Neighbour has complained about my tenants!

PasturesNew

I don't think it's anything to do with them being Polish, I think this is a red herring the OP planted into the heads of readers in order to gain a mob behind her posting, to support whatever she said.

I think the issue is: noisy upstairs neighbours and kids on laminate flooring being even louder than the OP when they lived there.

I think the downstairs neighbour is probably in a living hell with noisy neighbours, the noise being mainly the fault of the OP's flooring choice.

poppysarah

Didn't the OP say they had issues with noise when he lived there

PasturesNew

poppysarah wrote: »

Didn't the OP say they had issues with noise when he lived there

The OP said the old fella downstairs had his TV up a bit loud (most old people do).

Personally, I live under a noisy laminate floor and when there's 2-4 people up there moving about (coming in/getting ready to go out/gathering things to leave), I've had to turn my TV up quite loud to be able to hear it over them.

barnaby-bear

PasturesNew wrote: »

The OP said the old fella downstairs had his TV up a bit loud (most old people do).

OP also said the floor insulation was so poo he could hear the DOWNSTAIRS neighbour PEE-ING!!! If the insulation is that bad - mice let alone two kids on inappropriate flooring like laminate must be hell to live BENEATH.....

shellshell

we live in purpose built block of flats. Unfortunately we have the pleasure of being first floor. one above and one below.
we have laminate flooring and three children our youngest is 3 months old so isnt a problem, however our other daughters are three and four. They run around and play as you would expect children to.
Our neighbours downstairs were constantly on our case, banging on their ceiling when ever our girls made too much noise.
One day whilst i was home alone with the children and a week over due with my youngest they banged at us after my youngest fell over and shortly after he was at my door. Despite being very imtimidated by a 6 ft something man standing there having a go saying "weve put up with it for long enough, make your kids be quiet" i stood my ground, and we reached an amicable agreement.
All shoes off when we get home, inform them when my friend and her children were coming around at least 24 hours before if possible, and they would keep their music down after 7pm (girls bedtime) and a few other things.
I do completely understand what they have to live with, our neighbour above has a 4 yr old, who seems to not have a bedtime and trots around all day and night, they also have some sort of drumming game for their xbox and laminate flooring. However they do inform us if they are having friends over.
Our flats are council built in the late 60's i believe, and they will not sound proof the flats.
My point is, (yes i will finally get there lol) children will be children. They make a lot of noise and although i find laminate very practical with children i.e spills and accidents easy to clean and stain free i do not think laminate should be in flats that are not properly sound proofed.
laminate does make properties look very nice, and to rip it up and carpet throughout may be an option but the rugs suggestion was a very good one, minimum spend and possibly a solution. How ever what i personally think is required where flats are concerned is a conversation. This can help solve any problems and prevent any disputes, i do appreciate that your tenants do not speak english but there must be some way that you can resolve the issue amd communicate with all parties involved.
When you live in a flat, imo its all about give and take.
I would also advise you to consider not putting children in a flat above ground level. I would hate to live under my children. You cannot keep children quiet and we are currently in the process of trying to move out. every one has a right to enjoy a quiet life.

huntersc

Just carpet the floor. Anyone in this day and age that insists on laminate flooring in an upstairs flat is being selfish.

Richard_Watson

Most of what I've read is a little wrong. I work in this area. The first question is: when were the flats built or converted? The building regulations may or may not have a minimum sound insulation requirement depending on the date of the work.

The Robust Details comment is wrong. They don't set standards. The government set standards, and these must be met. Robust Details are a few set construction types that satisfy the requirements for new build properties.

hethmar

Richard, Id be interested if you have professional knowledge. My son was given permission to lay laminate in his top floor flat (built 1990s). He has chronic asthma. No problems for 3 years until new person moved in below and she has non stop complained - even if there is no one in the flat at the time! He has laid underlay and carpet over the laminate now but she still complains and has demanded that the management company tell him he is in breach of the lease and must remove the laminate. The carpet fitter has assured son that in the circumstances he has done the best thing to eliminate noise. Do you know if the laminate has to be removed to ensure no noise? Currently he has thick underlay, laminate, underlay and carpet.

Richard_Watson

hetmar I cover a few of the issues here http://www.bluetreeacoustics.com/sound%20proof.html and here http://www.bluetreeacoustics.com/noisy%20neighbours.html but actually our book will be of more use to you http://www.bluetreeacoustics.com/books.html.

This is not straightforward. The date of the flats is important as different building regulations would be in place depending on date. June 1992 through to July 2003 has one version of the regs in place, before that it changes, after that it changes. It actually sounds like it isn't a building regs issue, more of a contract issue. You say the flat is leased there may be conditions relating to the use of laminate and this must be followed contractually. This is separate to building regs issues which deals with "does the sound insulation of the building meet the minimum standard". Assuming he does not bearch the lease, then the next step is to see if he is causing a nusicance. Generally, you can not be a [FONT=&quot]nuisance[/FONT] if you are going about your normal reasonable business. i.e. walking/talking/eating/cooking etc.

Jane_Cane

huntersc wrote: »

Just carpet the floor. Anyone in this day and age that insists on laminate flooring in an upstairs flat is being selfish.

That is so true. This thread was actually solved in the 2nd post, but the OP does not seem to like tha answer :rolleyes: