Neighbours upstairs removing carpet

honey9

We live in a maisonette with share of the freehold (our upstairs neighbours have the other share). Our neighbours are lovely people however they are currently doing a big renovation and seem to hape taken out all the carpets in their flat. Even when they're not wearing shoes it is really loud - their staircase is particularly bad as it's enclosed so acts like a speaker.

We did have a word with them about the noise from above a while back as they stay up late and although they don't play music or have the TV loud we can still hear them talking, walking around, tapping their fingers on the table, flushing the loo and also more intimate stuff which I'm sure they wouldn't want us to hear. They can surely hear us too? They were really apologetic and explained they'd be putting in carpets, but all that's happened is more and more old carpet has been thrown out and no new carpet put in!

We like our neighbours and obviously being joint freeholders don't want to fall out with them but it can get quite intrusive sometimes especially late at night - even though they're just going about normal life and not being thoughtless (except perhaps in taking out the carpets). This has been going on for 3 months now, since we moved in - how long does it normally take to do a renovation in a small 2-bed flat? If they don't put carpets in can we point out the clause in both of our copies of the lease about not causing annoyance and discomfort to the other neighbour?

I really wish people would think before taking out their carpets, I don't think it's occurred to them that they have just removed all their soundproofing.

edinburgher

how long does it normally take to do a renovation in a small 2-bed flat?

Maybe they ran out of money?

I really wish people would think before taking out their carpets, I don't think it's occurred to them that they have just removed all their soundproofing.

I feel for you - it's a real pain in the backside having to hear every aspect of your neighbours' lives - I've experienced it several times myself and my brother nicknamed one of his old neighbours 'Fred Astaire' for the noise he made sans carpets

JQ.

Sorry, I'm not going to provide solutions - but in answer to the how long does it take quesiton. It can take a hardworking dedicated couple 6 weeks to do a really good renovation, it can take other 6 years.

My wife hated our stairs carpet, but I refused to remove it as I know we were planning to have some significant building works done to the first floor in 12 months time. She just ripped out the old carpet in one night after a few glasses of wine. We then had no carpet on the stairs for the next 18 months.

Have you checked you lease, whether it mentions the requirement for carpet upstairs?

honey9

It doesn't actually mention carpet specifically unfortunately, just that no one should cause annoyance and discomfort to the other party. They seem really nice so we will have to hope they're not too self centred about it.

princeofpounds

You will have to address this directly. For all you know they are planning wooden floors. Leases often prohibit non-carpeted upstairs floors but the clause about annoyance and discomfort gets you most of the way there.

First step is the friendly approach. You have to speak to them, make them aware of the problem and ask what they are intending to do (in general terms first, then about the problem). I know what it is like and the way these sounds amplify, but often people don't understand if they have never experienced them so will need to be shown.

JQ.

When you have the chat with them, make sure you emphasise that you can hear "everything" - that should scare them into a bit of action.

honey9

When we brought it up with them they did say they were planning on getting carpets. I don't know if they were just saying that. I'd be really surprised if they didn't at least carpet the stairs, hallway and bedroom.

I can see why they want rid of the old carpets, what they've been chucking out is really dated! - I don't want to nag them about it though (I'm too British for my own good!)

bobthedambuilder

JQ. wrote: »

When you have the chat with them, make sure you emphasise that you can hear "everything" - that should scare them into a bit of action.

Either that or they'll come onto you ...:eek:

walletpains

I know exactly what you're going through. The new owners of the flat above me have put down cheap laminate flooring and they've got two toddlers... I now wear headphones or earplugs for most of the time I'm at home!

Maybe you could politely enquire about how the refurb is going and start from there? You need to build on the fact that you're on good terms with them... Unlike my lot who are quite unfriendly.

If you plan to continue living there, you need to try and keep it friendly. Personally, I would buy them a carpet before I considered taking legal action.

BitterAndTwisted

Talk to them again, in as friendly a fashion as you can muster. Ask one of them to pop down and have a listen while the other walks around and possibly flushes the lav. I would most definitely mention that their private moments are also being shared with strangers.