Contemplating calling the guards, advice please!

Stanton82

So I've got quite a serious problem that's now beginning to take its toll on my general emotional well being (coming from someone quite prone to depression re-occurrences). Advice sought Please.

The story goes thus, I've got a flatmate who sort of is now in the habit of skyping at the top of his voice at very odd hours of the night/morning ( I'm talking 12am through 3 am). During this periods he'd laugh and yell at the top of his voice, speaking in a foreign language, effectively depriving of any good sleep. Initially I had ignored him, thinking it was just a one or two day thing- i.e. maybe he had issues he was trying to resolve with someone, Alas! it has however now become an every night occurrence! Last night It got so bad and out of control, I had to leave my room and go sleep on a very small leather couch in the lounge (that's after repeatedly trying to get him to if not reschedule his calls, keep his voice down- his room is just by mine- he ignored me)!

I'm currently a post grad student on a scholarship and this is beginning to take its toll on my studies- couldn't read a line today- and my emotional well being.

You think I could call the guards and lodge a formal complaint (maybe when he starts at night)? I also know he uses marijuana sometimes although i currently do not have any clear proof of this (and quite frankly i doubt if I'd want to be responsible for any one bagging a criminal record or going to jail). Right now though I'm getting really frustrated.

As far as complaining to my landlord goes, naturally my interests and those of a landlord would diverge. From the stand point of the landlord a good tenant would be one who pays his rent on time. From my conversations with the landlord this guy doesn't seem to be defaulting in this respect. I doubt if the landlord would feel inclined to do anything decisive- more especially as a room in the house is presently vacant and another of the tenants has been asked to leave since he hasnt be forthcoming with his rents. I strongly doubt the landlord would want/ask this guy to leave; if he does, he'd be unable to pay the mortgage!

I'd have gotten an alternate accommodation myself but my tenancy was agreed to be for almost a year or more (I've just been here a month). Currently I haven't no spare cash for rent deposit for a new property!

Reasoned advice pls, thanks!

SantryRed

get ear plugs

Siuin

I had a really irritating housemate like this before. Basically, you need to shame them into shutting up. You need to bang loudly on their door when they start being noisy, tell them to shut up and that you're trying to sleep. You seem like a pretty meek person, and that simply doesn't fly in such situations where the person is being so inconsiderate- especially when this person may be from a culture where people are more direct and aggressive in their interactions with each other.

Phoning the guards would be ridiculous, and you'd be told as much by them if you actually called them up over something like this.

lukesmom

Tell your landlord how the twat you are sharing a flat with is preventing you from sleeping amd having any quality of life the next day. Tell him you want your deposit back as you did not expect this hassle. Tell him your mental health is bring affected. If nothing you can do about your flatmate but you need your deposit back. Threaten him with a solicitor if he does not comply.

Mycroft H

Turn the internet off. Or login to the router and block his MAC address in the early hours of the morning

Stanton82

Siuin wrote: »

I had a really irritating housemate like this before. Basically, you need to shame them into shutting up. You need to bang loudly on their door when they start being noisy, tell them to shut up and that you're trying to sleep. You seem like a pretty meek person, and that simply doesn't fly in such situations where the person is being so inconsiderate- especially when this person may be from a culture where people are more direct and aggressive in their interactions with each other.

Phoning the guards would be ridiculous, and you'd be told as much by them if you actually called them up over something like this.

I was hoping towards a more long termnistic solution? He might comply in the interim only to resume again when the exams are approaching then what do I do?! You'd agree that that would be a lot to cope with the tensions of exams looming over? If some how I could call in the guards, that might threaten him into a more long term form of compliance or even get him to leave? Say for example I tell the guards a fight might result if i try to tell him myself to keep it down?

Stanton82

BX 19 wrote: »

Turn the internet off. Or login to the router and block his MAC address in the early hours of the morning

Thanks mate. However apart from being quite hopeless with the computer and any tech stuff like that, he uses his mobile as a morderm so its not quite a case of there being a general router!

Siuin

Stanton82 wrote: »

I was hoping towards a more long termnistic solution? He might comply in the interim only to resume again when the exams are approaching then what do I do?! You'd agree that that would be a lot to cope with the tensions of exams looming over? If some how I could call in the guards, that might threaten him into a more long term form of compliance or even get him to leave? Say for example I tell the guards a fight might result if i try to tell him myself to keep it down?

Unless he's completely stupid, he'll get fed up of you pounding on the doors and generally being ratty to him on a daily basis. You need to make daily life more unpleasant for him or else he'll just use you as a doormat.

Don't call the guards. Really. Just drop that idea now. They have better things to be doing that telling people to get off skype.

100200 shih

Will you tell the landlord, & leave the guards to do real work, tell the landlord what he is doing & tell them if not stopped, then you will have to move out, someone in the accommodation office at college will be able to help you if this doesn't work . If you ring the guards they will tell you , nothing to do with them & call the landlord. Have you actually asked you flatmate to clam down ?

Crasp

Step 1: Ask him to be quiet.

Step 2. Tell him to be quiet.

Step 3: Tell landlord he uses marijuana, most likely against terms of rent agreement and possibly grounds for having him kicked out. Not as petty as telling the cops, but still petty. But then again, you have to look out for number 1 sometimes.

Step 4: Tell landlord if he doesn't do something about it (e.g. move him to the vacant room, further away from yours?) that they will lose out because you will leave and go somewhere else. That way it's in their best interest to intervene and keep both of you happy, or be down another tenant.

Stanton82

100200 shih wrote: »

Will you tell the landlord, & leave the guards to do real work, tell the landlord what he is doing & tell them if not stopped, then you will have to move out, someone in the accommodation office at college will be able to help you if this doesn't work . If you ring the guards they will tell you , nothing to do with them & call the landlord. Have you actually asked you flatmate to clam down ?

He just ignores my knocking on his door and quite frankly it seems to incentivise him into raising his voice even higher. I doubt my landlord would be willing to tell off another of his tenant when firstly, he has informed me that if he cannot replace the guy defaulting with the rent by the end of the month the bank would be forced to compel a sale of the property (since he'd be unable to pay the mortgage) and secondly when another of his tenant had just left a few days ago over a similar issue (this time it was a lass who was always bringing her boyfriend over-every night- screwing till around 4 am in the morning and making life some hell for the guy below her. She left after some shaming pressure from the lad). I doubt he'd be excited to entertain this issue. He might actually brand me a trouble maker?

Siuin

I get a strong feeling from your posts that you're being way too polite with this guy. Don't knock on the door, bang on it. Don't ask him to be quiet, yell at him to shut up. I had an American girl who was also obnoxious (singing after midnight... really loudly and badly), and I can assure you that after making life difficult for her in the house and by also creating an unpleasant atmosphere, she got the hint and shut up.

ANXIOUS

Don't waste the gardai time with this.

lockon...

Bring him to court!

Taking a Section 108 action

Section 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 allows individuals to take private action through the District Court should they find the noise to be “so loud, so continuous, so repeated, of such duration or pitch or occurring at such times that it gives you reasonable cause for annoyance".

This private action can then be taken to the District Court under Section 108 of the Environmental Protection Act 1992. An explanatory leaflet is available outlining the procedure. Click Here for more details (pdf).

A complaint can be lodged in the court by obtaining a form from the Summons Office, District Court, Four Court, Tel: 888 6117. It is not a requirement to have legal representation at a Section 108 hearing.

http://www.dublincity.ie/WaterWasteEnvironment/AirQualityMonitoringandNoiseControl/NoisePollution/Pages/NoisyNeighbourComplaint.aspx

That should shut him up

Siuin

lockon... wrote: »

Bring him to court!

His housemate would be nowhere near loud enough for that to be relevant.

SteelyDanJalapeno

Why is there 2 threads on this?

lockon...

Siuin wrote: »

His housemate would be nowhere near loud enough for that to be relevant.

Yes it is precisly relevant.

Section 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 allows individuals to take private action through the District Court should they find the noise to be “so loud, so continuous, so repeated, of such duration or pitch or occurring at such times that it gives you reasonable cause for annoyance".

Siuin

lockon... wrote: »

Yes it is precisly relevant.

They're talking about people throwing parties and going ape shít crazy, not a skype conversation

Stanton82

lockon... wrote: »

Bring him to court!



That should shut him up

Thank you very much for this! The noise he generates should be of sufficient magnitude to at least vest the court with jurisdiction-i.e if the court decides to adopt a purposive as against literal interpretation of the statute in question! I'd look into it in more detail.

I think the physiological effect of having him answer a claim in court should be enough to shut him up for good- and for the long run which is my primary concern. Thanks mate.

Siuin

Stanton82 wrote: »

Thank you very much for this! I think the noise he generates should be of sufficient magnitude to at least vest the curt with jurisdiction- frankly. I'd look into it in more detail.

I think the physiological effect of having him answer a claim in court should enough to shut him up for good and for the long run- which is my primary concern. Thanks mate.

Yeaaaah...
Good luck affording a solicitor.

lockon...

Siuin wrote: »

Yeaaaah...
Good luck affording a solicitor.

Why would you need a lawyer? It's a district court complaint and your bringin the case against them - similar to the small claims court.

If you wish to make a complaint to the District Court, you are not required to be represented by a solicitor, however, you may engage the assistance of a solicitor to help prepare your noise complaint and present this in court. You should consult with the Clerk of your local District Court about an appointment for the hearing of your case and refer precisely to the law relating to your case (Section 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 and the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 (Noise) Regulations 1994 (SI No. 179 of 1994).

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/environment/environmental_protection/noise_regulations.html

Siuin

Even if he chooses not to use the services of a lawyer, there are still court fees and simply the inconvenience of first going through his local authorities and then being referred onto the district court.

Imo a lot of bother can be avoided here if the OP was to put his foot down more firmly, which judging from his posts he simply hasn't done.

lockon...

Siuin wrote: »

Even if he chooses not to use the services of a lawyer, there are still court fees and simply the inconvenience of first going through his local authorities and then being referred onto the district court.

Imo a lot of bother can be avoided here if the OP was to put his foot down more firmly, which judging from his posts he simply hasn't done.

It costs €15 to have a summons heard. I agree the OP could do more.

docmol

Pop the fuse for the sockets

silenceisfoo

Been through this sort of thing with other housemates. Really awkward as you don't want to cause upset in the apartment. My advice is to just say that you can hear him through the walls late at night and if he could keep it down as it is really disturbing. If that doesn't work, then take off your ear rings and act the damn fool Freak the hell out at him-he will not be expecting it and he will not be a problem for the rest of the year. Remember you didn't start this he did.
As for all this guards and solicitor nonsense, seriously people grow the hell up and learn to deal with something head on without resorting to this level of cowardice. You may not like to deal with but it is important to remember that not every issue is a legal issue and no judge or guard is going to be pleased with this appearing before them.

Lawliet

Stanton82 wrote: »

Thank you very much for this! The noise he generates should be of sufficient magnitude to at least vest the court with jurisdiction-i.e if the court decides to adopt a purposive as against literal interpretation of the statute in question! I'd look into it in more detail.

I think the physiological effect of having him answer a claim in court should be enough to shut him up for good- and for the long run which is my primary concern. Thanks mate.

This is a wind up, right?

maringo

If the landlord can't/won't sort him out as it appears you aren't able to, don't pay your rent - hold it for the deposit on a new place as if you leave in a hurry you won't get your deposit back.

Ravelleman

To be honest, this thread is ludicrous. Part of growing up is learning to resolve disputes with other people. Learn to impose yourself on a discussion and make it clear that his behaviour is unacceptable. It´s really quite simple. I cannot imagine the Gardaí intervening in a situation like this, nor should they.

Ravelleman

Lawliet wrote: »

This is a wind up, right?

Indeed, utter insanity.

michael999999

Id be watching porn, the volume of which would rise in accordance with the volume of he's voice when he's skyping.

Preferably screamer porn! Stick in a set of ear plugs and let it rip as soon as he starts he's crap!

Tisserand

OP, what time does your flatmate go to bed at? When he goes to bed, how about you getting up and watch the tv, blaring. Try it for a few nights and see how he likes it.

cbreeze

Tisserand wrote: »

OP, what time does your flatmate go to bed at? When he goes to bed, how about you getting up and watch the tv, blaring. Try it for a few nights and see how he likes it.

Had neighbours like this (teachers!!) who made a lot of noise at the weekends - after one wild night put all the radios, stereos in the house next to the party (!!) wall the following morning early on full blast and went shopping. No more noise.

But the OPs situation seems that he/she rents a room in a private house - is the landlord registered with the tenancy board? holding back the rent maybe something he/she will understand. The people the flatmate calls are obviously in a time zone where he has to call them at these hours.

I Hate Systems

I've the same problem right now, my housemates a borderline alcoholic, stumbling in home at 2 o'clock in the morning 3 nights of the weekdays. She likes to (literally) scream, bang the walls, cry on her phone, sing. I put up with it the first couple of weeks, then I just started banging on the walls - prompting her to bang back. So I cried some, and bought a box of wax earplugs (fiver from Boots for about 10 quid). I still hear her from time to time, she woke me up last night, but its a temporary something. I understand how frustrating disrespectful arseholes Skyping at stupid times in the morning is, and although I have no good advice, I just wanna tell you that youre not alone in this.

hearny

Agree with other posters ask him to keep it down, if he uses his phone as a modem ask him politely to use another part of the house, If he says no then get the speakers at the wall with loud music so he cant have a proper call.

Repeat any night he tries the late night loud skyping.

If you are not happy about that record the noise levels in the room when he is at it. Play it for the landlord ask him for either your deposit back, the tennant thrown out or moved to another part of the house. If the landlord refuses tell him you will play the recording for anyone looking at moving in to one of the other rooms. Putting off potential tenants may spur him into action.

Sparticle

If you have a spiteful streak like myself this is a good opportunity for some justified dickery.

You probably have a fuse box. When he starts doing his thing pull down his room specific trip switch or lacking that the general use circuit's trip switch. Most people don't seem to know how to reverse this for some reason. Should he have a laptop this will put a time limit on skype calls and if he has a desktop it's instant sleep.

Alternatively you could invest a pair of high quality speakers and when he starts doing his thing play this on max volume. Buy some earplugs if you do this as it may drive you to suicide.

ewan whose army

When i had similar problems with a next door neighbour during my undergrad. I got my best friend (who is a girl) and we started jumping on the bed, making really obvious and wierd sex noises, and just took the piss (we were both hammered) this went on for about 1 hour, we never heard a peep again lol

UrbanSea

There is only one real solution to this.


Anthrax.

ewan whose army

RichieLawlessness wrote: »

There is only one real solution to this.


Anthrax.

Well that would shut him up!!! But I can't see the Guards taking it the same way