AIBU to ask neighbours about moving their heat pump back?

[Sheldonsheher]

I live in a new build. Moved in around 3 years. My neighbours have moved their heat pump to the side of their house next to my boundary in the side alley. It’s a bit annoying as it’s very loud as in a funnel. Before it was on the other side of their house, where the developers installed it I never heard it. Is there anything I can do about this? I don’t want to upset them but it’s pretty annoying tbh.

You can always ask politely but presumably they had a reason to move it and there was a cost. If they aren’t open to moving it you could look into some kind of sound proofing on your side?

You can ask but they can also refuse or request you pay for the removal, reinstall and patching up seeing as you’re the one bothered by it

I’m obviously not paying for it that is a weird response. I’m more asking if there is anything I can do legally. About the noise levels ?

You need planning permission to put them in certain places, check that first.

I don’t think they have that as I looked it up.

I think you can do it in circumstances under permitted development.
its just annoying because the developer put it on the other side probably for this reason of the noise and distance from the boundary and they have paid to move it next to my house. I think it’s a bit selfish really but I’m not sure if I can do anything.

You can start by talking to them. Then check other avenues. More formal avenues may result in an awkward relationship with the neighbours, so it depends if you mind that.

I presume they have paid to get it moved there so not sure what talking will do. It’s pretty annoying I don’t want to be difficult but in away it’s them making things difficult not me.

Have they moved it further away from their bedroom? Maybe the noise was annoying them.

Worth looking at the planning to see whether the developer was required to place it in the original position for precisely this reason.

Another route could be a complaint to the council if it constitutes a noise nuisance.

This is quite helpful: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/noise-nuisances-how-councils-deal-with-complaints#other-ways-councils-can-deal-with-noise

I might start by talking to the planning dept

1. Does the planning consent state where heat pumps have to be located
2. There are various rules about heat pump positioning depending on where you are

If neither of these apply then its a noise issue

Also there can be issues about how its used - they are better if running continuously

Is it at least one metre from the property boundary? Air Source Heat Pump: Space, Size & Location Requirements

42 decibels limit. Get it checked-

Agree (as someone involved in planning). Ring your local authority planning department for advice.
I'm surprised it was relocated such. Normally the air pump firms would advise against poor situations.

We didn't get a heat pump because they said due decibels we'd need the neighbours permission and once we found out how loud it would be (40db) we didn't feel it was fair to even ask.

It looks like the one metre rule was removed last year, maybe that is why they moved it because they couldn't have it installed in the new place originally

Yes this is what maybe happened

How narrow is this funnel?
My last house we had the heat pump immediately outside the downstairs bedroom window, in a 6ft wide 'alley' and i never got disturbed by the noise.

from my boundary about one meter approx. about 2m from my house ; one m on my side and one m on their other side . It’s loud in my garden and in my garden path which I use a lot , and sitting in my garden rather than inside . I don’t know if that counts but it’s annoying. Is it aloud on new builds to move the pump? I measured it on an app and the app was saying about 50 dcb but I don’t know if that’s accurate also it feels louder. So
annoying

The Heat Pump Company may well advise - and its not a good location for other reasons but at the end of the day if the owners pay then they will do it

42 decibels is the law. So you can feel confident in complaining.

People in the next road, so a good 50 yards from my house, installed one in March. The low frequency humming, transmitted through the ground and house structure, is driving me mad. I feel your pain.