Laminate Wood Flooring and the Law

DJM_4

Not really a money saving question, but I don't know where else to find such esteemed and knowledgeable people [grovel smiley required] And moderators, please feel free to put this wherever the hell I should've put it in the first place.

The flat above me has laminate wood flooring in the hallway and kitchen, and yes you guessed it, it's very noisy when people enter the flat and use the kitchen.

Now I remember seeing a news item on the BBC (I think) some time ago, and it was talking about this very same problem. However, I can't remember what it said with regards to the rights of those who are affected by noise transference due to this.

I do own my flat and as such it makes me a member of the Limited Company that runs the building. The flat above is currently on the market and not occupied at present, and I know that some of you would suggest approaching whoever buys the property to sort out the problem the grown up way. However, in reality, they're unlikely to be inclined to remove what is new laminate wood flooring and replace with carpet. So I need to prepare for when it gets serious. Forwarned is forarmed and all that.

Any ideas folks?

DJM_4

I have know found this excellent website: -

http://www.nfh.org.uk

And I'm off to examing the lease very carefully.

g33za

It could be that the underlay is inadequate, i think a layer of the wood fibre board specially for laminate is all that is needed.

Mr_Skint_2

Tell them someone died on the wood flooring, they might replace it then.

lush_walrus

It definately is a lack of underlay, as it is transmitting impact sound down to you. With regards to where you stand with the law, I dont know. Building Regs cover new build's extensions and as such they have requirements for acoustic insulation especially between flats. But as this is outside of that, I dont know.

Personally, I would approach the person who owns the flat now and try to reason with them. I'm sure the flooring would have been the cheapest around, and I personally would be inclinded to offer them the money to relay it with adequate insulation, such as mentioned fibre board.

Wait and see what others say first though as it may be you have legal standing but as far as I know the decebel count has to be higher than the sound of people walking above for action to be taken.

DJM_4

OK, well thanks for your help all. Just to let you know I found the Neighbours from Hell in Britain website (url above) to be very useful, and also the http://www.lease-advice.org website. As the building is leasehold we are all bound by the terms and covenants of the lease and it is incumbent on all leaseholders (in the guise of the management company) to observe and enforce these if necessary. In addition to this as a leaseholder the law entitles me to the right of peaceable occupation or 'quiet enjoyment', as it were. So I'm going to proceed on that basis, sending a friendly letter in the first instance to explain all of this in more detail, with a copy sent to their estate agent of course.

I don't believe people should be allowed to put wood laminate flooring in flats anyway, underlay or no underlay. And seriously! Offer them money to relay it with adequate underlay? You gotta be joking! I dunno, Blair's Britain eh? Perhaps I should send them on a holiday aftewards to get over it too. :rotfl:

tonyivb

In our block of flats the terms of the lease specifically states that floors must be carpeted (on all levels execpt the ground floor).

Your flats may well have a similar clause, and if so the owner of the flat has breached the terms of the lease.

If they are selling up then I would get the Management Company to serve a notice on them straight away, and possibly CC it to their Solicitor.

We are currently selling our flat and we have to declare that we have got the proper permissions for any alterations and disclose ANY notices that have been received from the Landlord. I would imagine that the Solicitor would then advise their client that there could be a problem selling the flat without this issue being resolved.

Good luck!