Entitled neighbors complain about young couple's household noise, demand they respect their 6PM bedtime: 'He threatened to wake us at 4AM'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jul 2, 2025 9:00 PM EDT

Neighbors are probably one of the most important parts of house hunting that the average renter or buyer usually doesn't get to take into account before they move in. Even in the nicest of neighborhoods, there can be people who are a nightmare to live next to for one reason or another. Having nice neighbors is a true blessing, and having difficult ones is a massive headache. When all you want to do is live peacefully, these situations can be a real downer.

One of the most sensitive topics when it comes to neighborly relationships is noise. On the one hand, it is important to show a basic level of consideration by not being too loud, too often, especially at more unsociable times. On the other hand, the simple act of existing in our homes is occasionally noisy, and those who live near us have to give us grace for that. Unfortunately, that doesn't always happen.

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  • 01

    AITA for telling my neighbor his wife's early bedtime isn't my problem?

    Me (24M) and fiancée (25F) moved into our first rental 15 months ago. We get along great with neighbors on one side, but the couple (mid-50s) on the other side have been nightmarish. The pattern started early: 3 weeks after moving in, we politely warned neighbors about a small housewarming (15 people, music off by 11pm, over by 12:30am Saturday). Before we could finish explaining, the wife cut us off saying our afternoon music was too loud because her husband was recovering from a stroke. We wer
    via Odd-Mountain-8384
  • 02
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    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • One young couple found this out the hard way when their new, middle-aged neighbors turned out to be sensitive to pretty much any noise that might come from their house. They rejected them having a small housewarming party, banged on the walls when they were doing housework during the day, and antagonized their dogs into barking.

    On top of this, they complained when they did DIY on the nursery for their soon-to-be baby in the early evening, claiming that one of them went to bed at 6 PM, and they couldn't tolerate the noise. They weren't happy to be told that this bedtime was nobody else's business, but one of the younger couple wanted to know if he had taken things too far.

  • 03
    Escalating harassment: For 12+ months they've banged on walls whenever we make normal noise - hoovering, hair dryer, music, even mid-afternoon. They deliberately wind up our dogs from their garden then complain about barking. They've thrown stuff over our fence that sent one dog to the vet with an obstruction (no proof though). Today's incident: I've been doing DIY for our nursery (partner's pregnant). I purposely start at midday to be considerate, but got delayed by a hospital appointment halfw
    via Odd-Mountain-8384
  • 04
    He said his wife goes to bed at 6pm and I'm "bang out of order." I apologized but said I'd be 10 more minutes, and he started getting aggressive. I then again said that I was sorry but ultimately his wife's early bedtime isn't my problem. She could use earplugs or close windows rather than expect the world to stop. He threatened to wake us at 4am. I calmly said "knock yourself out mate." He then squared up to me saying "you'll regret that - I'm going to make your lives living h I." Important con
    via Odd-Mountain-8384
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  • 06

    Commenters totally supported the couple.

    Low Temperature9593 NTA of course. You're well within your rights to complain to the landlord about this harassment. I don't know about where you're at, but where I live (California) the law states that you are entitled to peaceful enjoyment of the property you're renting. So in a case like this, the landlord would be legally obliged to confront your neighbors and to evict them if the harassment doesn't cease. Save all the evidence you have and talk to the landlord.
    via Low_Temperature9593
  • 07
    Doggedart They are going to lose their minds when you bring home a baby, and it cries at all hours of the day and night (as babies do). I would be documenting the harassment and discussing it with your landlord asap. Tell them you will also be reporting it to the police (and then do so). I would ask the landlord if you are allowed to put in outdoor cameras because you are concerned for your safety, and the dog's safety, and property damage. Every time you hear a knock in the door, start recordin
    via Doggedart
  • 08
    Useless890 NTA. People work different shifts and just deal with it. I wear earplugs at night to blank out traffic noise. It's no big deal. You ought to get cameras in case this guy starts a war.
    via Useless890
  • 09
    Frozefoots Shift worker here. You are NTA. You're not breaking any noise rules/laws. My shifts are all over the place, sometimes I'm up at 3am and others I stumble through the door at 9am. I use a bunch of things to block out any noise my neighbours are legally within their rights to make. It's just something shift workers have to do to get their sleep. You need to put cameras up, aimed at your fence (don't angle it into their windows or yards, just enough to see if anything is thrown over) so y
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  • 10
    cadaloz1 NTA and you've got a wife and child to protect. Pregnancy is far more dangerous than popular culture allows, and these people are putting her and your child at risk with their behavior. You're likely not the first to complain and they may just have been waiting for an excuse to get him gone. You'll still have to be vigilant, though, so I recommend going in hard once the police are on your side (If they aren't already), because to freaks like this, the nicer you are, the more harm they f
    via cadaloz1
  • 11
    rep-to-real-account NTA - 6pm, what time is she getting up in the morning? I highly doubt she is going to sleep then. Perhaps explain that you only need to make the noise until the nursery is done. Maybe consider moving - crappy solution to a crappy problem.
    via rep-to-real-account
  • 12
    MyFriendsCallMeEpic this guy is wild Threatening 4am wake up calls. Holy mackerel is he going to be in a world of hurt once your kiddo comes along! Congrats on that btw! Good luck with your situation, get cameras asap! nta
    via MyFriendsCallMeEpic
  • 13
    JanetInSpain NTA but you need to document, document, document. Record conversations with him. Keep a log of his harassment. What he said "I'm going to make your lives living h" is a threat. Call the local cops if he does anything that even borders on illegal. Let him call them on you for things you are doing that DO NOT violate law or council rules. They'll get tired of his false claims and fine him. Protect yourself with a paper trail. Yes it's a pain, but do it anyway.
    via JanetInSpain
  • 14
    No_Cantaloupe_2153 Get yourself CCTV and a ring doorbell. Either through your landlord or purchase yourself. Before it gets even more messy than what it already is. I'm from the UK and I'm sorry but nobody goes to bed at 6pm, especially in this weather. That's just ridiculous. This is self entitlement from your neighbours and nothing more, you're not doing anything untoward. Everything they're doing needs to be recorded.
    via No_Cantaloupe_2153
  • 15
    MaxAngmar NTA RECORD EVERYTHING Get a camera and put up a sign saying security recording. The neighbour will think about it if there is a chance of evidence being gathered
    via MaxAngmar
  • 16
    Most-Presentation681 NTA. They are being 100% unreasonable as you are remaining within the law with your noise. Cameras, get them! ASAP! This is where you can call the police with evidence. Protect yourselves. You hit the nail on the head that this isn't your problem it's theirs. I'm sure in the past they have bu ied people away so just be careful and I cannot stress this enough: GET CAMERAS!
    via Most-Presentation681
  • 17
    Tricky-Ad4069 NTA. People who think they have the right to make their neighbors live smaller lives just so they can have silence during normal waking hours are utter tools.
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  • 18
    Dana07620 Cameras. Lots of cameras with audio. Don't let your pets outside unsupervised. Record their banging from inside your place. Collect evidence, evidence, evidence. File harassment charges. NTA
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  • 19
    MommaDiz Nta. No hatred like old entitled people hatred.
    via MommaDiz
  • 20
    SupermarketMission46 You need to start all day angle grinding right until the curfew just a couple of bits of scrap a couple of minutes at a time at random hours and times, when asked it's your new metal sculpting hobby..
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  • 21
    We_All_Float_Down_H NTA just wanted to add; be careful with the dogs, these ppl might hurt them to get back at you
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  • 22
    Shinyyyyyyyyy NTA Who the f goes to bed at 6pm? I guess she could work nights but like, what the heck, the world doesn't stop for her. H_I my 81 year old grandma goes to be at 9:30 10 and she wakes up at 6 am every day, this dude is off his rocker
    via Shinyyyyyyyyy
  • 23
    dachsie-knitter-22 Check out some lovely options like "glitter bombs" and playing your own music - nothing super loud or obnoxious- but a wide variety of fun tunes that will drive her around the bend. Have you considered motion detection sprinklers?
    via dachsie-knitter-22

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aita neighbors house bedtime home renovation noise reddit thread Reddit entitled people couple
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