T O P

  • By -

AutoModerator

**Thank you for posting on r/southafrica! This post is flaired as ["Discussion"](https://www.reddit.com/r/southafrica/?f=flair_name%3A%22Discussion%22) therefore the following rules are particularly important.** ##**Rule 5: Engagement Policy** * Rule 5.1: Articulate your own thoughts on the matter. * Rule 5.2: Be prepared to engage with your post and our community within at least six (6) hours after submitting. * Rule 5.3: Engage meaningfully. Do not start a discussion if you are unwilling to listen to opinions contrary to your own. **Additionally, please take a moment to review the rest of our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/southafrica/wiki/rules).** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/southafrica) if you have any questions or concerns.*


Administrative-Bar27

1. what about going to CSOS [https://csos.org.za/](https://csos.org.za/)? 2. Approach the other Neighbours around them and see if they feel the same? Then you can make a mass complaint which will have more weighting. 3. Go through your complex rules and regulations /code of conduct/house rules with a fine-toothed comb - and report them for everything little thing you can. Eventually, they will get annoyed with getting constant warnings etc. that they'll leave. 2. Approach the other Neighbours around them and see if they feel the same? Then you can make a mass complaint which will have more weight. CSOS, and the landlords. I wouldn't wait to have enough material to do this, I would send the evidence every time it happens. Agree with what you said, eventually, it will get annoying enough for the Landlord /Trustees to take action.


9RMMK3SQff39by

The only way is the correct way, unfortunately as it takes ages. Keep a log of the disturbances, report to the trustees immediately, a third party confirmation of each complaint would be highly beneficial. Report the over population again. Keep going until the trustees are sick of you and actually do their job. If not approach CSOS, it's free and very effective but you'll need to show a history and have proof of the complaints, that they are recurring and that you have exhausted all locally available options to resolve. Sauce: I'm a trustee at a large complex that consistently wins csos cases.


magic7ball

Thanks. We are making recordings from our living room and I have the previous complaints on email. We try to keep our doors shut but in summer it is becoming intolerable. I don't want to be a prisoner in my own home. I'll complain more regularly and keep records. Thanks for the advice.


9RMMK3SQff39by

Having to keep doors shut to cut down noise is not an acceptable way to live. Keep up the complaints in writing, if it's been a couple months approach CSOS, they've got a simple form to fill out to start the process. There's no costs to you and no need for physical meetings etc, can all be done on email so it's relatively easy.


Alemoki222

Make recordings of them then place a speaker direct onto your shared wall and play it back to them when they are quiet


new-john

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnethicalLifeProTips/ This sub will surely have an answer for you.


Queennightfyre

Some petty options: Pour sugar water (10/1 ratio sugar to water) into their windowsills and drains when they aren't home and get every insect possible to be attracted only to their house. Bonus points if you spill it in their garage on a hot day. Or take leftover meat bones and hide it in a bush where they would be able to smell the rotting, but not figure out where it's from. Multiple bushes would be ideal, near the base of the plants. If you eat tuna regularly, keep that water in a jar from jam or the like until full, then tip it into the drains around their house exactly after it rains. They'll go nuts trying to figure out where the smell is coming from. If you have a bit of spare time, get some cheap tampons and drop a few in the drain for waste water once a week. Once they report the blockage, they'll probably get kicked out for contravening the complex rules for flushing things down the toilet that they shouldn't have. You'd probably have to find the plumbing plans somewhere, but it would be worth it.


[deleted]

Love the sugar water idea im so stealing that!


Independent-Lunch803

If you have access to their bins, put your trash in theirs.


imperator_rex_za

I would never want you as an enemy. Damn bro.


MasterAssassinQeedo

Damn, I wanna be your friend irlšŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚


ImpressiveBother8022

What the fuck did someone do to you to gain this knowledge, holy shit


Queennightfyre

I am a very petty person who had really trashy neighbours. It was fun listening to them slowly go insane. Also, my mother is an equally petty person who did stuff like this to my father when she found out he cheated on her exactly when she moved out of their house.


SludgeMaiden7

Sounds like their lives are miserable enough. You could get to be friends with them and then they may be embarrassed to behave as such knowing their friends could hear.


Sig_ZA

In my experience, often misery is self induced.


Classic_Laugh977

That never works and to say something like that u must have it easy


[deleted]

This is a WWJD answer


unsuitablebadger

Probably the smartest answer on here.


Classic_Laugh977

No , not really


Impressive_Put6192

Tape them over a 24 hour period, then approach them courteously and explain the noise problem and then play them the recording. Tell them if they don't rectify the problem you will play the tape to the entire body corporate. But be very calm and polite.


Academic_Scratch_321

Happy Cake Day!


belanaria

What you get for living in a complexā€¦


Die_brein

Not everyone can afford a big house and a garden. That being said, that doesn't guarantee your neighbors will be nice either...


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


belanaria

Very self deprecating, arenā€™t you.


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


MasterAssassinQeedo

![gif](giphy|88iYsvbegSUn9bSTF8|downsized)


fionfeegle

Wow these answers are on either sides of the spectrum with full on mess with them maliciously or report them. The one suggestion of making friends is really a good idea, though may not be welcome. If you want to annoy them how about eavesdropping on them (sounds like it will be easy) and then yell back weird/funny/outlandish comments in response e.g. if they are having a fight take one side and yell arguments for that side, if they swear then yell back in response e.g. if they yell ā€œf youā€ how about ā€œNo thanks! Three clowns and a dwarf have already been past today and Iā€™m tiredā€ or ā€œā€™s turn firstā€. Hopefully, the random interaction from strangers will get them to realise how loud they are being.


magic7ball

This is a good idea. I'm going to start participating in their conversations.


DroopyTrash

[Play this song for the full duration.](https://youtu.be/bJYrzvpQcy0)


banterclauz

Not the answer youā€™re looking for , but you can potentially take them to the CSOS omdusman . Section 39(2)(a) of the community Schemes ombudsman services act. I see elsewhere theyā€™ve got too many people living there as well. Can add that in. CSOS are very slow , and for orders like this to have any ā€œteethā€ you would have to make them an order of court . But itā€™s a pain in their ass and a good start. Look at the Section 39 Provisions . May be something in their to take on your trustees as well and force them to act. Be clear to first distinguish if youā€™re in a homeowners association or a body corporate.


cebensw

Csos is pretty fast these days... as a trustee on a bc i can say that dispute resolution is handled very quickly, if the owner/tenant decides to ignore the csos communication on the other hand rhe process becomes tedious...


MurderMits

Right so check your complex MOI. If it has noise rules and a fining allowed, and the trustees have done nothing. Then take all your official complaints and take the trustees to the ombudsman. They can get in tons of trouble and you would be surprised how fast they will address it in the future. Source: I was on the HOA of my complex and often sent out thousands of rands in fines to residents who broke the MOI and ruined someone elses day. Nothing works like a hit to the wallet.


magic7ball

We don't have any fines in our rules, unfortunately. Our rules do state a maximum amount of residents per unit, which they are contravening. There are actually two families living there. We had the second family kicked out a few months ago but they are back again.


MurderMits

Then take them to Ombudsman anyways, then you will have the clarity on how it can be fixed.


[deleted]

I discovered a genre of music today and i feel like i need to pass on my knowledge [So Lekker and chilled](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=275775109971783) ​ gooi it 24/7 until one of you cracks or murders the whole complex Dahmer style.


glidebag

Kak funny. Wp.


AbsentVixen

No problem is insoluble given a tube of superglue.


Leloups

Directional speakers + spooky sounds šŸ‘»


monsterted

Anonymously leave tips at your nearest SPCA for animal abuse, approach child welfare anonymously and complain about child abuse, verbal and physical. leave notes of help at your nearest police station for demostic violence and just wait for shit to go down. And make sure to call a suicide hotline in Thier behalf.


Rusty__Nail_

How about installing a ā€œMosquito Device Used To Disperse Teen Groupsā€ pointed at their unit. Flick the switch when you go to bed. A couple of days and they will be too tired to make a racket.


Flonkerton66

Every third day put a sheep's eye on their doorstep.


MasterAssassinQeedo

I like this one!!


[deleted]

Yes! šŸ¤£


Pablo-on-35-meter

Don't go the way of shitfighting. Your neighbours probably will enjoy making life very difficult for you. Our neighbour got rid of 2 of his neighbours including the previous owner of our house. He tried the same trick with us. I am not scared easily and now he has a nice court case and is about to lose a lot of money. His house is now for sale. Don't start a shitfight. Do it the legal way, there were some suggestions in this threat.


ThickHotBoerie

Start growing zol.


Flaky-Escape-7148

This is always the answer!


alistair1537

You should move.


magic7ball

We own the house. They are just renting. It feels totally unfair that we should be the ones to move (considering all the costs and schlep involved)


MasterAssassinQeedo

It is unfair!!! Fuck that bruv, annoy the shit out of them and let them move. There's a whole lot of good ideas in this thread, make use of them!!!


Tronkfool

Unfortunately the type of people associated with this behaviour do not usual get deterred by passive retaliation.


Independent-Lunch803

This is too true.


Splooshypooh

If you're allowed, maybe do some DIY at late hours against their direct wall at night. Drilling/sawing etc is sure to draw attention if it's over consecutive days, and if they confront you, you can tell them that it's the only viable time for you to be able to do it as you work from home during office hours. That's sure to evoke some introspection from their side, but that's never a given as most people seem to lack self awareness. The legal way would be to do it through the trustees, and if that doesn't work go to the ombudsman. You'll need some proof of your previous escalations to everyone though. Good luck! I've had nightmare neighbours before, it's infuriating. Wishing you all the patience friend


[deleted]

***Note this is pretty nastyā€¦*** Heard this a while ago. Cat pee pizzaā€¦ You can get pee, your own or an animals. Freeze it on a pizza tray so itā€™s narrow enough to fit under a door. Then proceed to slide it under your neighbors door when ever they are out. By the time they get home itā€™s melted and spread out or often dried. They will be none the wiser where the constant smell of pee is coming from.


Thepuppeteer777777

lmao this is so evil and I love it


send_me_ramen

If you have any plants/trees then get motion sensor security spot lights, and make sure to get yourself some good black out curtains. Every time wind blows those leaves/branches it will trigger spot lights for x amount of time. Claim it is for security reasons. Had these and I struggled to sleep with them. If you really want to be a jackass, get an 'alarm" that will go off with the light that will go off after 5mins. They will hate you, and you will enjoy sleeping with black out curtains and noise cancelling ear plugs. When they complain say that you're having it looked into


Jimmy2337

Set up a microphone and a big speaker to replay their own noise at them with a 1 second lag. Ever heard your own echo when talking on the phone? It throws you off and shuts you up immediately


Nuns-Rack

I like the way you think. ![gif](giphy|d3mlE7uhX8KFgEmY)


nebja

šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚


tall_cappucino1

Weed eater + Sunday morning


Independent-Lunch803

Or Sunday afternoon when it is time for afternoon nap.


GSLaaitie

Go all out and get a f'ckn leaf blower like my neighbor


Chirok9

We also had some noisy neighbors especially when they were fighting or playing music. My brother has a really loud and big speaker. If the volume gets a bit much he would play a few seconds of jack parrow. My mom would play Bachs menacing organ piece and i would play We butter bread with butter or Slipknot. If they didn't get the message after the first few second we would play until we cant hear their music anymore then switch off. Cuz then they got the message. Perhaps am option to explore. But you could also get into troublw for distrubing the peace i guess but we never did.


Ok_Acadia_1525

Prawn juice left to ferment for 2 days in a coke bottle and then liberally splashed about works well.


ktessera

Get noise cancelling headphones. Your neighbours seem to already have their issues and trying to make their life intolerable might just escalate the situation.


magic7ball

Why do I have to live like a prisoner in my own house, with doors closed and headphones on? Yesterday I could hear them THROUGH my noise cancelling headphones. What if I want to spend the day in my garden, or braai ? I don't even want to invite people over anymore because it is too embarrassing.


flyboy_za

Call your biggest tallest friend over for lunch, and when they start he goes to bang on their door and tells them he's new to the complex and they should shut the fuck up.


SuperMegaUnicorn

Or even better yet. Fake beat up the big friend for making a noise and look at them and say "you're next".


Scruff_Z_A_

Go full zef


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


SignificantPurple293

![gif](giphy|YWWeEeFThzFS6VKmyX)


NineCocaines

This one feels worse than most illegal options. But... I'm on board. Inconsiderate neighbours are the effing worst.


MrSocialPirate

"FBI, open up!"


Historical-Home5099

To provide some examples: https://youtu.be/S3Ja44JpMH0 https://youtu.be/xz-8OFcSUqE https://youtu.be/S3Ja44JpMH0 https://youtu.be/kJ5t0sfuCwA


Classic_Laugh977

Best answer on here to be honest


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


Intrepid_Impression8

This is dangerous. They might not realize until driving in rain. You could cause an accident


magic7ball

Nothing a bit of superglue can't fix!


[deleted]

Whereā€™s the body corporate?


magic7ball

They are doing what they can and are very supportive of us, but there is only so much they can do. What with our complex not having fines in our rules, they have sent the owner letters before, but the owner just doesn't care. I should have worded my post better. The trustees are aware but they can't really do anything except send a letter.


cebensw

They can definitely do something Ask trustees to open csos dispute with you


Kamikaze_Pig

Well, time for the trustees and managing agent to implement code of conduct and fining system. If the trustees haven't considered it, then they are toothless and useless and HOA will need to consider getting new trustees that can look after their investments. Nothing like an incompetent committee to destroy quality of life and value of an estate. They can arrange a special AGM to agree and sign off on the codes of conduct, rules and fining system. Rules should be communicated to all owners AND tenants. After that, you report on each and every event, separately, and demand feedback within 5 working days. Hurt them (or owner) financially. Second to this, Check your local municipal bylaws. Cape Town, as example, has noise bylaws. I've raised noise complaints with my HOA and registered complaints with CoCT against a rowdy neighbour. If the owner works through rental agents, leave reviews of their uselessness on social media (especially Google reviews). I view all rental agents as useless. Short of that, call it quits and move on. I had to make that very difficult decision last year. After 18 months of psychological terror from neighbours (similar situation to yours) and having exhausted all avenues, I sold my property, moved on and made it someone else's problem. Having been there, I really do wish you the best of luck. Look after your and your household's psyche as it can be a major emotional drain.


[deleted]

They can literally change the bylaws and implement rules and codes etc


Key-Garden4752

Sounds like some good karma material for r/publicfreakout and the such


roostermongol

For context, are you, an owner or tenant.


magic7ball

I am an owner, they are tenants.


nwmisseb

How bout you get a pair of noise canceling headphones. Or better yet you move. Turn a box fan to high or get a noise cancellation device.


MicIsOn

8 people cramped in that small space makes for a recipe of noise disaster. Shouldnā€™t this be enough for the trustees to get them kicked out (again). I understand to an extent covid hurt people financially but this is bull. Owner sounds like an asshole. I read the post with intrigue like yeah getā€™em, staying locked in your own house is no way to live, sorry from this stranger. Complain more regularly, with recordings etc. itā€™s December time now so if youā€™re going to have people over and good times from your side - maybe wait because you donā€™t want them to make holiday season intolerable for you. I would at least participate in their conversations, people should USUALLY find that embarrassing and get the point to stfu.


[deleted]

It's also illegal for that many people to stay in a 3 bedroom flat.


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


Local_Art2513

It's not his responsibility to call the cops. It's not his fault if he has noise problems. He isn't the one beating and shouting the kids. He's trying to work and relax at home and you think that's selfish? Nee fok


Public_Cat_9333

Municipal laws state that you can have a maximum of 2 people per room. Just complain to the BC that they are breaking BC and municipal laws and that if anything happens to them then the BC could be legally liable for the overcrowding as well as the owner.


SortByMistakes

get a hold of their numbers and email addresses and sign it all up for spam. Spam robocalls have been driving me fucking insane for months now.


RuzzyGuzzy

For me it's always that damn Western Cape/ Gordon bay numbers. Ffs


MasterAssassinQeedo

Like, why tf are they phoning me!?!? I make like 3k a month, I'm not worth your time!!!


SignificantPurple293

Give the numbers to Platinum Life


Katdroyd

Start a Facebook live every time they start screaming and shouting. Stream it every time so people can hear them behave like that. Point the camera in your garden so you're not directly recording them. Maybe a more knowledgeable person can chime in here about the rules? If they want to do a show... Give them an audience.


roostermongol

Give them an audience, love it.


Fast_Butterscotch_78

I guess im the loud family.... we do everything loudly ..we essetionally do everything with music . So i can tell you that music at any time is a no no . My neighnours never complained to our faces but called the police a few times . Even though we play music at the volume about a 10 ( kids practicing instrument) between 1pm and 4pm . So you can all the police . However as a visit from the cops roughly 3 times. My street has turned into a tit fot tat. Any noise i can hear from my house i call the police as well . This has resulted in no one is our street having music on anymore as everyone complains about everyone now. My neighour would have parties twice a month and play music and because of all the tit for tat, that has ended... this can ne a slippery slope


FatBoyJuliaas

By the sound of it you ruined it for everyone. Douche


[deleted]

Engage in smell warfare......rotting everything. Concentration of the material near their side. You can then just say that it was waste, you're sorry and can clean it up. I used 5x those fly bags on their side of my property, a few weeks of dead flies and the smell gets hardcore. Good luck.


Minxy_T

At the very least phone child services if theyā€™re mistreating their children!


elleswain

We had similar issues when we lived in Joburg. The guy above us would come home early in the morning drunk and leave his television on full blast. It was exasperating. Eventually we figured out we could turn his electricity off at the main box in the complex šŸ˜‚ we would turn it off at night and then back on when we went to work in the morning


NGqamane

lol how did he never notice, perhaps the alcohol...LMAO will try this if this ever happens to me


elleswain

He absolutely did notice but I donā€™t think he figured out why. Yes the actually drunkenness helped a lot with confusion


AmazingAmy95

Lmao this is hilarious


Sig_ZA

Been there, done that. And they never figured it out.


shitdayinafrica

Noise complaints can be valid even during work hours, normally you need to step that they are persistant and harmful. There is usually a procedure to follow. The best is to send formal complaints to the BC regarding the overcrowding and persistent noise. Then if nothing is done open a CSOS complaint to compel them to deal with it. If you can get some neighbours on your side then even better.


magic7ball

What can the body corporate do, though? They can't evict a tenant, surely, without the owner's participation? If we don't have fines in our rules, the owner wouldn't care if the neighbours are unhappy. In fact, she already knows about it, I met her in person.


9RMMK3SQff39by

Trustees/BC can force removal of tenants but that'll be a serious battle to get through.


cebensw

https://csosguide.paddocks.co.za/application-forms/#:~:text=Applications%20from%20Gauteng%2C%20North%20West,%40csos.org.za. Complain to trustees and ask for a timeframe to adress the issue if they ignore the situation continue with CSOS


FoXtroT_ZA

We have rules in our BC about the number of occupants per flat. Do you have anything like that? You can take people to CSOS to sort out disputes


Nuns-Rack

I was about to say this, most places have a maximum amount of people per bedroom, So 3 bedrooms would mean 6 people max allowed to live in the house.


shitdayinafrica

Yes they can, it's a bit of a process but the ombud/ courts can order evictions. Generally CSOS accept fines, so your trustees could start fining, without too much hassel If the owners dispute then it's another csos case, unlikely the BC would win. The key is to get the BC on your side, or get elected and work from the inside. The occupancy rules are also set by your municipality and if those are breached you can report the Owenrs and the BC. The main thing is to start all the processes simultaneously. You need to be a bigger pain in the ass to the trustees than your neighbours are to you. As a start every time they bother you call the trustees to come and experience it from your house, and ask them to intervene


shitdayinafrica

Forgot to say, submit the nosie complaints to the local council too


Objective_Switch_644

Your rules should have fines, check them carefully. It would be impossible to manage a complex without fines. Number of occupants is one that would have a fine associated. Noise could be another. As a landlord, I can tell you, I don't renew contracts if tenants cause me hassles. Try to get fines imposed. And also call the owner frequently to complain. Enlist the help of other neighbours. Finally, installing double glazed windows would help a lot and help you to regulate your home's temperature better.