Noise
We all know how annoying it is when you are trying to finish that essay the night before the deadline and your housemate decides it would be a great time to test out their new sound system until the early hours. Whether they treat you to some dubstep, or Diana Ross, you can pretty much guarantee it is going to get you angry.
Take it as a rule that if the room is vibrating you can generally expect to be dealing with complaints. Not only will you alienate your housemates leading to the inevitable passive aggressive notes pinned to the fridge, but your time in private housing will be thoroughly miserable.
If you are consistently making too much noise your neighbours are perfectly in their rights to report you to the Noise Pollution Officers at Bristol City Council. If that doesn’t give you the fear then they may also report you to the Police and your letting agency or landlord. All this and the potential wrath of the University can be avoided by being more aware of your behaviour and noise levels. When it comes to noise it is all about having respect for each other AND your neighbours!
Be realistic, loud music late at night is not going to go down well with your neighbours, nor will stumbling down the street singing/screeching.
House Parties
So, you have just moved in to your private accommodation, the carpet is slightly discoloured, you are pretty sure something died in the washing machine, but the house is fit for purpose when it comes to having a party. One of the best things about living in private accommodation is having the freedom to have your friends round whenever you want, but when having a party there are a number of points you should consider:
Tell your neighbours about your party, well before it happens and what time you expect it to finish. Offer them your mobile number so that if they have any immediate problems they can get hold of you easily.
Be aware of the number of people invited. Having the event publicised on facebook could result in a lot more people coming than you can handle. Watch out for gatecrashers, there is a lot more chance that a random will trash your house than a friend.
Remember if your property gets damaged, it is you that will have to pay. Keep an eye on the place and keep your valuables in a safe and hidden location. That means laptops, expensive jewellery, and whatever else you deem valuable.
Be sensitive to your neighbours when outside. Keep the music to indoors and try to keep the noise outside to a minimum.
If someone does knock on your door to complain, it isn’t a great idea to greet them with a bottle of Becks and an attitude problem. A good idea is agreeing amongst your housemates to have a designated sober person. That way, should anything happen there is someone that can deal with the situation in a calm and rational way.
If you are having trouble with noise you can report it to Bristol City Council through their website:
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Environment-Planning/Pollution/report-a-noise-nuisance-problem.en