Soundproofing, neighbours complaining.

sonypc100

Hi

We own a first floor flat, and the flat directly under is a rented out via the owner/landlord of that flat.

Weve had a few tenants who have never complained about noise, but the latest tenants have complanied twice (both before 10pm, when we have been watching the TV) and we want to know where we stand.

Ive downloaded an app to my iphone, yes I know it wont be 100% accurate! and it reads between 60 and 70 decibels of tv noise.

Looking online it seems 40 decibels is the recommend amount of noise a neighbour should hear.

So we have 70, the question is if 30 decibels are lost between our flat and theirs as the sound travels from our floor through their ceiling.

However there is no sound proofing between the flats. Although I accept we should keep our volume at a "sensible" level I also feel its fair that the flat that is complaining at least has a basic level of sound proofing to stop our noise going through.

If the neighbour/tenant complains anymore should we direct them to their landlord and say the issue is down to no sound proofing and this should be rectified by the landlord in the first instance.

I feel that unless soundproofing is installed then they will always have noise from us, even if our volume is low.

Thanks!

Rich

ROY47

sonypc100 wrote: »

Hi



Ive downloaded an app to my iphone, yes I know it wont be 100% accurate! and it reads between 60 and 70 decibels of tv noise.

Looking online it seems 40 decibels is the recommend amount of noise a neighbour should hear.

So we have 70,

If the neighbour/tenant complains anymore should we direct them to their landlord and say the issue is down to no sound proofing and this should be rectified by the landlord in the first instance.


Thanks!

Rich

i would say turn your t.v. down you admit your level is over the 40 allowed ,how do you reckon 30 is lost from you to them ?

sonypc100

Well it peaks at 70 if we watch a DVD and put the surround on etc, but I would say regular tv watching would be around 50.

How do I reckon its lost? Well it has to travel from our tv, to our floor, under our floor, into the void, through their ceiling and into their ears! No im not a sound scientist, but if Im in one room and my wife is in another watching tv, then I dont hear it as loudly as she does.

Hence why when someone is stood 10 feet away from you, you talk louder to them than if they are 2 feet away from you, surely???!

I didnt say it was lost, I said the question is if 30 decibels are lost or not - Im unsure of the amount that is lost.

sonypc100

Also, lets say a landlord creates 2 flats by splitting 1 bigger flat into 2 with a thin partition wall. Surely there should be an appropriate level of sound proofing, other wise most noise from each flat would be heard by the other tenant, even if the other tenant was keeping the noise at sensible levels.

If there was adequate sound proofing and the neighbour still complained I would have more sympathy.

ROY47

Surround sound systems can be a pain in the preverbial

When they first came out my neighbour (late 70's semi ) had one

We suffered for hours with the racket from it with a new baby in our place until I asked him one night to come in to my place and listen to his tv

he looked at me daft ,but came round to listen to it

He was amazed at how much we could hear , try it with your neighbour below ,you may find out is loud to them .

don't know how relevant this is now

http://www.propertylawuk.net/neighbouringnoises.html

sonypc100

Thanks Roy - interesting link.

Homersimpson

A commercial fire alarm system emits a minimum noise level of 60-65dBA. In areas where a persion is sleeping its 75dBA. A difference of 3dBA doubles or halfs the noise.

At 70dBA with an uninsulated floor it must sound terrible below you, how about some thick underlay and lifting any speakers off the floor?

PasturesNew

You deaf old sods.

vaio

go downstairs with your phone & take a reading?

In terms of sound proofing, there is standards as part of the building regs but they are not retrospective, if the readings downstairs are high then it could be considered statutory nuisance and if so you would be ordered to abate it which would involve either turning the TV down or installing sound proofing yourself

If it is loud down there you might consider approaching the other owner with a view to splitting the costs between you

sonypc100

ok - might have given you a duff reading above!

I just tried the iphone decibel reader with the room silent and it was reading at 40 decibels!

...so I dont think 70 was an accurate reading.

amcluesent

> and put the surround on etc<

Sub woofer? That'll go right through walls/floor etc. and be a right bu**eration to the neighbours.