‘My neighbour’s 6am habit is driving me mad but she refuses to stop’

One man claims he has been robbed of sleep for months because of his neighbour’s irritating routine, and now he’s seeking advice from others on how to deal with it

It’s crucial to have a good relationship with your neighbours at times. If they hold you in high esteem, they’re more likely to forgive minor parking blunders or the occasional noise from your property. There may come a time when you need their support.

However, there are also times when you find yourself living next to someone whose annoying habits disrupt the peace. Maybe they have a habit of blasting music late into the night or they consistently block your driveway with their car.

One man has had enough of his neighbour’s irritating routine, which has been depriving him of essential sleep for the past four months. In a Reddit post, the man described his situation of residing in a flat with a neighbour above who insists on playing the violin at the break of dawn every day.

He revealed that she doesn’t stop for several hours, and given his night shift work schedule that sees him return home at 2am, this has significantly disrupted his sleep.

Nevertheless, the woman does have a legitimate reason for her early morning violin sessions. She gives violin lessons to children between 10am and 8pm, necessitating the early morning practice sessions before her classes begin.

He said: “I moved into this apartment four months ago. Every single morning at 6am, my upstairs neighbour starts playing the violin. It goes on for 2-3 hours. I work night shifts and don’t get home until 2am, so this is destroying my sleep.

“I’ve tried talking to her nicely several times. She’s actually very sweet, a music teacher who gives lessons from her apartment. She explained that 6-9am is her only free time to practice because she teaches students from 10am to 8pm.”

The man has also looked into the tenancy agreement for the building where they live, and has found that the quiet hours for noise complaints run from 10pm until 6am, meaning that if she starts playing after 6am, she’s not breaking any regulations.

He went on: “But I’m losing my mind. I’ve tried earplugs, white noise machines, and sleeping in my living room. Nothing blocks out the violin music directly above my bedroom. I’m making mistakes at work because I’m so sleep-deprived.

“The apartment management says it’s not their problem since both leases allow practice hours. They suggested I find a different apartment if the music bothers me. I can’t afford to move; I just paid first/last/deposit here. She can’t change her schedule without losing income from students.”

He then turned to the Reddit community for advice on how they could coexist peacefully. Many suggested he speak with his neighbour about using a mute during her practice sessions, a small device that attaches to a violin’s bridge to dampen vibrations and reduce the instrument’s volume.

While mutes aren’t a perfect solution as they can alter the violin’s tone, it might be possible for the neighbours to reach an agreement where she uses the mute for the first few hours before removing it at a more appropriate time.

One individual suggested: “Could she practice with a mute from 6.00-7.30? Then practice without from 7.30-9.00? I completely understand your frustration.”

Another added: “This sounds incredibly frustrating. Unfortunately for your sleep, she is totally within her rights. It might be worth asking her about a practice mute. I highly recommend investing in sound cancelling headphones!”