Neighbour complaining about aircons

[Tman*]

Jirre, imagine you had to play some music.

Ignore neighbors. Done

 

[mugikhan]

Best solution is get a decibel meter, I see there are a few apps to, and measure the sound level at the boundry wall. If it is less than the municipal bylaw states, then show him the measurement and bylaw and tell him you will not discuss the matter further. Thats what I did with a neighbor and when he realised he had no lefal avenue, he shut up about it.

Where can I find the acceptable noise levels?

 

[DA-LION-619]

Yes and no. I think we need to be considered, but can be done with respects and understanding. The neighbour might have a very valid complaint.

Then is a due process for that.
A lot of issues aren’t really issues when people have to follow due process.

 

[RedViking]

Then is a due process for that.
A lot of issues aren’t really issues when people have to follow due process.

Of course.

 

[RedViking]

Jirre, imagine you had to play some music.

Ignore neighbors. Done

Kommen Afrikaans music like those pampoene and beskuite skut.

 

[WollieVerstege]

Best solution is get a decibel meter, I see there are a few apps to, and measure the sound level at the boundry wall. If it is less than the municipal bylaw states, then show him the measurement and bylaw and tell him you will not discuss the matter further. Thats what I did with a neighbor and when he realised he had no lefal avenue, he shut up about it.

 

[Speedster]

Don't give them any heed. They'll get over it soon enough, or they'll find something else to complain about. As mentioned above if they have a legitimate complaint there is a well set out process they can follow.

From what you've said you've considered their in person complaint and found it to be without sufficient merit. If they disagree it's up to them to take it further.

 

[WollieVerstege]

Where can I find the acceptable noise levels?

It should be under the bylaws section on the municipalities website. Should be found under something like nuisance noise, or noise in general. Don't know where you live, but could also try and give them a call.

 

[6spdmanual]

Is your neighbour by any chance this guy:

https://mybroadband.co.za/forum/threads/smoking-tenants-in-a-complex.1133291/

 

[mugikhan]

It should be under the bylaws section on the municipalities website. Should be found under something like nuisance noise, or noise in general. Don't know where you live, but could also try and give them a call.

City of joburg. I'm trying to find it, just difficult to navigate the website.

 

[Nemesys]

We moved into our new place about 6 months ago and done some renovations which the neighbour complained about even though we had approval from the city. Now we have installed two aircon units which can't be moved at all since they're back-to-back units and won't fit anywhere else in the rooms. The neighbour has now decided to complain about the noise from the units despite anyone in my family not being able to hear them. The aircons are also at least 1.5m from the boundary wall so I don't know how he hears them.
How do you deal with serial complainers like this guy?

TL;DR: Neighbour complaining about aircons that are brand new and make very little noise.

Basically just tell him to lodge a complain at the SAPS or the local authority if he feel your aircon is is disturbing the peace in your community.
We recently had a neighbour that through avey load party and around 04:00 in the morning after quite a few complains from those around him to the CPF of the area the CPF tried to stop load music and were send packing by the guy. They continued untill 06:00 in the morning.
The CPF approaced the SAPS for guidence
Herewith an extract from the answer from the SAPS legal dept

The noise control regulations issued on 24 April 1998 in terms of the environment conservation act no 73 of 1989 are still in operation and can still be applied. These regulations create offensives relating to “disturbing noise “and offensives related to “noise nuisance”

The definition of a disturbing noise is a noise level that exceeds the ambient sound level measured continuously at the same measuring point by 5dBA or more while a noise nuisance is defined as any sound which disturbs or impairs or may disturb or impair the convenience or piece of any person

So for an complain to be acted apon he either need to prove to the SAPS that the noise level exceed 5dBA above the ambient noise or he need afidavids from more than one person that the you are causing a noise nuisance.

 

[Miss Wong]

Is your neighbour by any chance this guy:

https://mybroadband.co.za/forum/threads/smoking-tenants-in-a-complex.1133291/

You beat me to it

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Sounds like those old people who just complain at anything.

Where was the age of the neighbour mentioned?

 

[maumau]

The office building next to ours has 4 x aircons about 6 to 8 feet away from our building.

The noise is unbearable, not like a generator but a constant whirrrrrrrrrr, hummmmmmm, we can't open our windows.

HIDEOUS.

Not getting at you OP, just saying the sound from aircons can be irritating.

 

[spiff]

Play some hard Rock music - this will mask the aircons

 

[jezzad]

When we moved in we have a very low boundary wall and wanted to install an aircon for the main bedroom.

Spoke to my neighbour beforehand and ended up installing it at ground level below the level of the wall to absorb some noise. We needed up raising the wall in any case.

With the AC running full tilt at night its barely noticeable.

Why not try covering the external unit with a cover of some sort and some sound absorbing material?

Never nice moving into a house and falling out with your neighbour and then having to spend the next 20 years awkwardly avoiding each other.

 

[Splinter]

What I don't understand is why you even bothered to ask for opinions here, and not just tell the neighbour to go reproduce with their mother.

Are they big and scary or something?

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

Is your neighbour by any chance this guy:

https://mybroadband.co.za/forum/threads/smoking-tenants-in-a-complex.1133291/

Came here to say this You beat me to it
LOL

 

[WollieVerstege]

What I don't understand is why you even bothered to ask for opinions here, and not just tell the neighbour to go reproduce with their mother.

Are they big and scary or something?

I think some people try to resolve these problems amicably, after all my neighbors are my 1st and 4th line of defense.
You don't want to end up being THAT neighbor that someone wouldn't even want to p on if you were on fire. We have a guy like that in our street, recently his house was broken into and even though another neighbor saw strangers loiter outside his house that night, he never bothered to call the neighborhood watch or SAPS, cause F him.

 

[Bigjay84]

Put a generator on the boundary wall , and accidentally knock the silencer off it