Flat Above Has Noisy Laminate Flooring - Any Advice

esc_2

Hello Jenner and morg-monster thankyou for your replies,

Yep had it out with the landlord so many times, fed up of it.

I haven't requested for rugs on freecycle, because i don't have any transport, but i could always ask and see if the person could kindly drop the rug off.

It sucks and i feel so guilty. I done the christmas card thing. I've even given him my landlords details and told him to take it up with him. We have talked and he has sed many times i know it is not our fault etc.

We don't have television license, i only let him watch one DVD a day, he sits quietly through that. I try to keep out the house as much as i can, but with the cold weather and illness it is difficult.

We have had builders in, the guys who fitted the laminate to see if it is fitted properly.. and apparently it is. The landlord said he would put carpets in, if the problem got worse. But now he thinks the neighbour is just bein a bit of a 'not nice neighbour.

dander

esc wrote: »

The landlord said he would put carpets in, if the problem got worse. But now he thinks the neighbour is just bein a bit of a 'not nice neighbour.

Could you talk to the management committee or whoever runs the block? There may well be a clause in the lease saying floors should be carpetted and they could send him a letter requesting he do it, rather than it being about the neighbour.

Hugbubble

pinkshoes wrote: »

Is it a converted flat rather than purpose built? I don't know any converted flats that allow laminate/wooden flooring due to the poor sound insulation between the floors.

Not true. I live in a conversion which has engineered wood flooring. Mind you, it was converted from a textiles warehouse so I think the floors/ ceilings might be concrete and very thick (the walls certainly are).

vivatifosi

I would also suggest speaking to the Management Company. I am a director of a resident's management company and most covenant breaches here are by tenants of rented accommodation because tenants often aren't informed of the covenants and indeed landlords often ignore them in order to rent the place out (along with making stuff up - such as "that's your allocated parking" when there isn't any).

We have politely written to ALL owners of rented accommodation and reminded them of each of the covenants that require upholding. We also added a polite paragraph that renters may be able to break the agreement if there is something in the covenants that they are not aware of and which restricts their enjoyment of the property (I'm not clear on the legal aspect of that, our managing agents handled the wording). It may be worth trying that where you are.

Beckyred

I have the same problem !! The flat upstairs has laminate flooring its only a studio must be difficult for two people. Think they are polish. Trying to get to sleep and being woken in the morning. Had words with them but the noise is getting worse. It will send me over the edge oneday! I have lived here 7 years, been trying to sell my flat for the past 3 years so depressing! Due to the recssion have not sold. Lovely area and flat near to Sutton coldfield in bham! Hopefully I will but out my misery soon. Just wish I could solve the wooden flooring problem, makes it worse that the guy who lived there 5 years ago said he did not bother to put any underlay down before he put the wooden flooring down as he was selling this!!! Though I have to suffer the consequences so unfair. Please help if you can

PasturesNew wrote: »

I hear everything from upstairs. I know her life. I know when she has visitors and how many, I know when she's er ... having a bit. I know she comes in at 2.52 when she's working the night shift.

I think she's got down a rug, so it's just the non-rugged areas.. but at nearly 3am when she creeps in until she gets in her flat, then walks about, she's not on the rugged part.

It's rented upstairs, this one's not as bad as the last one (last tenant was a noisy couple that would get up and clomp about from 5-8am and have visitors with 2-3 toddlers most weekends). Just hoping when this one goes he can't rent it again.

Easier than trying to solve it by contacting the landlord and getting them to do something. Although I might contact the agent when the tenant above moves out. I love a bit of problem avoidance. So much easier.

But the noise is unbelievable from an upstairs wooden floor. This is Barrett-built, late 80s.

Fire_Fox

Wax ear plugs rock.

property.advert

Even in a new build I bought one time there was a clause requiring the laying of minimum soundproofing below any wooden floor. We went for the best John Lewis had as it also provided a cushioning effect. They even had concrete floors.

[Deleted User]

has anyone looked at how old this thread is?

mustaph

We also suffer from noise following the refurbishment of the property above us. It is not that the (new) tenant is particularly noisy, but the laminate flooring appears to amplify everything and the sound of a young child running the length of the flat is extremely instrusive. We have written to the landlord twice and the freeholder has written once but no response to any of the letters. We have asked the tenant if they could possibly put down rugs to see if that helps, but the tenant refuses because they don't like rugs or carpets. We also get the bass from the television coming through as a vibrating buzzing sound which can be heard over our own television even when the sound is turned up above average. Footfall can even be heard in the conservatory which is external to any of the flooring in the flat above. We have only complained twice in over a year and each time the noise was excessive, enduring and was causing our ceiling to shake and the lightfitting swinging. Each time the tenant suggested we should try being more tolerant and then indulged in a tit for tat move by complaining about our dog barking (which it does, in short bursts if there is a knock on the door and which is verifiable by other neighbours - there is never continuous barking). It seems we have no recourse as the lease clause is a general one about not causing nuisance. In addition, we have been advised that if we try to enforce the clause and our successful we will probably have to pay for the carpet or soundproofing. It seems to me that the current desire for wood/laminate flooring as a lifestyle choice complete overrides the effect it has on people living below.

worried123

I was just having a browse and I know this thread is pretty old now however I had to comment.

Poor sound proofing and laminate flooring in flats has to be addressed. I feel that proper legislation should be brought out regarding all of this. Noise from neighbours literally can destroy peoples lives and it can cause stress induced illness. Nobody should have to live with other peoples noise strewn into their own home. It is a human right to live have quiet enjoyment of your own home. Why should peoples lives be made a misery so that other people can have the `latest fashion` on their floor....basically.

I have lived in a flat for two years where it literally feels as though i am living beneath a building site....horrendous noise. When they wash up it sounds like they are literally shovelling bricks on my ceiling - on every ceiling in my flat. It sounds as though they are literally dropping and dragging bricks on my ceiling. I can hear every single conversation.....the clump clomp of them walking around, can hear them using the bathroom, when they have their tv on, I can watch the same chanel without the volume. Doors being shut/slammed ricochet across the other side of my flat..............they have cheap, nasty, plastic laminate with absolutely no underlay.....and you want to run for cover when they have the audacity to hoover it. However, on contacting the landlors i am told there are no flooring policies in the tenancy agreement. However, it does state that you should not cause a nuisance to neighbours - so to my mind that it is the same thing. I truly do feel as though i live with my neighbours but merely never see them......

Anyway - sorry for the moan.