Let's be honest, being woken up in the middle of the night to the sound of loud banging isn't a great feeling.
But that's exactly what one mum is dealing with after her neighbours started taking on DIY projects that see them hammering their walls or slamming their cupboard doors shut in the early hours of the morning.
The mum admitted she's losing her patience with her neighbours, as they've been periodically acting this way "for years", despite being completely quiet during the day.
She also said she's tried writing them letters and has even paid a visit to their house in her pyjamas to complain about the noise, but has had no luck in getting them to understand the impact their actions are having on her.
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In a post on Mumsnet titled "Neighbour hammering at 5.00 am", she explained: "This is an absolute b*****d of a neighbour who has decided to embark on a journey of persecution that's gone on for years.
"Elderlyish couple in their late 60s. They're like church mice during the day but at night, they slam cupboards, hammer, move pots about in the garden, usually at around 3, 4, or 5 am.
"I've tried writing, making polite requests, turning up at the door in my nightie. Last night at 5 am I just screamed through the walls that they're sick b*****ds.
"Previously, the only thing that has worked is me blasting out my music during the day. Then they stop for a few weeks."
The mum has not yet contacted her council about the issue, and has said she's had trouble recording proof of the noises as they're "sporadic" and not loud enough to properly catch on recording - although they are loud enough to wake her up.
She added: "I don't go to the council as I've heard they don't do anything. Plus you need to record it. That's really hard as it's very sporadic and loud enough to wake you but not thumping like a heavy bass sound system."
But commenters on the Mumsnet post encouraged her to at least try talking to her council, as they won't be able to take any action if they aren't aware of the problem.
One person said: "If the noise is having this much effect on you, then I’m surprised you haven’t gone to the council. Just saying that you ‘heard they won’t do anything’ then not contacting them guarantees that nothing will get done because they don’t know about the problem.
"Find out what your council’s policy is on noise complaints and follow that. You might need to record it or make a noise diary but unless you’re prepared to take some action yourself, your neighbours aren’t going to magically stop being t**ts."
Others simply sympathised with the mum's plight, with some saying her situation sounds "awful".
Someone said: "This sounds so awful. I'm so sorry."
What are the rules around noise nuisances?
Noise complaints are handled by local councils, who will investigate whether the noise is a "statutory nuisance" as covered by the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Gov.uk states.
Councils are responsible for looking into complaints about noise from premises including gardens as well as vehicles and machinery or equipment in the street.
Local councils can also issue warning notices in response to complaints about noise above the permitted levels from 11 pm to 7 am, and these warnings can be used by councils for noise that’s not a statutory nuisance.
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