Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Noisy Rooftop Neighbours
Hi,
Had this same problem last summer. The back of the shops on Green Lanes that run between Umfreville Road N4 and Burgoyne Road N4, have little flats that are rented out. These flats open out onto the roofs of the shops, which the residents use as 'roof terraces'.
Last year there were a group of 8 guys living in a tiny little room who would be out on the roof all night cooking on a bbq and talking very loud. When one woman shouted out at 3am that she needed sleep as she was a new mum she was told to 'shut the f*** up you stupid b**ch', so lovely guys.
They left and this year we have the pleasure of yet more lovely neighbourly types. But it's worse. There are now 3 of these flats that are rented and all the tenants use the roof area out back. There's unbearable noise pretty much every other night. This morning at 4:30am I was woken by one of the usual lot - a bunch of 20-30 year old Spaniards all wearing black heavy metal T-Shirts who think it's fine to scream, shout and sing at the top of their voices. They're still out there now and it's 10am. So an all-nighter for them and no sleep for us. There's another 'family' next door who actually have a small baby who also like to live it up on the roof till the early hours. Then, along a little, there's another group of people who like to party very loud. One woman shouted out her window that she was a nurse and had to get up early - she was greeted by a loud chorus of cheering and laughing. So basically - they're all a bunch of total scum bags.
And I believe the 'landlords' fall into the scumbag category too. One night a group were doing some maintenance, drilling, hammering, that sort of thing - at 3am! When I asked out the window why they were doing this at that time, I was told to 'shut the f*ck up and mind my business or I'll f***ing kill you'. I believe these are the lovely owners.
Ok, so how do I deal with this? I've called the Haringey Noise team about 6 times so far. They insist that they need to come to my house in the middle of the night to record levels. The fact that these people are out on a roof top shouting and screaming doesn't seem to cut the mustard with Haringey. I can't make a formal complaint unless I get one of these guys to come round to my house at 4am. I don't really want that - who would? I want them to come round and see that the noise is ridiculous. But this isn't the way the noise team work as I've been explained to many times - not procedure. So call Noise Team - report noise - they don't bother coming to investigate noise - they give you reference number - you keep listening to noise. This morning when I called the noise team I was told, 'The noise team have gone home'. So I asked what I should do and was told to phone back on Monday. On their web page, Haringey Council claim they take noise problems very seriously. After dealing with them last year and recently - this is complete lie.
I have also called the police several times. They usually suggest calling the noise team. But they can also be helpful and say things like 'Oh, that sounds awful sir. Ok, I'm sending someone round' etc. etc. No one EVER comes round to investigate.
So here I am on this forum and I need some advice. I can't move flat as I can't afford it but I feel like I can't put up with this any more. People who are effected by this - and I know lots of people must be - NEED to report it. Hassle the useless noise team
Office Hours
- Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm, Tel 020 8489 1000
Outside Office Hours
- Weekdays, Monday - Friday: 5pm - 9am, Tel 020 8348 3148
- Weekends, Friday 5pm to Monday 9am, Tel 020 8348 3148
Report it to the police: 0300 123 1212
These people are selfish scum and shouldn't get away with making so many peoples lives a misery, just so they can get drunk on their crappy roof terraces all night.
I'd also be interested to know if these flats are actually legal in the first place as they look very dodgy to me.
Anyway, rant over. Any help would be much appreciated.
Don
Tags for Forum Posts: noise, noisy neighbours
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Germana on
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Possible - but then there are so many! I must say I've lived in loads of different places in London but I've never experienced such frequent and loud all-night parties. Do we have a higher percentage of students than other places in London?
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Permalink Reply by linka on
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I think it's well known as the place-to-go for affordable rooms (I was certainly told to look 'in Harringay' when I was a student). The only comparable outdoor noise experience I've had is off Willingdon Road near Turnpike Lane. Someone had a first-floor deck that hosted a permanent house-party.
Mind, our main noise problem comes from non-students.
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Permalink Reply by JeremyS on
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As a whole I don't think it's any worse than most parts of London. You can be unlucky anywhere and I'm afraid you've been unlucky. I can honestly say that in all the years I've lived here I've never had a problem (touch wood) and neither have I heard of any of my friends and family here having problems. It must be very annoying for you. I hope you can get it sorted.
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I"m not sure whether these are all students...they are certainly young-ish though, could just be flatshares of various kinds. The student element could explain the timing though (burst of parties around end of term and now end of exams...)
I lived in Stoke Newington for 5 years and I only had 2 occasions when I got really annoyed by a party that was still going on at 5 am. And there are plenty of students and flats shared by young professionals around there too - although it's possible that my particular street and the neighboring ones over there had more families compared to the roads around me now. It could just be a coincidence/bad luck I suppose....
Anyway, the noise team's number is on my mobile now and the phone will be next to my bed tonight!
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Permalink Reply by Anette on
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Don, that sounds horrible! We've had similar problems with the HMO opposite, and there are a few things you can do:
* start a noise diary. Note times, dates and what's happening.
* call the noise team every time something happens, and make a note of the reference number. Add it to yout noise diary. If you have to sacrifice one night to let them in to measure noise levels, do. It's their job, and they'll be ibn and out very quickly. I've called them loads, and they always call back within the hour. It takes longer on week-ends, especially late at night. Don't give up. It helps the noise team build up a record too.
* call the Haringay Council ASBO team. Ask if they can help. It sounds like serious ASBO material to me.
* call the Safer Neighbourhoods team. Ask them to go round and have a word.
* write to the councillors. Get as many neighbours to sign the letter as possible, and demand some help and assistance.
* write to David Lammy, get him involved too. Nora in his office was incredibly helful with our problem HMO.
* find out from the council's private housing dept if they are using any of the properties in question. If they are, COMPLAIN.
* try to find out if these properties are rented through private landlords or if they go through an agency. If you can, copmplain.
* try and find out how many people live there, and if it's an illegal conversion. Go to the council's planning page and put in the address, if there's an application, check status. If denied, has the work been done anyway? If it's less that 4 years ago, COMPLAIN.
I know this is incredibly time consuming, but it makes you feel better when you get going. There's nothing worse than being sleep depraved, angry and not being able to do anything about it.
Good luck, and keep us posted.
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Unfortunately you have, but it's not impossible. What cracked it for us was the noise diary, so people could see how bad it really was.
It does not sound like these are legal, but some research will back this up (or not). Call planning and have addresses to hand, ask for their help. They can also go round and inspect. Make them. Be demanding, but polite. Don't give up. Don't let them fob you off. Phone back, and keep a record of who you've spoken to and when. Get names.
These people have been able to get away with it because no one's picked up on it or challenged it. You can do that now, and hopefully get a result and a better quality of life for yourself and your neighbours. It's possible!
Any questions, post back. There's plenty of people on here who's been through similar. You're definitely not alone.
Do post a progress report too, would love to know how you're getting on.
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Permalink Reply by h4k on
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This sounds appalling but I don't get why you won't use the noise team. So you have to wait half an hour for them to call back - if the noise is disturbing your sleep you won't be sleeping anyway ! I have used them perhaps 10 times and have found them knowledgeable, helpful and discrete. Part of why they come round is to have independently witnessed the noise so if it comes to it they go to court and you don't have to. I don't know what their current practice is but they have gone and spoken directly to people to see if they will reduce noise that way, written to say music equipment etc will be confiscated, and looked into what can be done from Social Services angle.
Honestly, try giving it a go.
Nothing to stop you approaching councillors etc as well. Landlords must be breaking housing regs if there are doors to these roofs but no railings etc.
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Don, I'm afraid you'll have to take the initial pain of waiting for the Noise Team and let them in. They won't want to come in every time, once they've been in once and have established the noise level then they'll look at their records when you call next time. Next time, call them the second the party starts. Before you go to bed. If the noise stops it stops. You just have to in order to help them help you. I know it's a pain, I've had to do it, but it stopped the noise! What's one really painful night compared to 100 good ones...?
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Permalink Reply by David Schmitz on
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There've been a number of very helpful observations in this discussion - especially about the usefulness of a diary and the help which the noise team can give.
Anyone, however, who feels that the noise team is letting them down is welcome to email me at David.Schmitz@haringey.gov.uk or telephone me on 07854 002742. (Because I have a young family, though, please don't ring in the middle of the night!)
David Schmitz
Liberal Democrat Councillor for Haringey Ward
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David,
thanks - see my post below, something is indeed changing in the way the noise team operates although I am not totally sure what the solution is. I will speak to some neighbours today and think about how to deal with my specific problem.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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For Harringay Ward David, Harringay.
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How did it go for you?
I called the noise team last night too, about my neighbors having yet another all night party last night. Called at 3.15 am. The team called me back at 3.45 am. Was told they haven't got enough staff because of the cuts to deal with my call, as they were going to spend the rest of the night dealing with earlier calls, and that next time I need to call earlier. Except I didn't hear anything earlier - I was woken up at 3 am by loud singing and shouting in a garden. I also made the point I had emailed them before about the same household, which has loud all night parties in the garden almost once a week. The person on the other line was polite and sympathetic but quite firm in arguing there wasn't much else that could be done at that point. I tried to persist of course but it didn't help.
Unfortunately despite the fact many of my neighbours were at their windows and their lights were on, nobody else had called the noise team - at least that's what he said, and I guess we would have a stronger case if more people called at the same time. I guess I should get in touch with other people living near me and agree on a joint strategy.
I can't really blame the noise team if they have shortage of staff and can't operate the way they used to, but then perhaps they could change the way they prioritise calls? What's the point of dealing at 3 am with a call they received 2-3 hours earlier where perhaps the noise has meanwhile stopped, while not dealing with a party that is still carrying on at 3-4 am?
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