Sound / Light Blocking Against Neighboring Property

[Johnny Viking]

Hi, I have a neighboring property (day activity) that is renting out a metal shed which both lights up (due to transparent plastic windows) my house and causes noise since there is zero sound insulation, rather an amplification of sound when they are there. There are modified cars there, so exhaust systems make noise and vibrate into the house = extremely irritating as they are often there from evening until 3 AM...

Do you have any tips for reducing noise that absorbs both dull and high metal sounds, for example when they are hammering metal or grinding...

I'm considering buying large trees and planting them closely along the property line. But what type to block noise? I would like trees that are green and dense even in winter...!

I would also like to have a high wall or fence but that likely requires planning permission. It's not even certain whether you can build a 4-5m high dense fence with planning permission?

It is sloping towards them so they are about 3m below ground level at the property line. But the building is quite tall...

Any tips?

 

[Björn Melander]

The best thing is to soundproof the actual source of the noise, i.e., to soundproof the shed's facade, glass, etc. I understand that this is not feasible in this case. Then it remains to install a sufficiently high noise barrier or to soundproof the facade on the receiving side, i.e., your own. Unfortunately, trees do not help.

 

[Johnny Viking]

I have asked the owner to do it if they are going to rent for a longer period. Of course, it's quite a lot of money and hardly something a rent will repay in the next 10 years.

But the question is whether one even gets planning permission to build as high as it is about here?

 

[Staffans2000]

Trees work very poorly. I met a man who planted double rows of Thuja so it formed a double-rowed hedge with a path between as a noise barrier against a highway. It didn't help at all.
Noise barriers are probably the only solution, and talking to your tormentors. If you're lucky, they might quiet down a bit, at least for a while. The next step is to approach the property owner, preferably together with any neighbors.

Staffan

 

[Liteavvarje]

Did the noisy environment exist when you moved in? If not, it has been added, falls under environmental requirements, talk to them about how it is unsuitable to continue until 3 in the morning, until 22 nothing to do about it, conversation is best, creates friendship and understanding, otherwise just the municipality's environmental office.

 

[Johnny Viking]

Was the noisy environment there when you moved in? If not, then it has come later, subject to environmental requirements talk to them about how it's not appropriate to keep going until 3 in the morning, until 22 nothing to do about it, conversation is best, creating friendship and understanding, otherwise only the municipality's environmental office

The rental came after. At the turn of the year. We moved in early last year. New house. So it's new and highly irritating. 10-15 cars there and people just as many sometimes mix over days in the weeks.

The property owner knows that I'm not satisfied. The guys renting. They are good guys and girls. They tone it down if I complain.

Those renting and the owners are friends as far as I know. If you know they rent for x months more then they'll leave, then it’s fine. But right now it's indefinite, I think, and not knowing when it will end is the worst when you're woken up at night now and then by noise you can't get quiet without getting dressed and being that grumpy neighbor.

The best would be if the metal shed was soundproofed. But I understand that investment is both costly and might require building permits for them and so on.

I'll check with the municipality on how high a fence I can build.

 

[13th Marine]

The property owner knows that I am not satisfied. The guys who rent. They are good guys and girls. They quiet down if I complain.

I can't say that I think they are "good guys and girls" if they can't respect the neighbors, especially if you have spoken up.

It's fine if they are working on cars until three in the morning, but if they want to make noise, they should stick to "normal" hours.

 

[Liteavvarje]

The rental came after. At the turn of the year. We moved in at the beginning of last year. New house. So it is new and very irritating. 10-15 cars there and as many people sometimes spread over days during the weeks.

The property owner knows that I am not satisfied. The guys who rent. They are good guys and girls. They quiet down if I complain.

Those who rent and the owners are friends as far as I know. If you know they rent for x months more and then leave, it's fine. But right now it is indefinite I think and not knowing when it will end is the worst when you're woken up at night now and then by noise that you can't silence without putting on clothes and being that grumpy neighbor.

The best would be to soundproof the tin shed. But I understand that the investment is both costly and might require a building permit for them, etc.

I will check with the municipality how high a fence I can build.

Then the question is if you should address it with a noise barrier, it's usually the one causing the noise who has to bear the cost, look at road sections, now it’s not exactly comparable, but something similar
ask the municipality about the regulations, but also say you don't want to come across as a grumpy old man, you want things to go smoothly, at least you will find out what rules apply for everything

 

[Johnny Viking]

Can't say I think they're "good guys and girls" if they can't respect the neighbors, especially if you've spoken up.

It doesn't matter if they work on cars until three in the morning, but if they want to make noise, they need to stick to "normal" hours.

As I said, there are 5-10 with their own cars there + friends hanging out. I've talked to maybe 3-4 different ones. Everyone is chill. Things have calmed down but overall the rental doesn't feel okay. The neighbor above me is also disturbed but less as my house is in the way.

 

[Hemmakatten]

That sounds like unacceptable noise. You shouldn't have to tolerate that. I also don't think it's allowed to rent out for such purposes in a residential area. Call and talk to the environmental and health department in your municipality.

 

[13th Marine]

It is really the neighbor's problem, your neighbor should not disturb you at night, if the neighbor's guests disturb you, then the neighbor should ensure it becomes quiet.

That is, if they cannot behave, the neighbor should terminate the lease agreement.