question on flat above retail space

watchingmymoney

Hi I am hoping someone may have an answer to this...
I have been renting a flat located above commercial premises (a law office). The main problem is that the person (or persons) who has an office below my bedroom gets into the office between 6:30 and 7:15 daily and is generally quite loud about it (not just walking and banging things but often on the phone speaking quite loudly). I asked, shortly after I moved in almost 2 years ago, if they could please keep it down until 8 am (for the past 20 months I have worked mostly from home so do not have to be up that early all the time). There is no soundproofing between my flat and the office as my landlord informed me that legally he was not required to put any between a retail space and domestic space only between a domestic space and another domestic space (My flat was originally one large flat but was separated into two flats, mine and the larger upstairs flat, shortly before I moved in). Anyway my question is this, (I may also add people are usually in the office until 9:30-10 every night and the cleaner will often be there hoovering about at 11 pm!) is there normally something in a commercial retail space contract which specifies the "usual" retail hours when there is a domestic residence above? I was told by the letting agent when I viewed the flat that the it would be offices in the retail space and that they would keep "regular" business hours. I have had to put up with this continuing noise and interruption (and lack of sleep) plus they often leave the lights on, which shine directly into my bedroom (there is a glass roof area that my flat looks down into before it goes into that back office that my bedroom is above and no I can not move my bedroom as it is a 1 bedroom flat and the sitting room looks out onto a busy street). They are constantly slamming the door as well (they have an office in the building next door and must go out the door to get there) and I have to put up with the 4 to 4:30 am delivery of materials (newspapers? legal papers) that comes through every night Sunday night (technically Monday) through Thursday night (technically Friday morning) as it seems to be a service they get. Any help or advice will be much appreciated. Thank you.

poppysarah

Move.

It's either so cheap you shouldn't complain or you should pay the same for better.


Or you could ring the council's tenancy support team for help.

ILW

Move (again)

watchingmymoney

I wish I could move! The problem is that I am now working freelance so moving is impossible as I would have to show any new landlord an employer reference (as a freelancer I have several employers and no "set" salary as my income depends on project size and duration). The bank reference I would have to show is not a problem. Even my current landlord would, I think, give a reference (as I prepay all bills and rent though direct debit and keep the place pretty much spotless as I'm a bit of a clean freak). And no the rent isn't cheap (over 1100 a month for Zone 2 in NW London).
Thanks for the suggestion to ring the council tenancy support team. Do they have staff with legal knowledge about private tenancies? I thought they only advised council supported tenants.

helenjg

Have really loud sex during lunchtime.

That should get the message across that noise travels


You could also check out the building regs regarding flats above retail.

ILW

helenjg wrote: »

Have really loud sex during lunchtime.

.

Even better if you have someone with you.

pinkshoes

If you can't move, then a good set of earplugs would be a good investment.

I'd also go with the loud sex at lunch time... Or if you have no one to partake in the activity with, how about some irish dancing or tap dancing?

ILW

To Pinkshoes and Helenjg,
I am free at lunchtimes but cannot dance.

socrates

watchingmymoney wrote: »

Hi I am hoping someone may have an answer to this...
I have been renting a flat located above commercial premises (a law office). The main problem is that the person (or persons) who has an office below my bedroom gets into the office between 6:30 and 7:15 daily and is generally quite loud about it (not just walking and banging things but often on the phone speaking quite loudly). I asked, shortly after I moved in almost 2 years ago, if they could please keep it down until 8 am (for the past 20 months I have worked mostly from home so do not have to be up that early all the time). There is no soundproofing between my flat and the office as my landlord informed me that legally he was not required to put any between a retail space and domestic space only between a domestic space and another domestic space (My flat was originally one large flat but was separated into two flats, mine and the larger upstairs flat, shortly before I moved in). Anyway my question is this, (I may also add people are usually in the office until 9:30-10 every night and the cleaner will often be there hoovering about at 11 pm!) is there normally something in a commercial retail space contract which specifies the "usual" retail hours when there is a domestic residence above? I was told by the letting agent when I viewed the flat that the it would be offices in the retail space and that they would keep "regular" business hours. I have had to put up with this continuing noise and interruption (and lack of sleep) plus they often leave the lights on, which shine directly into my bedroom (there is a glass roof area that my flat looks down into before it goes into that back office that my bedroom is above and no I can not move my bedroom as it is a 1 bedroom flat and the sitting room looks out onto a busy street). They are constantly slamming the door as well (they have an office in the building next door and must go out the door to get there) and I have to put up with the 4 to 4:30 am delivery of materials (newspapers? legal papers) that comes through every night Sunday night (technically Monday) through Thursday night (technically Friday morning) as it seems to be a service they get. Any help or advice will be much appreciated. Thank you.

Did you manage to take a breath during all this typing?

Ste_C

£1100 for a 1 bedroom flat?!

Move, by hook or by crook.

Idiophreak

I've always thought it would be nice to spend my lunch hours learning to play the tuba