Selling house & noisy neighbours - advice appreciated

valentine99

Hi there

I've been living at my ground floor float for over 6 years with no problem with my neighbours upstairs; however, six months ago some new tenants moved in and they are so noisy - constantly walking and banging around. I've spoken to them numerously and they are trying their best and I believe they've taken up some of the carpet in the bedroom - which is the worst area - due to 'his' allergy. But after 6 months it has become a nuisance. I wrote to their letting agency asking what could be done and copied in the management company who manage the lease for both mine and upstairs.

Now, I want to move, and not sure what I should be declaring. I'm worried that if I don't say anything, particularly as I have written a complaint, that it may cause me problems in the future. The owners of the flat are actually selling - so they may move out at the same time as me - but then again, they may not.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you..

Paul

BottomRung

I think unless you have made a formal complaint to the authorities in writing then it's unlikely the poor buyers will be able to make a claim once they discover your dishonesty. However, I would consider how you would feel should you have spent your life savings on a flat only to discover there are noise issues above you. A lot of people would have no trouble sleeping at night in the knowledge they have basically ruined someones life but me personally would have major regrets if I did this. Guess it's down to your consience really. I would make every effort to solve the issue before selling.

Just my opinion though, so do what you think is best, for yourself and for your potential buyers.

breadlinebetty

You can buy non allergic carpets, try that. Maybe split the cost? To be honest, unless you have a detached property set in a remote spot, anyone could suffer from noisy neighbours, whether they live above, below or across the road. My friend has neighbours who live opposite her across the road and are constantly revving their motorbikes and playing loud thumping music at all hours....not a lot he can do about it as they play the music just a fraction below the illegal level!:eek:

Your problem can be easily sorted with good underlay and non allergic carpet

ankspon

We are also suffering with noise upstairs,i have no advice but i feel for you.

BottomRung

Have a look at the NFH UK website which deals with people that have noisy neighbours and see the suffering people go through because of this situation, it's pretty depressing. I have been put in this very situation by the ahole that sold me my flat and it took a lot of time and money to get the noisy people out. It caused us immense stress, upset and frustration that we'd put our entire life savings into the flat just to suddenly realise we could potentially have thrown away nearly £100,000. It isn't something I would consider doing to anyone in the future and isn't something I like to hear other people do. It really could end up badly for a buyer in this situation. Think hard before misleading any buyers you get as it will be on your conscience for a long time.

fallenwiccan

ankspon wrote: »

We are also suffering with noise upstairs,i have no advice but i feel for you.

Me too. The flat above us was empty when we moved in and then about 2 months later a lone parent with a toddler moved in. Always fun hearing the toddler crying at 6am. I don't see the point in complaining, you can't tell a child to be quiet its not fair, it's just one of those things.

harrup

valentine99 wrote: »

Now, I want to move, and not sure what I should be declaring. I'm worried that if I don't say anything, particularly as I have written a complaint, that it may cause me problems in the future. The owners of the flat are actually selling - so they may move out at the same time as me - but then again, they may not.

As far as I know you have to declare if there is "an ongoing dispute" with any neighbour.

Would you classify your interaction over the noise issue as a "dispute"? Are there expressed hostilities from either party?

If the answer is "no", you have nothing to declare. Highlighting, raising or debating an issue with your neighbour or the letting agency can't really be deemed a dispute if everyone is being civil. A different matter if you call the police out, write insulting, angry letters or have screaming matches in the communal hallway.

Whilst I understand where BottomRung is coming from.....there is a HUGE difference between telling an outright lie when specifically asked ( as in "no, I have never had any disturbance from noise from the people above") and complete self-sabotage in volunteering the noise issue. No one can expect you to sabotage and nix your own sale.

If asked whether you can hear your neighbours, frame it with diplomacy. Say " occasionally", or something like that. If the buyer REALLY wants to know, they WILL press you further and request details.

breadlinebetty

No-one need put up with noise from a flat above. If it's an old conversion it could be that it doesn't meet the current building regulations, and that's simple enough to put right. It may cost a little but in the long term it's more than worth it!:) You just need to locate the parts of the building that are allowing noise to travel and treat them accordingly.

There's lots of various soundproofing materials out there, from simple underlay and carpet to special soundproofing materials which can be layed beneath the upper floors floorboards and your ceiling.

Windows should be double glazed, too, otherwise airborne sound will still travel through.

There's lots of remedies out there, you just need to work out which ones you need.

Legally, if you have a share of the freehold, you can get a solictor to draw a lease up, or amend the existing lease, stipulating that soundproofing between floors must be adhered to, and no laminate flooring is allowed on the upper floors unless it has the required soundproofing underneath.

No-one has to suffer from noisy neighbours above them

ankspon

We have installed extra soundproofing but it is coming down the cavities as well,to hear the people above urinating and defacating is not nice.We cannot afford any more insulation.

Goldblend_2

Hi Ankspon,

I know it's not funny but your post did make me laugh...sorry x

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

breadlinebetty

ankspon wrote: »

We have installed extra soundproofing but it is coming down the cavities as well,to hear the people above urinating and defacating is not nice.We cannot afford any more insulation.

What sort of soundproofing did you use? If it's the wrong type, then you'll get poor results.

It sounds like your property is very flimsily built if you can hear your neighbours going to the toilet! It sounds like you've got the thinnest walls, celings and floors possible. Often, a lot of new houses have thin flimsy walls and can hear their next door neighbours fornicating, which is more than embarrassing!:eek:

It's strange you can hear your neighbours on the toliet - is their toilet not directly above yours?

What age is the property?