Renting Questions

guitaristanime

Hi there,
Just a few questions regarding the end of my current lease and moving into a different property.

Currently I'm renting privately from a LL, the living situation is terrible in that there is NO insulation between flats vertically. I can hear everything including whole conversations.
I understand there is no legislation at all that forces LL to provide sound proofing, however does this not breach the part of my contract that entitles me to quiet enjoyment of the premises. Currently a new couple that have occupied the flat above me, they retire at around 11pm-1am and get up at 3-5am (how anyone has such little sleep is beyond me, it's killing me personally) on waking up they do the usual morning 'routine' if you get what I mean, talk for an hour and then go off to work around 6-6.30am. This means I am only getting around 3-5 hours sleep a night and has become unbearable as I am a light sleeper anyway.

If I was to write to the LL, and he was to not agree to solve the problem (or not solve it at all) where would I stand with ending my lease if still within the 6 month initial term?


My second question, looking to move out I found an ideal flat, however the LA wanted £350 just for the administration. This, to me, seems completely unreasonable... does anyone have any suggestion or opinions on that?


Many thanks from a sleep deprived guy,
GA

BitterAndTwisted

The only way you can end a tenancy within the fixed-term is by mutual agreement with the landlord. I cannot see any way that you can compel them to make any repairs necessary to improve the sound-insulation. In the meantime I suggest you buy some earplugs and prepare for your onward move.

Shop around and find an agent who charges lower admin fees. I suspect that the £350 includes a holding deposit and charges for referencing

prudryden

Nothing to add to the above - fairly much covers it.

ruggedtoast

guitaristanime wrote: »

I understand there is no legislation at all that forces LL to provide sound proofing, however does this not breach the part of my contract that entitles me to quiet enjoyment of the premises.
GA

Quiet enjoyment limits the landlords access to your property. It is nothing to do with actual sound levels.

may_fair

guitaristanime wrote: »

If I was to write to the LL, and he was to not agree to solve the problem (or not solve it at all) where would I stand with ending my lease if still within the 6 month initial term?

You cannot unilaterally end the tenancy/your liability for rent before fixed term expiry (unless the contract has a break clause). As ruggedtoast says, quiet enjoyment does not literally mean you're entitled to peace and quiet.

Read this link, on the subject of a House of Lords judgment which ruled that "a landlord is not liable to a tenant who is disturbed by the ordinary and reasonable activities of a neighbouring tenant because of inadequate sound insulation between the properties."

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

red_devil

I have the same and so will everyone else in my road. Walls are so thin you can hear alarm clocks, talking, chain flushing on the toilet, phone phoning.

its the way the houses were built.

guitaristanime

Thank you to everyone for the replies, all in all, this is the exact response I was expecting and a big thank you to may_fair that link at least provides with a) some reassurance that I'm not being petty and b) my hours of searching online can now come to and end.

I will prepare myself for another 2 months or so of restless nights.
Earplugs, headphones etc are of no use to me, I've tried and tested all methods but chemicals and I don't want to touch those!!

Thanks again everyone.