Adequate fire and sound proofing?

newbie2010

Please forgive me if I have posted this in the wrong place. Im not too familiar with this site but on viewing it I see some very good responses to peoples questions.

I live in the upstairs maisonette which, like the downstairs flat, is council property.
When my current neighbour moved in 2 years ago she ripped down the ceilings which were put in when the property was built (about the 50's) and replaced them with a basis plasterboard ceiling. The kind you only need to plaster the joins not the whole board. Then obviously a gap for the joists, pipes etc and then my floorboards.
Since she has carried this out the noise situation between us has got unbarable. I can hear a normal spoken conversation so when she shouts from one room to her partner in another or has an arguement with him it sounds like they are actually in my flat as I can make out every word. I also hear her tv, her washing up, and well everything that goes on in the bedroom!
They both sleep all day and come to life about 5pm then they are in and out from about 9pm to 3am then they 'enjoy' a film, food and pretty much anything else and this is waking me every night.
I do understand that 'some' noises will be picked up but if I can hear a normal spoken conversation then obviously she can too so I feel I have had my privacy violated.
I have an ongoing issue with Environmental Health as she kept playing music loud and with an amplified bass which vibrated like mad through my flat and she has now been served an abatement notice regarding this but when I contact the council regarding noise or fire issues they are passing me from depatment to department.
I recently contacted my local MP who spoke to someone at the council and they replied to him that is was 'adequate'. How they can judge this without carrying out any test I fail to see.
I have just put in an application for someone from my local fire department to contact me to see if I can get professional advice regarding the fire issue as we both have open fires and I feel a fire in one property will spread to the other before it spreads around the one the fire originated in.

So basically does anyone know the guidelines or who I can contact to try and get this resolved. I suffer a medical issue and the lack of sleep (or lack of being able to sleep when I am tired) is putting enormous strain on me and affecting my health dramatically.

many thanks in advance.

ormus

the rules and guidelines are very general and vague. and any new regs are not retrospective.
hence your replies.
the work done downstairs is a pretty normal way of renewing a ceiling in most houses. but i am surprised at the normal wooden floor construction of your building.
nearly all the maisonettes/blocks ive seen have used concrete floors. for fire safety reasons.

newbie2010

The downstairs flat does have concrete floors but not the upstairs. Also I went into my neighbours flat while the ceilings were down so I know what is between that and my floorboards.

The old ceilings were some sort of insulation board but how thick and if there was anything else I dont know. I have spoke to my two next door neighbours (up and downstairs) and they have no noise issues with each other at all. Plus when my previous neighbour was there she was a deaf old lady who always had her telly up loud. The neighbour that checked on her would often knock to ask if it was too loud and never did it bother me.

I just feel if repairs/alterations are made they should meet the same standard as to what was previously there.
Ok my loss by the sounds of it. Thanks anyway.

ormus

never mind the ground floor, i was meaning any/all inbetween floors.

as for the old ceiling, best practice says replace with the same or better.
however trying to enforce best practice, after the fact is very very hard.
impossible?


all i can suggest is to take up your floor and lay some rockwool insulation down.
and reinstall the floor.

newbie2010

I apreciate that but I am disabled and only receive a disability benefit. Ive already had to fit a kitchen and a shower as I cant get in and out of the bath as the council refused. Also I have carpet throughout and furniture. I would not only have to pay for material but for labour too. I dont feel I should given that I didnt do anything to cause the problem.

ormus

then all you can do is to write to the housing dept and complain.
write to your local councillor, and MP too. that sometimes works.
however the speed they work at, itll prob take 5/10 yrs to get anything done.

newbie2010

Thats as far as Ive got. I spoke to housing and they said it was an environmental issue. As I have had previous dealings with them I spoke to the guy I know and he said he can only monitor excess noise so to speak to housing. I then spoke to building control and they said nothing they can do. Oh and before all this I spoke to repairs and they said they dont carry that out.
I recently contacted my local MP who contacted the council only to be told 'The sound insulation in the properties is adequate in accordance with the required standards and Ms **** most recent complaints of noise nuisance, although inconclusive, have been recorded by the Environment Directorate and will be monitored accordingly.' NOTE: (An abatement notice has been served with regards to excess music and bass)

My next step is waiting to hear back from the local fire department to see if they can offer me advice then I guess its to a solicitor to get the legal issues explained to me to see if I can take this further.

Thanks again for your suggestions. It looks like Ive done the obvious then.

ormus

also try any disability charities, and age concern are very good, if youre old enough.

newbie2010

Not old enough for age concern but I would never have thought to try disability charities. Thank you for that.

ormus

do you have a social worker? sometimes they can be a big help.
any input from another professional can sway/frighten the housing dept.

newbie2010

I see my GP every 2 weeks and a specialist doctor every 6-12 weeks.They have ongoing notes from when I have complained about noise issues and both have said they will submit a report to anyone who (with my permission) requests one.