Noisy neighbour in the gated town house

[villageidiotY2K]

Hi folks, I live in this gated townhouse but I’ve got this neighbour which is a block away who blasts their Thai music in tge afternoon
I’m assuming who lives across or right next to them could hear even louder than where I am at and I don’t quite get why other Thai neighbours don’t tell the <deleted> to stfu and put up with the noisy

 

i seem to be the only foreigner here and im sctually scared and dont want to confront them because either i get hit in the head with a brick or my cars get vandalizef or they will turn it louder or i might actuslly beat them to their deayh,,,

 

fir those that encountered whats ur tip?

i just moved in, a year contract

i dont want to take  beers to them and talk

 

 

 

 

[quake]

Give it a few weeks, if it's still to noisy.

Move again.

Noise is all part of Thailand's culture.

But yes, I see it as manly anti social behavior by a selfish few.

 

[JeffersLos]

Listen and use it as free Thai language lessons. 

[Gecko123]

Every time there's an upsurge in loud music in my moo ban, the first thing I do is check the calendar to see if there's a holiday coming up. People sometimes go back to their country home early around the holidays and like to let down their hair when they do, frankly not caring much about the neighbors because they know they'll be heading back to the city when the holiday is over. They can also play loud music to entertain out-of-town guests or family members. Loy Krathong is coming up mid-November.

 

The 'give it a few weeks' advice is good advice. There could be some life event which would explain the loud music, and if the problem has popped up out of nowhere, there's a good chance it will stop before too long. Also, if  'gated community' means middle-class or upscale, chances are your other neighbors aren't really happy about it either and will probably be able to more subtlety get the job done then you'll be able to.

 

My advice would be to try and do as much reconnaissance as you can as to who you're dealing with and what their reputation in the community is. If possible, maybe find a trusted intermediary to convey your displeasure. I would be extremely cautious about confronting them when the music is actually blasting. A subtle way to convey that their loud music is attracting attention is to stand outside their house as if you are innocently listening to the music. If there's any illicit activity going on, i.e., drug use, this will sometimes make the person paranoid enough that they'll turn down the music just because of the unwanted attention.

 

If you end up asking them to turn down the music directly, a goodwill gift like a kilo or two of fruit or pork when you show up will go a long way towards making things non-confrontational.

 

The other thing foreigners sometimes forget is that if you own a car you can get your loud music fix riding around in your car. If you don't own a car, which many Thais don't, they don't have that option so foreigners need to appreciate that, and show a certain measure of tolerance and patience.

 

[Gsxrnz]

Before renting, always, ALWAYS locate the local village gossip or preferably the chief gossiper. For the cost of an ice-coffee or a few slices of durian she (always a she) will give you the low down on everybody in the village with no holds barred.

 

Works in a condo too.  Just don't ask the office staff, find the cleaning lady.

[steven100]

sorry to hear your demise .....  firstly,  as mentioned,  wait a couple of more weeks and see if it dies down any. 

Then,  if not ,  I would speak to the body corp manager or whoever managers the place ... but he won't understand English so do you have a Thai wife who can speak to him?

 

The guard would have his contact details I expect. 

Failing that,   if there's no manager to talk to, maybe look at relocating elsewhere.

 

Don't confront them yourself,  it'll only make things worse. 

 

TIT ....  they don't care about neighbors and especially farang.   Empathy is not in their vocabulary ...  

[JeffersLos]

Kiss him upside the cranium with an aluminum baseball bat.

[scoutman360]

Move. Even if you complain, they will just pretend to help with politeness and smiles. You are the foreigner. You have no power, no rights. I had the same problem. I moved and now live in a beautiful, quiet, neighborhood. 

[Albaby]

7 hours ago, scoutman360 said:

Move. Even if you complain, they will just pretend to help with politeness and smiles. You are the foreigner. You have no power, no rights. I had the same problem. I moved and now live in a beautiful, quiet, neighborhood. 

Sigh🙄.He's just signed a 12 month contract.

[Somjot]

13 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

Every time there's an upsurge in loud music in my moo ban, the first thing I do is check the calendar to see if there's a holiday coming up. People sometimes go back to their country home early around the holidays and like to let down their hair when they do, frankly not caring much about the neighbors because they know they'll be heading back to the city when the holiday is over. They can also play loud music to entertain out-of-town guests or family members. Loy Krathong is coming up mid-November.

 

The 'give it a few weeks' advice is good advice. There could be some life event which would explain the loud music, and if the problem has popped up out of nowhere, there's a good chance it will stop before too long. Also, if  'gated community' means middle-class or upscale, chances are your other neighbors aren't really happy about it either and will probably be able to more subtlety get the job done then you'll be able to.

 

My advice would be to try and do as much reconnaissance as you can as to who you're dealing with and what their reputation in the community is. If possible, maybe find a trusted intermediary to convey your displeasure. I would be extremely cautious about confronting them when the music is actually blasting. A subtle way to convey that their loud music is attracting attention is to stand outside their house as if you are innocently listening to the music. If there's any illicit activity going on, i.e., drug use, this will sometimes make the person paranoid enough that they'll turn down the music just because of the unwanted attention.

 

If you end up asking them to turn down the music directly, a goodwill gift like a kilo or two of fruit or pork when you show up will go a long way towards making things non-confrontational.

 

The other thing foreigners sometimes forget is that if you own a car you can get your loud music fix riding around in your car. If you don't own a car, which many Thais don't, they don't have that option so foreigners need to appreciate that, and show a certain measure of tolerance and patience.

 

Very good advice.

 

 You clearly know Thai mentality well.

 

If the guy is no army general or similar calling the police might help.

[Albaby]

11 hours ago, steven100 said:

sorry to hear your demise .....  firstly,  as mentioned,  wait a couple of more weeks and see if it dies down any. 

Then,  if not ,  I would speak to the body corp manager or whoever managers the place ... but he won't understand English so do you have a Thai wife who can speak to him?

 

The guard would have his contact details I expect. 

Failing that,   if there's no manager to talk to, maybe look at relocating elsewhere.

 

Don't confront them yourself,  it'll only make things worse. 

 

TIT ....  they don't care about neighbors and especially farang.   Empathy is not in their vocabulary ...  

FFS, he hasn't died, he's got a problem with a noisy neighbor. Sheesh!

[essex boys]

My mrs said that November is a merit making month so lots of music and partying, so hopefully in the next few weeks it will die down….but remember that Thais generally don’t give a rats arse about who their noise affects it seems to be the way they are…Thailand is a noisy place to live

[steven100]

1 hour ago, Albaby said:

FFS, he hasn't died, he's got a problem with a noisy neighbor. Sheesh!

 

so what's your solution or you can't offer one.  I bet your the type who would go over and tell them to turn the F***...   music down .... 

 

yeah'  that'll work ... 

[kwonitoy]

I used to live on a private street in Udon Thani

8 identical house's to a side, with a vacant area outside our walls.

Man moves in, builds a shack up against the wall and opens a business installing those ultra high wattage sound systems you see in trucks and cars.

Of course he has to advertise and has mates into the same things and they get together and drink every night and blast airport level of noise, with extreme bass. The walls on my house would shake from the bass

 

My neighbor whose house is directly across from all this is a very high ranking policeman in Udon along with his 2 sons who are also policemen.

I talked to the elder cop, and I ask him why he doesn't do something about the noise

His reply is " that man crazy about loud noise" and smiles and walks away.

 

So what can you do about the loud noise? 

SFA

[john donson]

19 hours ago, villageidiotY2K said:

Hi folks, I live in this gated townhouse but I’ve got this neighbour which is a block away who blasts their Thai music in tge afternoon
I’m assuming who lives across or right next to them could hear even louder than where I am at and I don’t quite get why other Thai neighbours don’t tell the <deleted> to stfu and put up with the noisy

 

i seem to be the only foreigner here and im sctually scared and dont want to confront them because either i get hit in the head with a brick or my cars get vandalizef or they will turn it louder or i might actuslly beat them to their deayh,,,

 

fir those that encountered whats ur tip?

i just moved in, a year contract

i dont want to take  beers to them and talk

 

 

 

 

 

you pay common fees?  go to them to complain

[Gecko123]

2 hours ago, essex boys said:

My mrs said that November is a merit making month so lots of music and partying, so hopefully in the next few weeks it will die down….but remember that Thais generally don’t give a rats arse about who their noise affects it seems to be the way they are…Thailand is a noisy place to live

I was not aware that November is a merit making month, but we are also right in the middle of the harvest season when farmers are most flush with cash and I know it's part of farming culture around the world to celebrate at harvest time.

[Keeps]

7 hours ago, kwonitoy said:

I used to live on a private street in Udon Thani

8 identical house's to a side, with a vacant area outside our walls.

Man moves in, builds a shack up against the wall and opens a business installing those ultra high wattage sound systems you see in trucks and cars.

Of course he has to advertise and has mates into the same things and they get together and drink every night and blast airport level of noise, with extreme bass. The walls on my house would shake from the bass

 

My neighbor whose house is directly across from all this is a very high ranking policeman in Udon along with his 2 sons who are also policemen.

I talked to the elder cop, and I ask him why he doesn't do something about the noise

His reply is " that man crazy about loud noise" and smiles and walks away.

 

So what can you do about the loud noise? 

SFA

Wow! That must have been a right PITA. If you can't even get a family of BIB to sort it out or even care then what hope have you got?

 

I notice that you used the past tense - DID live there....

[OneManShow]

Those are diseases, you can't fix this type especially if "they own their house". It has happened to me a few times and I had no choice but moving out. There are at list one or 2 in every neighborhood and it's not always about laud music. 

I made a deal with my current landlady, if there will be any major problem (such as noise) by neighbors I'll be out. I signed a M to M contract, one month deposit and 1 month rent. 
Try not to make a contract more than 3 months. 

[MalcolmB]

On 11/3/2024 at 2:45 PM, villageidiotY2K said:

Thai music in tge afternoon
I don’t quite get why other Thai neighbours don’t tell the <deleted> to stfu and put up with the noisy

Because Thais don’t get triggered by Thai music in the afternoon.

 

Gotta love these foreigners who show up here uninvited and want to change everything Thai. 
 

Learn to singalong or maybe just pack your bags and leave?

[Lacessit]

9 hours ago, Albaby said:

Sigh🙄.He's just signed a 12 month contract.

He will lose his security deposit.

 

If he moves to another city, I doubt the landlord will pursue him.

 

The odds are pretty good the landlord knows there is a noise problem.

[Gecko123]

22 minutes ago, OneManShow said:

Those are diseases, you can't fix this type especially if "they own their house". It has happened to me a few times and I had no choice but moving out. There are at list one or 2 in every neighborhood and it's not always about laud music. 

I made a deal with my current landlady, if there will be any major problem (such as noise) by neighbors I'll be out. I signed a M to M contract, one month deposit and 1 month rent. 
Try not to make a contract more than 3 months. 

 

You need to lose the 'they're all a bunch of scum-sucking low-lifes' attitude and treat these episodes as welcome opportunities to sharpen your social intelligence and interpersonal skills. 

[G_Money]

Blasting music at times.  OMG.

 

The price one pays for immersion into Thai society to be more Thai like 

 

Get used to it.  

[Will B Good]

 

 

Whatever you do....do not give any indication that you are the one who is bothered or the one who might, potentially, take action.

 

Hang back, see if the Thais sort it out.....(very doubtful).......then get 'clever and nasty' in equal parts.

 

Can't go into details, but I had a similar problem and resolved it without anyone knowing I was the aggrieved party.

 

 

[Will B Good]

6 hours ago, john donson said:

 

you pay common fees?  go to them to complain

 

 

NO NO NO...That puts a little red dot on your forehead...and it won't be a bindi!!!

[georgegeorgia]

Blast your own music 

 

 

Seriously you need to apologise to them and say you love their music ,use reverse psychology,love is the answer 

[steven100]

3 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

Whatever you do....do not give any indication that you are the one who is bothered or the one who might, potentially, take action.

 

Hang back, see if the Thais sort it out.....(very doubtful).......then get 'clever and nasty' in equal parts.

 

Can't go into details, but I had a similar problem and resolved it without anyone knowing I was the aggrieved party.

 

 

 

Whilst I agree Will,  the problem here is you can't do a damn thing without some Thai watching what your doing,   they watch everything & every movement anyone makes,   and in a gated place it would be even more watched ... 

[Will B Good]

26 minutes ago, steven100 said:

 

Whilst I agree Will,  the problem here is you can't do a damn thing without some Thai watching what your doing,   they watch everything & every movement anyone makes,   and in a gated place it would be even more watched ... 

 

 

Good point.....we live in the sticks so it is very different.

 

Loud music is a red rag to me......not the music itself, but the sheer selfishness of people prepared to play their music so loudly.

 

I'd make the effort to see if any motorcycle taxi guys have an idea how it might be "resolved".

 

 

 

 

[villageidiotY2K]

thanks for yall advices.

i understood some comments such as sucking up to them for their mercy for their uncivilized or just savage or inconsiderate acts such as playing excessively loud music, loud motorcycle, dogs barking everywhere etc.

i guess its not just in thailand, but seems to encounter more here. 

 

Building a car garage or some metal works or small restaurants, dogs barking all day in a residential area seems to be the norm and accepetd here

With these kind of people around me and its community, i dont think i will get no where even if i complain to the village management or bringing a bag of fruit to them begging for their mercy as "its the land of smile thai culture"

most likely I will get further harassment Or being a target of a gossip in the village which I will be uncomfortable for getting unwanted attention and my car tyres may get slashed

 

it was a costly lesson, but i learned that i cant stay in a gated community (townhouse or house)

I just moved to this village around 3 days ago and I will move back to a condo. 

oh dear jesus 

 

[John Drake]

10 hours ago, Albaby said:

Sigh🙄.He's just signed a 12 month contract.

 

If it's a standard Thai rental contract like mine, he can give a two month notification and move anyway.

[gargamon]

On 11/3/2024 at 3:45 PM, villageidiotY2K said:

but I’ve got this neighbour which is a block away who blasts their Thai music in tge afternoon

You're SOL. Excess noise is legally only a problem after a specific time, typically 10:00 pm. 

 

You can move when your lease is up, or leave now and abandon your deposits. Just feel lucky the guy living next to yo doesn't have a chicken. That problem is 3 or 4 am.