If you are moving in as a new resident – Welcome to GOW Triangle Community.

This section is intended to help you settle in. For some it will be the first time you have lived in a traditional tenement, so we have included some helpful pointers.
Other information is specific to living round GOW backcourt.

If you have any questions that are not covered here, please call us on 0141 339 6609 or email gowcommunity@gmail.com

What does GOW do?

We work for the physical and social improvement of our community. One of our main interests is the upkeep of the shared backcourt. We try to make this a harmonious place to live and provide information for residents to help make living here easier.

Moving In

Please do not be shy and introduce yourself to your neighbours. Swap telephone numbers so that if there is an emergency or the need to make contact you can. If flats are rented it is good to obtain the landlord/agent’s number. (Important for problems such as leaks/break-ins when your neighbours are on holiday) or ask for another contact number.
If your close has a factor, note their number. (See list of factors here)

Golden Rules for Tenement Living

The guideline for living in a tenement building is :

Neither your lifestyle or anything you do, day or night, should encroach on the homes of your neighbours.

Noise

A lot of neighbour disputes are because of noise. We live within solidly built tenements, with thick walls and ceilings but sometimes noise does carry. If you can hear, music, televisions, voices etc. then the sound made is at an unacceptable level and you are within your rights to ask that the noise cease.

Other noise issues :

• Don’t run washing machines after 10pm at night
• Be aware that your neighbours’ flats beside and below you often have a different layout from your flat (kitchen may be above a bedroom, bedroom may be beside a security door).
• Slamming doors including internal fire doors can be very disturbing.
• Noise can carry easily in closes, so keep voice levels down when you are coming or going from the flat especially at night.
• The hours your neighbours keep may differ from your own. Some people work shifts / work early in the mornings / late at night etc. Please respect this

How deal with noise nuisance

1. TALK to your neighbour(s).

2. Be polite – your neighbour(s) may simply be unaware that their music/TV/voices are too loud, Normally a polite request to tone down the noise is all it takes.

3. If the noise persists or occurs at another time, approach your neighbour(s) again. However many times you do this before taking further steps is a personal choice, as we realise that everyone has different tolerance levels. (While still being mindful that if you can hear your neighbours and it’s disturbing you, it’s not acceptable.)

4. Call the Glasgow City Council Noise Nuisance team. This is especially important for serious and persistant/re-occuring noise nuisance. The team logs each complaint so if landlords/agents need to be contacted to take action against their tenants, there is a record. Noise Nuisance from owner occupiers should be reported in the same way as well as to the Police.

Also log your own instances of noise – any council teams/Local Police working on your behalf will be able to help more efficiently with times and dates.

5. If your neighbours are tenants and you know who their landlord/agent is – call them to lodge a complaint. If the flat is an HMO, they should be keen to help, as their HMO licence may be revoked if they don’t deal adequately with complaints against their tenants.

6. If you have taken all the suggested steps and are still experiencing noise nuisance, call GOW on 0141 339 6609 or email us at gowcommunity@gmail.com.

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Noise Nuisance : 0141 287 6688
Local Police : 0141 532 3500
The Noise Nuisance team also has an out of hours service, however they will only respond to calls up to 2.30am, thereafter they direct you to call the Police.
(They also don’t deal with noise outside of private dwellings, for this type of noise, call either the Police or the council Ant-Social behaviour Line : 0800 027 3901)

Rubbish & Recycling

For information on rubbish and recycling, including bulk items, click here.

Broken Lighting/Security Doors

If you have a factor, call them to report any damage to the internal fabric of the close, broken lighting or security doors if you have them. See ’security’ below.

Security

To avoid theft and break-ins KEEP YOUR CLOSES SECURE. If you have bikes, keep them locked at all times.
Let your neighbours and the Police know if you see any suspicious activity.

GOW Backcourt

The backcourt is for all residents of GOW to enjoy. We are lucky to have a small green oasis of calm within a busy city. Several years and many volunteer hours have been spent bringing it up to the current standard from an overgrown dumping ground.

• You are welcome to use disposable BBQs, but please don’t place them directly on the grass, benches or near foliage. You can hire the communal BBQ for £5. (The cash goes towards keeping the backcourt well maintained.
  
• Please don’t play football or cricket here – it damages the plants and balls bouncing off the walls can be heard in all garden facing flats. Windows have been broken in the past. Sports facilities are available nearby in the park.
  
• Please keep noise to a respectful level as it is a communal area used by people with very differing lifestyles, a suggested time for noise to stop is 10.30pm during the week and midnight at weekends.
  
• Clean up after yourselves. Please don’t litter the area with cigarette butts.

Get Involved !

If you like living here and using the backcourt, why not get involved ?