Block of flats- night time noise help needed

olly300

propertyman wrote: »

Then unless for some reason your gait is a stumbling one or heavy footed, eg arthritis, or you are "huge" then I suggest you start going for walks at night and filming it so the noise can be noted for the landlord to see and for your neighbour to complain.

The simple answer is that you should not be capable of being heard footfall to footfall moving around at night.

Doesn't matter if you can or can't.

If you have lived under someone for 2 years and haven't complained about their night time activities then complaining now by banging and harassing someone means you are a d***.

sinbad182

jamie11 wrote: »

What a helpful post (not).

Jesus Christ, what a drip you are

propertyman

olly300 wrote: »

If you have lived under someone for 2 years and haven't complained about their night time activities then complaining now by banging and harassing someone means you are a d***.

So nothing is allowed to change than?

The floorboards cant have got worse over time- which they do- the person has changed their medication or come off it- or changed their job- or stopped drinking and collapsing- the OP might have lost mobility and now, inadvertently "stomps"- or they have had their ears syringed.:rotfl:

jellybeans_2

Since my letter there has been no banging the past 2 nights :j

If the floor is a problem, I will of course cooperate to get it fixed. How can you tell how much creaking is normal, and when it is too much? I've always been able to hear people above/below me.

Will it ruin the laminate flooring taking it up to see what's underneath? How much do you think it will cost my LL? I agree with my LL not wanting to spend lots of money without a formal letter of complaint (if it's not bad enough for him to write it can't be that bad!).

Propertyman- I do have arthitis type problems- but ironically the pain was in my knees/legs when I moved in over 2 years ago, but now it is only in my hands/neck so doesn't affect my walking- I can tiptoe quietly fine My downstairs neighbour has said that he can't sleep at the moment due to stress at work and that the floor noise is "really grating" on him now, but had always been there. So I'd like to know how you can tell if it's at a acceptable level, or not (and it's his problem).

Also just to mention- when I first moved in 2 1/2 years ago he banged on my ceiling the first night/early morning when the hot water/heating came on at 6am- the pipes vibrated and woke him up. He told me that the previous tenants had it coming on at 5 am everyday and it woke him up every time. Luckily my Dad came round and could fix the pipes so that they didn't vibrate. Since then the whole heating system has been replaced, my LL has put double glazing in, redecorated and had a new washing machine when the old one broke down. So I don't really want to give her any unnecessary expense as so much has been done already! (of course if the floor is at fault it will have to be fixed)

My downstairs neighbour has lived here for about 10 years, and current market rents are less than what I'm paying (my rent hasn't gone up from when I moved in yet) so I assume his rent will be lower too. So I can understand why he wouldn't want to move. I wonder if he wouldn't have a problem if his work/stress problems were sorted out, which would be ideal for everyone

foreversummer

jellybeans, I've lived in flats and terraced houses in my life and all I can say is I wish you had been my neighbour!

You sound like a lovely person and this man is being very, very unreasonable. Keep your chin up and try not to let it get you down.

Foreversummer

Money_maker

Hmmm... washing machines can be cheaper to run at night (depending on meter)...

propertyman

Laminate floor - the devils floorboards

Now laminate might be the problem not the floor or joists.
a: they dry out /warp if over mopped
b: the underlay esp if its cheap, will break down over time especially on "pathways"

walk around and see where the squeaks are, and mark the point.

Mask the joint and apply wd 40 and let it work in.
if that helps then use a floor oil on the joints, sit down radio on, and work it in to the joints. As always test on a concealed area first

If that works then its the boards moving against each other and this will solve it or help.

if it doesnt then its the laminate underlay or the floor is moving as it was inadequately fixed, it is just cheap and nasty laminate, or the underlying boards and joists are after all an issue.

So you can see its a question of progression, try the simple stuff before the landlord comes and then we can take it from there.

jellybeans_2

Thanks again for your replies.

The main area which squeaks/creaks is in the bathroom which is lino- I've lifted a little corner up (can't lift it all up as it is glued down) and it looks like hardboard sheets underneath.

Another really creaky spot is on the bedroom carpet.

Then there are 2 really creaky bits on the laminate (one in the hall, and one in the centre of the sitting room). I've already marked and avoid the extra creaky bits. The problem with the bathroom is that it creaks practically all over, although I think I'm getting super sensitive to any creak now!

I shall try the oil on the laminate, but as floor creaks under lino and carpet too I suspect it is the hardwood underneath.

Thanks again


edited to add that my downstairs neighbour says that the creaking is just as bad all over

gazzak_2

The lino in the bathroom will have hardboard underneath. If this wasn't laid with a decent gap between sheets and has subsequently got wet or damp, (it will have), then it will creak and needs replacing. Mine does exactly the same and i need to do it soon as it's quickly getting worse.

Fire_Fox

jellybeans wrote: »

Propertyman- I do have arthitis type problems- but ironically the pain was in my knees/legs when I moved in over 2 years ago, but now it is only in my hands/neck so doesn't affect my walking- I can tiptoe quietly fine My downstairs neighbour has said that he can't sleep at the moment due to stress at work and that the floor noise is "really grating" on him now, but had always been there. So I'd like to know how you can tell if it's at a acceptable level, or not (and it's his problem).

Also just to mention- when I first moved in 2 1/2 years ago he banged on my ceiling the first night/early morning when the hot water/heating came on at 6am- the pipes vibrated and woke him up. He told me that the previous tenants had it coming on at 5 am everyday and it woke him up every time. Luckily my Dad came round and could fix the pipes so that they didn't vibrate. Since then the whole heating system has been replaced, my LL has put double glazing in, redecorated and had a new washing machine when the old one broke down. So I don't really want to give her any unnecessary expense as so much has been done already! (of course if the floor is at fault it will have to be fixed)

Ideally there would be no creaking, Environmental Health will tell you/ the landlord how much is too much if they are called in by either party. Don't be scared of them if you need to get them involved, they are usually reasonable and will him if he has no case, they won't hold you responsible for a squeaky floor or normal activities of daily living.

It's in the landlord's interests to resolve this if they have a considerate long term tenant in you, by staying you save them money in voids and re-advertising fees which can easily be another months rent. Don't feel bad everything they spend on repairs or maintenance can be written off against tax. They've obviously chosen to do the work they have because they have a surplus or because they want to keep decent tenants or don't want the hassle of old stuff. Let the landlord know you are committed long term, you sound like a dream tenant for any professional. :cool:

You just have to use the 'broken record technique' with the neighbour, ask them over and over and over again to write a letter and report them for harassment if they are upsetting you too much. It's certainly not OK to bang on the ceiling when the heating comes on or toilet flushes!

As you say it absolutely is also up to them to help themselves as well, the situation is nobody's fault so not for one person to resolve. It's frustrating because there is so much that can be done for stress - from diet to physical activity to low dose beta blockers, none of which are routinely recommended by GPs.