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 John McMullan on
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If the roof terrace overlooks your garden then it's probably not legal. How long has it been there? More than four years with no complaints and... it'll be declared legal.
Do you have a garden hose?
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Photos? Video?
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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Best not to publish it here, Don. I think John was suggesting you use these media to gather evidence for the Council rather than for public airing.
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Why not Hugh? When I post pictures and video on here it really gets results. It's almost as if someone at the council was reading it.
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We've had this out before John. See item 5 on our terms of service protocols. I'm afraid it's non-negotiable.
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Permalink Reply by ElleCarumba on
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I'm on Burgoyne- can distantly hear them sometimes. It's not a roof terrace- they are just climbing out of a window onto a roof so there is no question of them having or getting planning permission for it.
Might be worth speaking to the safer neighbourhood team for Harringay - PCs Jono and Glyn post on here sometimes. If they are making threats to kill, then that is a police matter. Perhaps a chat from the police might hopefully make some of them think again. If not there is the ASBO etc route- keep a diary of all the events and ask your neighbours to do the same.
Also talk to the local councillors and ask them which council officers should be informed. The residents are illegally using the roofs and they are not safe. They do not meet any building regulations or safety guidelines as far as I can see by peering down the alley regarding fencing, electrics, reinforcing for weight bearing etc. The HMO unit and planning/enforcement should be told about this. One day someone will fall off one of those roofs and into the alley below.
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Don, this sounds miserable. I can understand why you sound so angry. The reports on the noise team are generally pretty favourable, but if it's not working for you, may I suggest that you contact your councillors. Working with residents to resolve issues like this is one of the things they're elected to do. You're in Harringay Ward. See councillor contact information here or connect with them on HoL:
Gina Adamou (won't usually respond to open requests for help or information via HoL).
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Permalink Reply by Vernon on
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You could try escalating your complaints to the Council as described here http://noiseabatementsociety.com/helpline-and-support/neighbourhood...
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Permalink Reply by Germana on
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WE've had a lot of problems recently with people living in HMOs around here (Rutland/Roseberry/Stanhope Gardens). Very frequent parties in some houses nearby that invariably have lasted all night. In one case a loud party in a garden that I can see from my house lasted 2 entire days - they only took a short break presumably to sleep, between 1 and 5 pm on the saturday afternoon.
I didn't call the noise team for similar reasons -according to the Council website I would have been called back within half an hour - well at 4 am you don't precisely want to stay up and wait. So I sent them an email with details and the address of the property and went back to sleep with earplugs. A few days later I got a letter in the post with a reference number but no action. Next time there was a late night party - the weekend after, in another nearby garden - I was too tired to do anything.
If people say it's worth persisting I will, next time, but by reading what I've read here I am quite discouraged.
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I would persist Germana. The impression I have from reading posts on here is that the noise team are quite good.
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