Help - loud generator on site

[Lindsey170]

"Potential for noise - You may hear the faint hum of a generator outside the cabin." In another place, they do mention that there is a generator that emits a low hum, 50m away, in a foam lined building, and that is the reality of living off grid. 

This "faint hum" is actually the sound of a powerful diesel generator that powers the community, and it is less than 20m from the cabin. It is a constant, 24h sound, and can be heard through the walls, kept us up at night, and makes being outside very 'not relaxing'. We've messaged the owner and let her know that we're unhappy, but wondering if there is anything else we should do to mediate the situation? We drove 1200km to be in a remote relaxing cabin, and payed quite a bit. The cabin itself is lovely, and the community is awesome, but we feel that it hasn't been represented accordingly.

Thanks for your help!

[Emiel1]

@Lindsey170 

20m is not 50m, so that is a big difference. Somebody is not able to measure distances correctly ;>)

Are there complaints about the noise in the reviews on the listing ? I assume other guests would not be pleased also. As you describe it there are no options to solve the problem (other then leaving whole community without power). So what kind of "mediation" do you have in mind ?

Best regards,

Emiel

[Lindsey170]

Thanks! There was another complaint made, but it was after we booked our space, and we didn't notice it until we got here and reviewed the listing again, as we were taken aback by the noise. 

The other reviewer also mentioned that they had some cute mice in the space, and the owner replied that they had been moved out. Unfortunately, we also woke up with a mouse IN OUR BED last night, LOL, so this is definitely a trip for the books. 

Honestly, this is such a remote location and we drove thousands of km to be here, so even a partial refund would be welcome. There really isnt anywhere else for us to go, however, we may rent a campsite out of the noise zone, if it stops raining anytime soon, lol. 

[Emiel1]

@Lindsey170 

Must be the same mouse, hiding for the generator noise too !

You can talk first to the host about the issues, maybe he/she can offer some alternative place for you to stay. Instead of cancelling maybe change (shortening) your stay is an option.

Best regards,

Emiel

[Lindsey170]

Just to update - we did receive a partial refund from our host, who were accommodating, and even offered to move us to another location on their bill. We decided to stay in the space, due to how close it was to the beach once it stopped raining (and the other space was shared, which we weren't excited about), so were satisfied with that solution. I am a bit worried that she asked us to NOT leave a review, and found out from some locals that there have been a number of others who have stayed and were angry about the noise, the mice, and the misleading terms referencing it as a relaxing place to unplug. It was not. So, we're feeling conflicted about the status of the review, since the hosts were actually very nice, and did try to make amends with us, but I would personally never stay there again, and left feeling like they weren't going to update the description.

[Ana1136]

@Lindsey170 to be fair, she has a warning about the noise so you probably won't be able to get a refund if that's what you want, unless the host wants to give you one which I doubt. The level of noise is subjective, some people are more sensitive than others. You could cancel and ask for a refund for the remaining days, there is nothing more that the host could do in reality. Maybe she can buy you some earplugs. 

[Emilia42]

I agree with @Ana1136. Level of noise is so subjective. I am one who would not be able to sleep without the constant noise. It is possible to sleep with a fan in the bedroom? That usually drowns out any outside noise. 

[Lindsey170]

Fair, but the noise could be clearly heard inside the house, through closed windows, with 32 dB earplugs in. This was not a matter of 'you may hear something faint' it was a matter of, how loud do you have to yell over the engine to hear your partner when you're standing on the front porch. It was not a 'relaxing place to unwind and get away from it all'. 

On the plus side, it was like having an industrial fan in the bedroom and once I put the earplugs in and could fall asleep, it worked the same as white noise. It just made being outside very very unenjoyable.

[Kenneth12]

@Ana1136 :  level is noise is not subjective;  it is measured in decibels.   Most phones today can download apps which measure and record.

[Ana1136]

@Kenneth12 the sensitivity to noise is subjective 🙂 

[Kenneth12]

@Ana1136 :  only to a fairly limited extent.    The physiological effects of noise are well-documented.   50db at night is not a "faint hum."

[Kenneth12]

Sounds like you have resolved,  but for further reference:

Document.   Download apps and record the noise,    both with video and decible meter.   

Take pictures of where the generator is and how far.    All these things may be critical if you have to deal with ABB CS and the Resolution center.

Noise is not that subjective and can be measured and documented in decibles.  If you're at 50+ decibles at night,  you have more than a "faint hum" by far.  If you're at 60,    you're past acceptible.