Problem with laminate floor above me

keystone

I'm just refurbishing a flat where the lease states that "thou shalt not lay wooden or laminate flooring in any flat above the ground floor without the specfic written permission of the management company" to counter this precise problem. Its becoming more and more common. Sounds to me like the Management Co just aren't interested in doing their job and only want to sit on their backsides and take your dosh.

Cheers

wtabby

Agree with you, but what can I do about it?

Chunks

This must be a nightmare for you. If your neighbour above won't cooperate (the old neighbour did with positive results) then you have to take some further advice.

Reading the clause you highlighted, since I have such flooring in my house (upstairs) I would say that laminate flooring can act to reduce sound if you have a good quality underlay. Without appropriate underlay, it being a hard surface, it conveys sound and adds new sounds (e.g. footfall on the flooring itself).

As has been pointed out, without a Db level specified in the relevant clause (which would allow you to test sounds levels in your apartment) it is difficult to prove the extent to which the flooring is absorbing or contributing to noise levels.

I attach a couple of links that might be of assistance. The second might be akin to a ‘no win no fee’ accident helpline (!) so caution is advised.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/WhereYouLive/NoiseNuisanceAndLitter/DG_10029682

http://www.noisedirect.co.uk/noisedirect.htm

I hope you can work something out.

cheers

Chunks

wtabby

Thanks Chunks, will have a look