Having a Piano In Rented Accomodation

FabSascha

Hi Everyone,

My friend recently moved into a flat that's part of a large building that contains several flats, all of which are owned by the same landlord. She's studying music and plays the piano, but the landlord has said that she is not allowed to have a piano in the flat. He says he's spoken to the other tenants who have said they don't want her to have one there.

She's happy to be reasonable with her practice hours and will accommodate any restrictions, but I just want to check if he's allowed to tell her that she's not allowed a piano?

She hasn't had a chance to check her lease yet but when she does, is there anything specific she should look for? She'd obviously like to challenge this but I thought I'd come on here and see what everyone else thought?

FTBFun

It might be possible that there is a clause in the leasehold regarding noise (there is one in mine, for instance) which may be what they are worried about. I can't see what else there would be an issue on - if it was a guitar which you expect the same kind of restriction?

PasturesNew

Many flats have specific noise restrictions. All homes will have a requirement for anybody living in them to not be a nuisance.

Somebody I knew moved into a flat where it specifically said pianos were not allowed.

If it can be heard from outside the flat, it's too loud.

DVardysShadow

The way to challenge this is to ask the LL to point out the clause he is relying on. Because the LL could come up with all sorts of clauses which cover this issue, which you might never recognise

• Not to play a piano
• Not to play a musical instrument
• Not to create unwarranted noise
• To have due regard for neighbours
• Not to permit a nuisance
• To contain all activities within the flat

Tiddlywinks

Can't she get one of those electronic keyboards that has a full range of keys but where you can plug in a set of earphones - that way, she gets to practice and the neighbours get to keep their sanity.

propertyman

There are any number of digital pianos, from £200 and up, the pricier ones having the same feel of a real piano's hammer action. The more expensive ones allow that to be varied to mimic a number of different types of piano.

The tenancy and the underlying flat leases may simply prevent piano playing, and as a general issue, not to do anything that causes nuisance or disturbance to others.

It is not about the piano player being reasonable, but that the others have every right not to be disturbed at any time, not put up with reasonable playing times.

There are no volume controls on pianos...

lizzyb1812

A digital piano - which is not an electronic keyboard - is a good idea - headphones, playback facilities, accompaniment sound files and easier to transport than a piano. All the practice time she wants and no landlord/neighbour issues.

Slinky

I'm astonished that she didn't ask about whether she'd be alright playing a piano there before she took on the flat.

whalster

My wife locks me in the dining room when I play , what is one persons pleasure is anothers noise .I started reading this threaed and thought it was leading in the direction of ' I have spoken to my neighbours and they are fine with me playing my piano ' I have a block of 18 flats and get complaints about all kinds of things even when on the face of it people have been good neighbours and asked if something is ok , the truth is most people don't like confrontation and will agree to anyting then ring the landlord to sort it out, the landlord here is probably just trying to look after the interests of everyone.

Starbrite

Cover the inside of the flat with egg boxes?

Personally I'd like the sounds of a panio playing as long as they knew how to play it! A friend lives underneath someone who is learning to play. Often first thing on a weekend morning you hear panio noise...... Same song over and over again, wouldn't be so bad if the person was good but alas they don't seem to have improved

rosalie-lavender

lizzyb1812 wrote: »

A digital piano - which is not an electronic keyboard - is a good idea - headphones, playback facilities, accompaniment sound files and easier to transport than a piano. All the practice time she wants and no landlord/neighbour issues.

I agree with this. My son has a digital Yamaha piano and he brings it to and fro his uni accommodation every term with relative ease. He bought a hard flight case to transport it in. If he wears headphones we can't hear the music at all. He has also not had any complaints from the neighbours in the two uni houses he has lived in.

The only thing I would say is site it on an internal wall, rather than one adjoining the neighbours, if the walls are thin. We can hear the clunking of the keys at night time if he is in the next room playing and we are in bed.