Anyone know much about neighbour noise complaints?

minibbb

I live in a small block of purpose built flats which date back to 1970 and are no very well built.

Ive lived here for five years and during this time have occasionally played music from my ipod dock without any problems or complaints and even checked with my neighbour next door and below who confirmed that it is not of a level which annoys them.

A new person has moved in on the ground floor flat (im second floor) and since then has complained twice about the noise, saying that the base (from a small dock) runs down through the outside wall and means he cant wait tv etc. Last night I was two minutes into a song at about half volume when I heard a massive bang on the wall downstairs. My neighbour below went to investigate and I could here the new neighbour effing and blinding about the music, saying he had complained to the managing agents etc. I went down to speak to him and he continued to moan saying how bad it was, I did point out i'd rather he comes and gives me a knock and ill happily turn it down rather than have all this hassle and bad feeling.

Im not really sure what to do, I cant see why I should live in silence having been fine for the last five years. He obviously expects 100% silence but its a block of flats so some noise will be heard. I did point out that i could hear his dog barking every now and then but happily tolerated it. After i'd spoken to him I spoke to the neighbour inbetween us who confirmed that the volume hadn't been an issue for him.

Is there a defined db rating for flat to flat noise? Failing that im wondering if cavity wall insulation in the external wall would nip it in the bud? When I changed my carpet last year I chose an underlay with good sound deadening qualities. Otherwise I play music infrequently and never particularly late.

Any ideas/ suggestions most welcome

anotherginger

There's no defined dB for flat to flat noise. Statutory nuisance legislation would be used to identify whether there was a problem or not, which would be based on the opinion of a council officer.

Next time I suggest you go into his property to hear it for yourself. If he's making a mountain out of a molehill he probably won't want you to go in there!

If you do go in I would also advise that you bring the other neighbour in as well for safety.

mikey72

Stand in his room and listen. Try moving the dock, just in case it's sitting somewhere where the bass is travelling through a solid part of the floor/wall.

panchenlama

get some headphones

Norman_Castle

Last night I was two minutes into a song at about half volume when I heard a massive bang on the wall downstairs

Your small ipod dock may be louder than you think. Does he complain about other noise, tv etc?

paulmapp8306

Noise transfere isnt always about pure volume. Low frequencies transmit a lot more than high (which is why he can hear the bass). Even normal listening volume can be loud once its travelled through a solid wall.

That said - if the volume isnt excessive (as deemed by a council official) OR at antisocial times (after about 10pm I think) there should be a big issue.

Personally Id try moving the doc, or EQ some of the bass frequencies out. I play guitar - and the sound downstairs in my kitchen is quite a bit louder than the music directly from the device i the upstairs room (particularly the bass as I say). The only way to be sure is arrange to put it on and then hear it from his POV.

Jaynne

The only way to be sure is to do a listening test, both him in your flat then what the volume is downstairs. There are volume levels at which the environmental protection officers are meant to take action, I think its 60Db which is about the level of a normal conversation.

You have to have paper walls or quite loud music to make that heard two floors down. Personally I think your neighbour is overreacting, we live in a semi with only 2 course thick solid brick walls and can hear a lot of music/TV. Unless it really is loud you learn to live with it or move to a detached property in the middle of nowhere.

Lavendyr

What others have said. I once lived in a house that had been converted into bedsits. The guy upstairs from me used to play music at random hours (e.g. v late at night/early in the morning) and I used to get woken up and disturbed. Finally I went to speak to him about it and got him to come down to my flat to hear how loud it was. He couldn't believe how much sound was travelling down from his room (it was incredibly loud, particularly the bass), and likewise when I went up there his music wasn't exactly turned up loud. He did turn it down after that thankfully - it's just that some buildings really are not insulated very well and sound can travel much more than you realise.

I'm surprised, that said, that it bothers him but not your neighbour immediately below. Does he get troubled by your neighbour's noise at all? Seems a bit odd.

minibbb

Thanks for the replies everyone, some v useful suggestions. Ive not seen him since the other day, nor have I really played any music!

Next time he complains I'll just have to go down and see how bad it actually sounds (if at all). I think his tolerence levels are just v low! I dont see why I should live a life of silence.

The neighbour inbetween has given up playing any music altogether now due to the new neighbour's moaning, way to make new friends eh!

Gloomendoom

How old id he?

As they get older, some people get more sensitive to low frequencies that are inaudible to most other people. I'm one of them.

Just going and listening yourself may not give you any idea how loud it sounds to him. However, I can't really imagine that an ipod dock could generate enough low frequency noise to be annoying.

paulmapp8306

Noone should have to give up listening to music - its a two way thing. you need to keep things to a sensible level - and he just has to live with a little noise. Reacting as he is, seems unrealistic. hes actually just as bad as people making excessive noise.

Might be worth contacting the council yourself, and get someone round to check on YOUR behalf. If they think it is acceptable - then you can tell him so next time he complains. If he still has an issue its for him to deal with (either putting up with it - or finding somewhere else to live). ont he other hand if it IS too loud - you will know and can take the necessary action. Doing it this way means is it IS too loud - nothing will happen to you as your seeking the advice. If HE calls someone in - and its too loud you could be in trouble.

Maybe I should move in next door - and turn my Marshall stack up, then hell know what noise is

Incidentally - that 60db thing is during SILENT hours (10pm to 6am), and is set at that level firstly because peopl ewould be expected to be sleeping (or want to sleep) and secondly because sound travells more at night. Outside those hours there is no fixed level as such - its up to the uindividual assessor. 80db isnt unrealistic during the afternoon for instance.