Block of flats- night time noise help needed

DaftyDuck

I think having some clear proof of how unreasonable the neighbour below actually is may prove useful soon.

Most very cheap mp3 players have a record facility, and they allow many hours of recording... my ancient "cheapy" (MSE Dafty ...) will record to SD, and sticks 20 hours on a 2Gb card. Can then be bunged on a computer for storage...

Although it'd be a bit embarrassing having the sound of a wee, the following hammering on the ceiling (even with no flush!!!) would, in my opinion, make clear to any interested party where the problem lies.

I'd stick it on the floor (or on a wooden chair, since you are being more than fair-minded throughout) and timestamp it with the radio/tv. Then, carry on your normal (quiet) activities, with the occasional further timestamp. I suspect it'd give a very clear indication you are being as careful as can be, whilst the other party is... not.

You are, in my opinion, going well beyond anything that should be expected of you. A pee in the night? Anyone who says you shouldn't do that isn't living in the real world.

girleight@

It sounds to me like the problem is with him. I mean lots of people can sleep through their partner getting up out of their shared bed and going to the loo as well as flushing the toilet! It sounds more like he has a sleep problem if a bit of creaking is waking him up after 5 hours asleep. Clearly you shouldn't have to change your normal routine. I suspect he needs to go and see his doctor if suddenly normal noises are unbearable to him.
Knocking on your floor is harassment in my book and even if you're technically awake, after dealing with his banging on the floor I bet you find it harder to get back to sleep than after a dopey wander to the toilet!

Rosemary7391

That kind of sound would wake me up - I'm a very light sleeper - but I wouldn't dream of complaining about it! If he doesn't want to hear people walking around he needs to move, on his own, to the middle of nowhere. He'd still have to deal with the local wildlife though..

He's probably making it worse for himself by banging as well. Getting up out of bed and stretching to reach the ceiling will wake him up far more than a small sound. You could ask him to try just ignoring any noise for, say, 15 minutes - he may well get back to sleep before then! Or at least realise that you're no longer making noise so no need to bang.

Gordon_Hose

When he bangs, bang back.

The guy sounds like a Grade A tube. If you live in flats (I live in a block of 9 flats myself) you need to expect a slightly higher level of noise compared to living in a house.

It's not your fault the floorboards creak. You should not be forced to alter anything you do, whether that be bedtime routine or going to the toilet.

Don't be afraid of him, he's a bully. Best thing you can do is stand up to him, go buy him some foam ear plugs and tell him if he has a problem then take it up with the landlord and that banging on the ceiling will not be tolerated.

Better still buy yourself some silicone earplugs, that way you won't hear the grumpy old git banging on the ceiling.

coinxoperated

Really get stompy. Become an absolute loud irritating neighbour. Let him get annoyed. Then, he'll become less touchy to gentle noises!

harrup

19lottie82 wrote: »

STILL doesn't give him the right to bang on her ceiling at 445am. going to the toilet at that time in normal, but that isn't!

He is harassing her. She should call the police.

I fully concur with the above.

It is a textbook definition of harassment and intimidation.

It doesn't matter how thin the walls, how light his sleep and how acute and oversensitive his hearing are.

If he TRULY wanted a resolution to the problem he would go and direct his annoyance to someone capable of rectifying the sound issue ( LL, council, builder, etc). Or he'd buy himself earplugs or noise cancelling headphones. He would give SOME indication that he is doing his utmost to find a mutually agreeable, workable solution.

But he ain't. He decided to take it out on the OP. Who has to live in prison style conditions with him as the self elected warden deciding who can do what and when.

Put an end to it. There must be somebody in your family or circle of friends who will tell him candidly that whilst his psychological warfare has an effect on you, it won't fly with them. And if he doesn't stop banging and complaining they will get supremely grumpy.

I'm all for civil, respectful interactions but this guy is just taking the mick. He likely gets a HUGE kick out of it all, or it ensures he has someone to talk to on a regular basis.

Really...don't feed his insane behaviour. Call the police instead. Harrassment absolutely is a police matter.

jellybeans_2

Thanks again for all your replies. To update- I have written him a letter today (as speaking calmly has not worked) stating all that I am doing (as last week has said I needed to start showing some consideration so I don't think he realises what I am doing to be quiet even though I have told him), saying that I find his banging intimidating, and that can he please write to my landlord instead (as I have previously suggested).

My landlord/agent is coming to check the flat in a couple of weeks anyway. If the letter does not resolve the issue, and my landlord does not want to do anything about the floor creaking, I shall then contact the council anti-social behaviour team who have already told me that I can go to bed/walk when I want- but that they would check the floor themselves and mediate between everyone. If this doesn't work and the banging continues I shall then contact the police as a last resort (non emergency number).


I do feel bad though as I know I get up more often due to my illness/disability than someone who is healthy and works 9-5 like he does. But my doctor tells me that if I wake up in pain and can't sleep, to go and sit in the other room for a bit- so I tiptoe through, and then a hour later tiptoe back. On a good night I shall sleep right through, on a bad night I may wake up 2 or 3 times either to sit in the other room rather than lie in bed in pain/wet from night sweats, or just to use the loo. Ironically the stress and worry this is causing is making my condition and sleep worse so I am having bad nights more often! Tonight I'm tempted to take some sedating anti-histamines which knock me out enough to sleep through the pain so I don't have to worry about him. When I did tell him that my doctor had helped me previously with sleep/stress, he said he didn't want to do anything like that.


Fingers crossed the letter/my landlord helps and things get better without having to take it further.

Thanks again everyone, I shall keep you updated

DaftyDuck

If ever I live in a flat, I hope I have as considerate neighbour as you.

However, do not medicate to fit in with someone else's silly moods. Do not even consider that. Go to the loo (quietly, as you clearly do) at any time you need, sit where you need to, sleep when you can, and try not to put your health at any further risk because of another persons (mainly) unreasonable demands.

I really wish your letter has the desired effect. I worry that your bullying neighbour may feel he has gained some small victory, and it will stir him into worse acts. Stay calm, if you can.

Fire_Fox

Agree try not to feel bad or affect your health, Jellybeans, you are making reasonable adjustments, willing to work with the neighbour, landlord AND local council. Any normal person/ court in the land would see that as totally reasonable and considerate behaviour. I hope you get the right help and support from Environmental Health/ Anti-social behaviour team, that is what we pay council tax for.

propertyman

it is just the noise of the creaking floor (even where the floor is carpeted- it is a mixture of carpet/lino/laminate throughout the flat- but it is all a problem,

Look your floor creaks and you know that. Rather than saying how upsetting it is for you jolly well contract the landlord and explain that
a HIS floorboards/joists creak so much that they affect the person downstairs and awake them from sleep at 4,45am
b to get them inspected now

The best advice and relief for you is not sympathy but directing the problem at the person whose problem it is , your landlord's.

As suggested record the sound and email it to him.

Its only a year ago that I had a similar problem in our flat and had to take up the carpets etc and found that the floor sheets had been nailed with common nails which work loose, and screwed them down, nearly 400 of them.

The sooner its fixed the happier you will both be.