Can I sue HA for noise from neighbours?

scooby75

Obviously some people have not read myposts or just chose to ignore them, and I have missed one or two details out.

Yes, I have I am trying to move, but seeing as most of my money is spent on petrol getting to and from work, it's taking a while to save the money for a deposit and first month rent (and please PLEASE do not make suggestions about not driving, car sharing etc - just accept it as I hate going off topic).

Have tried house swap - been on for a year and only one match in terms of location only and I'm not being fussy on it either.

As for soundproofing my home - with what? If I could afford soundproofing then I'd be able to afford to move.

As for the point about kids being kids, I'm sure they are and I have no problem with the neighbours or kids. I DO have a problem with being able to hear everything from the neighbour. I've not had an uninterrupted nights sleep since they moved in because of their child waking up and bawling three times a night. Please get it into your heads that I am complaining about hearing the noise, not the fact that noise is made.

As for what I want to achieve, well. I think I'm entitled to peace of my home (which I am certainly not getting) and not have to hear noise so loud it's as though it is coming from the next room (it is seriously that bad).

I'm looking to get the HA to pay for my expenses for having to move out if they are not willing to pay for soundproofing. I'm not looking at massive amounts of compensation, only that they acknowledge the property is not suitable as two separate homes and do something about it - ideally give me just enough money to move the hell out.

To answer a couple of other questions - I'm in my 30s, it is a HA I rent from.

And Credit_Jake, much as I am willing to accept other people's opinions even if I disagree with them, I would rather people have some idea of what they are talking about before making comments of ignorance that I am sure are unworthy of you.

shegirl

You want to sue the housing association because your property isn't soundproofed? Get real! You would be laughed at.

If you can't tolerate the noise then you need to move.If you aren't having much luck on exchange sites (you should be having more than one match if you use the main one,I know my dad had 250!) then you need to widen your search.You can't expect everything you desire on a plate,unfortunately.

I understand how irritating the noise is though,although I doubt it's as bad as the noise I have to put up with.I have a terraced house and the walls are so thin I can hear everything on both sides.A lot of it is normal day-to-day noise but at a level we shouldn't have to hear.I can hear loud gushing through the walls when washing machines are on (and I mean loud!I can hear it throughout the house),the spinning,the kitchen cupboards being closed,the neighbours practising their babymaking skills:eek::rotfl: One side is just that -the normal stuff but hugely amplified sound.The other side are an absolute nightmare with constantly screaming toddlers (up to 8 hours a day in total),screaming parents (the other night I had 20 minutes of the mother screaming at the 18 month old for wetting the bed 'you disgusting !!!!!!!,do you want to be like a baby and wear nappies,clean yourself now,you're a disgusting little baby),barking dog driving me insane,tumble dryer waking me up at 5 in the morning,music I can hear every single word of no matter where I am in the house.

My son is severely autistic and it's seriously affecting him so we've been looking for a detached property as we can never assure the peace he needs otherwise.The super noisey neighbours have been reported to social services but even if something was sorted we'd still have noise from them anyway.It's a shame really as we have lovely river and valley views

Anyway,if you're not happy with it the onus is on you to improve your own situation.

A lot of people round here seem to be doing that,it's a mix of privately owned and HA houses that were snapped up as ex MOD and sold super cheap.Most who own are desperately trying to sell as we all suffer from the paper thin walls!

kiki*_2

I still don't think HA will do anything. Do you have any proof other than your say, that it isn't suitable? Although you don't think it is I'm sure they could easily house someone else there. Hence why they won't give you anything.

I would suggest ear plugs at night if it's that bad!

thegirlintheattic

You can sue but your chances of getting anything is minimal.

If you believe that the noise levels in your property are damaging your health then contact Environmental Health.

knightstyle

The trouble with HA flats is that they are built down to a price so soundproofing is minimal. They also put softwood windows and the cheapest kitchens in, with electric heating, no gas, no maintenance and then they have to replace windows, kitchens and put in gas heating when the building is 7 years old. Do they get a grant for that?
I know, DD is in one.

Wee_Willy_Harris

knightstyle wrote: »

The trouble with HA flats is that they are built down to a price so soundproofing is minimal. They also put softwood windows and the cheapest kitchens in, with electric heating, no gas, no maintenance and then they have to replace windows, kitchens and put in gas heating when the building is 7 years old. Do they get a grant for that?
I know, DD is in one.

I think that is a rash generalisation. Many of the more modern social housing units are leading the way in terms of fit, quality and energy efficiency. I think you will have more luck finding properties built to a price in the private sector.

Humphrey10

I know I can't stand hearing noise from neighbours or housemates, so I choose not to live in a flat or mid terrace house or share a house. Simples.

Errata

knightstyle wrote: »

The trouble with HA flats is that they are built down to a price so soundproofing is minimal. They also put softwood windows and the cheapest kitchens in, with electric heating, no gas, no maintenance and then they have to replace windows, kitchens and put in gas heating when the building is 7 years old. Do they get a grant for that?
I know, DD is in one.

Private and public housing flats are being built with no gas supply for safety reasons.

knightstyle

But last year they replaced all the windows and kitchens plus they took out the, always going wrong, expensive to run, electric heating and put in gas and central heating with a combi boiler! The windows were rotten as they had only ever had undercoat on them! Oh the flats were built in 2003.

scooby75

shegirl wrote: »

You want to sue the housing association because your property isn't soundproofed? Get real! You would be laughed at.

If you can't tolerate the noise then you need to move.If you aren't having much luck on exchange sites (you should be having more than one match if you use the main one,I know my dad had 250!) then you need to widen your search.You can't expect everything you desire on a plate,unfortunately.

I understand how irritating the noise is though,although I doubt it's as bad as the noise I have to put up with.I have a terraced house and the walls are so thin I can hear everything on both sides.A lot of it is normal day-to-day noise but at a level we shouldn't have to hear.I can hear loud gushing through the walls when washing machines are on (and I mean loud!I can hear it throughout the house),the spinning,the kitchen cupboards being closed,the neighbours practising their babymaking skills:eek::rotfl: One side is just that -the normal stuff but hugely amplified sound.The other side are an absolute nightmare with constantly screaming toddlers (up to 8 hours a day in total),screaming parents (the other night I had 20 minutes of the mother screaming at the 18 month old for wetting the bed 'you disgusting !!!!!!!,do you want to be like a baby and wear nappies,clean yourself now,you're a disgusting little baby),barking dog driving me insane,tumble dryer waking me up at 5 in the morning,music I can hear every single word of no matter where I am in the house.

My son is severely autistic and it's seriously affecting him so we've been looking for a detached property as we can never assure the peace he needs otherwise.The super noisey neighbours have been reported to social services but even if something was sorted we'd still have noise from them anyway.It's a shame really as we have lovely river and valley views

Anyway,if you're not happy with it the onus is on you to improve your own situation.

A lot of people round here seem to be doing that,it's a mix of privately owned and HA houses that were snapped up as ex MOD and sold super cheap.Most who own are desperately trying to sell as we all suffer from the paper thin walls!

Sorry, but this is definitive proof of what I said in my last post.
You have made a number of assumptions out of thin air.

Anyway, as it is, I have eventually got an EH officer round who said she cannot believe how much noise comes through after hearing it for herself.

I'll wait to see what happens and let you know.