Terminating a Tenancy Agreement early

Sackville

A few years ago I had to endure a "neighbour from hell" for over a year. This experience has left me with an anxiety disorder that is triggered by excessive noise.

A couple of months back I viewed a flat with a view to renting. My first reaction was that it was unsuitable as it was a ground floor flat and therefore could potentially be noisy due to neighbours living above. I was only too aware from past experience that abnormal levels of noise can trigger anxiety attacks and related symptoms. However, the estate agent explained to me that just one person, a professional woman who was also the owner, occupied the above flat. She assured me there would be minimal noise. Based on this information I changed my mind and agreed to rent the flat.

Soon after moving into the flat I discovered the above flat was a flat-share occupied by three young women, and an external landlord owned the property. Unfortunately the dividing wall between the main hallway and my sitting room does not appear to be brick therefore I regularly - up to nine times some evenings - hear quite clearly the sound of the house front door and the upstairs flat door being open and closed. The sound of the flat door being closed reverberates loudly in the flat. Obviously with three people living in the above flat there are also other sounds that would not be so pronounced had there only been one person living there, such as the regular use of the washing machine and dryer, the entertaining of friends and the general activity of three young people going about their business.

I have spoken with the tenants of the above flat to explain the impact on me of the doors being closed loudly, but have noticed little change in their behaviour.

A few weeks back I started to have rather lengthy episodes of anxiety, which were related to my worries about this noise. I consulted my GP who has placed me on medication to try and combat these symptoms. The medication is helping me a little, but long-term I still need to minimise any external factors that are causing a re-occurrence of this disorder. However there is no break clause in my tenancy agreement, and I still have another ten months to go. Just the thought of this prospect is adding to my anxiety. I have written to my landlord to request a meeting in the hope we can negotiate an early termination, but if he refuses I am seriously concerned about the affect that will have on my mental health. I feel that the past few years of getting myself back on an even keel is rapidly being eroded.

Smith_007

• You have no right to surrender your tenancy early and have signed a binding contract to pay rent for 12 months. Any early release is entirely down to the goodwill of the landlord (who will loose money by your leaving early). Ask them very nicely and tell them about your mental health difficulties.

• The noise made by other tenants sounds like perfectly ordinary domestic noise. You will get this noise wherever you live (unless you find a detached cottage in a remote area). I would suggest that moving will do little to help. I have great sympathy for those suffering with mental health issues and can only suggest you learn to manage this ordinary noise as part of managing your anxiety disorder.

Other words of advice?

1. Be nice to the other tenants! I'm sure they do not want to upset you.
2. Noise canceling headphones work wonders. Buy a pair if you think they will help you. However, be aware that avoiding or blocking out any noise may just be hiding your underlying symptoms.

Good luck. :A

G_M

Whilst I am sympathetic, there is onlyone sentence in your entire post that is really relevant here:

I have written to my landlord to request a meeting in the hope we can negotiate an early termination,

The answer is here:

Ending/Renewing an AST (what happens when the Fixed Term ends?)(What is a Periodic Tenancy?)(How can a LL remove a tenant?)(How can a tenant end a tenancy?)

RupertTheCat

Whilst I sympathise with your past experience, it does sound like your neighbours are not really making an excessive amount of noise, and living in a flat you will always experience some noise from those who live around you. I live in an 1880s terrace, and even with thick brick walls I hear my neighbours doorbells, phones, them running up and down the stairs, music and their exercise machine. It's just part of life.

If noise is that much of an issue to you, you may need to move to a detached house, as I don't see how else you are going to find enough peace and quiet.

You may be able to end your tenancy earlier, but it will probably cost you as you are liable to pay for the entire period, and this includes council tax. Good luck anyway.