sure how to convert a washing machine dB to DBA but probably somewhere on the internet will do it.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/noise-nuisances-how-councils-deal-with-complaints#:~:text=call%20at%20night.-,Noise%20at%20night%3A%20warning%20notices,levels%20from%2011pm%20to%207am.

WhatThe

I can hear my downstairs neighbour chatting on her mobile phone! When it bothers me I wear my noise-cancelling headphones but I can still hear external noise. Even with earplugs there is still too much external noise for my liking. Only in lockdown did the world go quiet and it was absolute bliss.

I read reviews before buying myself a quiet washing machine with a Cost of Living payment but I can still hear it fill with water and vibrate.

So many people seem to have hearing loss these days and either not realise or just not care whether anyone else is affected by their presence.

And there is a difference between running a bath at 4am and having a shower at 4am on any day of the week.

hmass01

Unfortunately the world is not silent & life creates noise. Don't know where you spent lockdown but my neighbours were as loud as could be.

I agree showering/bathing at 3am does seem inconsiderate in an apartment. But before 11pm & after 7am is reasonable people have to be able to get ready for work/bed.

MCMikey

If it were your landlord especially downstairs or another tenant, then you'd probably want to be as considerate as possible as it could in turn affect your tenancy.

For example I know that the tenant below me has their bedroom under my bathroom. So if I were to have a shower at say four o'clock in the morning (which I do very occasionally) the percussive effect of the shower on the bath might annoy. I bought a shower head which has an aerated setting and control valve to lessen the flow rate to keep the noise to a minimum. I've never had a complaint before this or after, but simply wished to be as quiet as possible for others sake.

WhatThe

Don't know where you spent lockdown

In the capital where even the wildlife fell silent (to my ears, anyway).

The NHS would not prioritise surgery for my hearing disorder and why should they? Noise pollution from people with hearing loss is easily solved with hearing aids.

hmass01

You were very lucky then

durhamjaide2001

you should be able to run the bath anytime you want without asking I would say it's a human right to have a bath anytime you want to.

Unless you have care needs that prevents you from having a bath. However there should be an agreement and your best interest should be taken into consideration. I know when I had care they used to come at 7 o'clock in the morning even on weekends.

Honestly some people will just complain or have a moan at anything and everything don't let it get to you and report it if it gets violent, abusive or aggressive then report it if it does otherwise let them moan my PA was actually reading a book called Let Them and it was basically telling the readers to let them unless it harms us in anyway.

WhatThe

So many people seem to have hearing loss these days and either not realise or just not care whether anyone else is affected by their presence.

hmass01

If they have heating loss they wouldn't be able to hear any noise so not sure what point you are trying to make