How well do hamsters cope with noise?

[hammard]

This may seem like an odd question but me and my OH were considering getting a hamster for our flat. Unfortunately we have had some very noisy neighbours moved in upstairs (someone called the police on them yesterday but this didn't help) and we want to know if this would be a problem for the creature?
Any pet owners know the answer?

[Space Cadet]

We've had one for about a year (Gibbs) and also had some in the past.

Depends on what you mean by noise...

We're not particularly loud people, and don't have a big booming surround system for instance. Having said that, we don't tiptoe around the house either. Gibbs is an amenable little chap who on the whole kips through the day, and runs & runs in his (large) wheel at night.

We're softly spoken when we handle him because we don't want to spook him. Sometimes he wants to come out so we put him in his ball for 20-30 mins and he runs around the lounge, bumping into the 2 house bunnies if they're out at the time (they view him with suspicion and hop out of his way).
Give him a quiet corner and he should be fine (unless they're drilling dirty great holes in the walls for instance!).

One word of advice though, chuck away the tiny wheel you'll probably get with your cage and get a lovely big one so he's not bent backwards trying to run in it. Oh and don't get a wire wheel, you don't want his little legs going through the 'rungs'; get a plastic one with ridges in it.

[Veela Magnet]

Ooo, I have a spare hamster wheel! I originally got it for our rats but they were too big, and they have long since departed, so it's yours if you want it.

[hammard]

Originally Posted by Space Cadet

Depends on what you mean by noise...

Well the neighbours upstairs keep playing music loud enough that we can here all the lyrics throughout most of the day (and night) and make the windows shake. Despite complaints from the entire building and visits from the authorities they haven't stopped.

Just wondered if that would disturb a hamster too much (as It really annoys us!)

[Veela Magnet]

Wait, did I say "wheel"? I meant ball... It's about 16 inches in diameter

[hammard]

Originally Posted by Veela Magnet

Wait, did I say "wheel"? I meant ball... It's about 16 inches in diameter

Me and wife have different stances on hamster balls. I believe they are useful form of exercise, she considers them cruel. Thank you for the offer though, I may get back to you on it.

[runalong]

I would agree with HH there are more avenues about nuisance neighbours to follow and rather than resident's association try the company with the lease. There will be terms in it to review

[Takeshi Kovacs]

Originally Posted by hammard

Well the neighbours upstairs keep playing music loud enough that we can here all the lyrics throughout most of the day (and night) and make the windows shake. Despite complaints from the entire building and visits from the authorities they haven't stopped.

Just wondered if that would disturb a hamster too much (as It really annoys us!)

Get onto the council about that, and keep on at them. Every letter, every call, ask for a reference number "for the Residents' Association" - doesn't matter if there is such a group, just makes the council take it more seriously. If they are doing their job properly they should be seizing the neighbour's hifi etc. If they persist, there can be some rather steep fines. I've had some mates who've been on the other end of this, and it's quite hard to appeal.

[The Curious Orange]

I spent years with the **** upsatairs playing LOUD techno drum and bass crap through the ceiling at me, all hours, day and night. The fact is, if he's a private owner or tenant, there's nothing the Council can do, and as it's regarded as a civil matter, nothing the Police can do either. Plus anyofficial action you do take has to be disclosed when you come to sell the flat, effectively rendering your flat unsellable.

Fortunately he moved out, but not before shredding my nerves and my sanity to pieces. I really feel for you - noisy neighbours are the worst thing in the world, especially when you have to get up to go to work in the morning.

In my experience, hamsters cope OK with noise.

[Takeshi Kovacs]

I don't buy that, Curious Orange, there's a lot the council can do and it doesn't matter if they're private tenants, homeowners, council tenants or any other kind of people. It's a legal obligation and not a "civil matter". If you (or rather the council) has taken sucessful action, your flat certainly isn't unsellable.

(Assuming we're talking about the UK here)

The relevant legislation is The Noise Act (1996) and the Environmental Protection Act (1990). Your local council is legally obliged to investigate a reported noise nuisance, and if a nuisance is found, to issue an abatement notice. Under the Noise Act 1996, local councils must take reasonable steps to investigate complaints of noise between 11pm and 7am. Council officers can enter premises where there is noise beyond the prescribed levels and remove any equipment responsible for the noise.

Further to this, if the noise is considered a "breach of the peace" by the police - (provoking others to violence) then they'll get involved. Similarly, if the neighbours resist the council officers in their lawful duty, that's actionable.

I am not a lawyer. But I know people who make a lot of noise. They've lost tenancies, hifi's, PA systems, radios, computers, guitar amps, had fines levied and have spent time in police cells.

Get on to your council and don't take no for an answer. As I said, log every call, record names and reference numbers. If there's no action get on to your local councillor - some of whom can be arses but others take the concept of public servant very seriously.