I was forced to leave my flat as my neighbours didn’t like the noise

A musician says she feels ‘betrayed’ after being forced to leave her flat because her neighbours didn’t like the noise.

Fiona Fey, 35, from South London, decided to move out of her flat after she was served a council noise abatement notice by Lewisham council in April.

She said the complaint came when she would practice playing the piano and the guitar, as well as singing while she recorded various projects for her pop bands.

But now the music tutor lives with friends and has had her possessions moved into storage.

She told MyLondon:  ‘I stopped playing the piano in October because my neighbours said it was too loud. Since then I played on three occasions and my downstairs neighbour started thumping on my door very aggressively. I called the police. It doesn’t sound violent just thumping, but it’s really scary.’

Fiona Fey, 35, from South London, says she feels betrayed after being forced to leave her flat because her neighbours didn’t like the noise

Fiona said she stopped playing the clarinet after she received complaints, which she says has had a detrimental affect on her playing ability

Fiona said she regularly practised a low whistle of only 80 decibels and even stopped playing the clarinet, which she says has had a detrimental affect on her playing ability. 

However, she admitted to singing in her flat, but says it was predominantly guitar playing and finger plucking which she thought to be very quiet.

Fiona then described an intimidating visit from council representatives that she says left her feeling ‘betrayed’ and treated like a criminal.

Fiona explained the visit went awry the moment council reps entered her living room. 

She said: ‘I felt so betrayed, ganged up on, angry and upset. The council treated me like a criminal. Representatives show you their badges, they were really serious. I smiled and let them in being chatty and jokey, but they said, “We’re not here to make friends, it’s serious official business”.’

She said both officials refused to take a seat and declared they were not there to make friends.

She claimed they spoke to her at the same time while simultaneously declining to let her get a word in – which she said left her feeling even more upset.

Fiona said she felt ‘betrayed, ganged up on, angry and upset’ after a visit from Lewisham council

Fiona has been a professional musician for 10 years and is a member of two pop bands

Fiona added there was no longer a reason to live in the flat, because it would be a waste of money for a place she couldn’t play music in. 

The musician of 10 years used to teach piano lessons to students four days a week after school, while during the day, she’d practice and record various music projects. 

However Lewisham Council – who say they attempted mediation between the musician and her neighbours – claim it was Fiona’s father that had asked his daughter to move out.

A council representative stated that a telephone call with Mr Woodward, the leaseholder of the flat, on April 5, confirmed that he had asked his daughter to vacate the property. 

The rep added that Mr Woodward confirmed there had been a family falling out with his daughter and he was unable to control her behaviour. 

The council says they’ve received written confirmation from him which also states he is planning to sell this property. 

A spokesperson for the authority said: ‘We have been aware of noise issues at a residence since November 2022 involving loud music, playing of instruments and singing, resulting in numerous complaints.’

‘We celebrate the musicality and creativity of our borough and recognise people’s right to play an instrument in their home. We only intervene when we receive complaints and always try to resolve these amicably, which is balanced and can include mediation.’

‘We do not rely solely on just neighbour complaints which is why a professional witness was sent in February to establish the extent of the problem.’

‘The report from this professional witness confirmed that the music from the residence was audible within the complainant’s home and was at an unreasonable level.’

‘It is very rare that these sorts of situations end up with enforcement. Normally mediation can resolve the situation with a more amicable neighbour agreement involving practice time agreements and some balance.’