upstairs breaking lease agreement (flooring)

jammerr

hello,

i bought a a flat around a month ago. it's one of those older buildings converted into flats.

unfortunately the flat above (i'm sure) has laminate flooring. i can hear footsteps, chair scraping, doors closing which is really starting to annoy me. especially now as i had a lodger who has mentioned it too and i'm concerned he'll want to move out if it carries on.

i've only passed them once, they're a young couple who seem nice and i can't hear their tv, they don't play music loud or shout/scream. they're not making 'noise' as such, just the laminate flooring amplifies everything.

i read through my lease and thankfully it states only carpeted flooring is allowed unless it is the bathroom/kitchen.

how do i approach my neighbours? i don't know if they own or rent the place. i'm not sure if the previous tenants here complained (i know the guy i bought it off rented it out) and i'm worried if i do complain they'll make my life a misery. a paranoid thought i know but some people like get back at others for making them spend money or think i'm some grumpy neighbour (especially if no ones complained before)

advice please. i'm thinking of writing a polite letter. how very british.. seems a little rude to knock on the door and say 'hello do you have laminate flooring?'

F_Bear

maybe buy them a big rug??

id prob just knock, they may not be aware how noisy it is and that they arnt allowed laminate

ACG

I used to live in a terraced house and the woman next door had nothing down on the floor - the noise was really annoying. I knocked on and she just started screaming at me... i was overly polite as we were neighbours. So ive now realised, if theyre going to kick off - then theyre going to kick off. Just be polite, say the noise echoes can they put carpet or a rug down. If they say no, then say its in the lease but i wouldnt mention that unless i had to.

jammerr

thanks ACG, would you recommend confronting them or a letter? i think a friendly letter would be work better. (that what i would prefer)

it blows my mind people can be so inconsiderate! not in my neighbours case but the woman screaming at you!

dell12

jammerr wrote: »

thanks ACG, would you recommend confronting them or a letter? i think a friendly letter would be work better. (that what i would prefer)

it blows my mind people can be so inconsiderate! not in my neighbours case but the woman screaming at you!

Personally I'd suggest just knocking. A letter it too formal for me if you haven't said anything. It sounds like they're nice people and they probably have no idea they're creating the noise and would be mortified to know they've been disturbing you. I certainly wouldn't even mention the lease until you at least tried talking to them nicely.