(slightly) noisy neighbours!

crs_122

Just after a little bit of advice about what people would do in my situation!

I live in a conversion flat in a Victorian property. The flat directly underneath mine has recently sold and the new owners moved in a couple of weeks ago.

The soundproofing between the flats is very (very!) bad - to the point when I can hear their conversations!! There are two things that are starting to grate on me after only a couple of weeks. They play music constantly - it is loud but not ridiculously loud - so I don't think it would be a problem if it wasn't for how bad the soundproofing is, so it sounds to me almost as loud as if I was sitting in their flat! Even with the TV on I can still hear it and the floor vibrates quite badly. I work from home a lot (including weekends) so this is really irritating!

The other problem is that they have wooden flooring, which is technically against the terms of the lease. Again, I wouldn't generally have a problem with this (epecially as I'm the first floor flat above them) but when they scrape chairs back against it my whole room vibrates!

I was thinking that they probably won't realise the extent of the problem (I live on my own, rarely listen to music and only have TV on quietly for an hour or so) and may well think that I can't hear them (as I said, it's only because the soundproofing is so bad that this is an issue). As I was introducing myself to them, I mentioned about how bad the sound is between the flats - for their information / privacy as I can literally hear their conversations. I was hoping they'd realise if I can hear them talking I'll definately be able to hear the music and they might keep it down a bit, but they haven't so far...!

Any ideas on what I should do next? As I mentioned, they've only just moved in so I don't want to be the irritating neighbour - but given this is already a problem I imagine I'm only going to get more annoyed by it as time goes on!

Appreciate any help / advice!!!

steve2005

Are the people who moved in the people who bought it?
Possibly tenants?

pinkshoes

Can you put a new floor down in your flat with thick insulation?

crs_122

Thanks both

They are definitely the owners of the flat

I've just replaced the carpets with noise reducing underlay!! This has helped a bit from before but not enough to make a significant difference

:S

xylophone

The other problem is that they have wooden flooring, which is technically against the terms of the lease.

Either it is contrary to the terms of the lease or it isn't?

Have you approached your new neighbours concerning the noise?

You might ask them to turn their music on then come up to your flat to listen?

You might also mention the terms of the lease concerning flooring? Perhaps one neighbour could scrape his chair over their floor while the other comes up to listen?

carefullycautious

I expect after you told them you can hear their conversation they are turning the music on so that you cannot hear what they are talking about.

It is a bit daunting to move into your new home and be greeted with a neighbour telling you they can hear everything said.

[Deleted User]

The thing is if you can hear them talking at normal volume levels and understand what is being said there is pretty much nothing they can really do to help you. Clearly they are not going to refrain from talking.

The thing is if that were really the case surely you would have had the same problem with the previous occupants. How come it is only now a problem?

crs_122

It is contrary to the lease, but as they didn't put it down I didn't want to point that out to them straight away as they've just moved in.

The constant loud music preceded me mentioning to them about the fact you can hear them talking (you can't actually hear what they're saying exactly, just sound of voices) so I don't think it's that.

I'm not too much of a noise freak (honest!) and completely get that the flat isn't well soundproofed so going to hear conversations TV etc (which I could with the previous owner). It's just the constant loud music and accompanying vibrations from the bass which is annoying!

Will have another chat with them and be more direct about the music noise.

Fraise

crs_122 wrote: »

Thanks both

They are definitely the owners of the flat

I've just replaced the carpets with noise reducing underlay!! This has helped a bit from before but not enough to make a significant difference

:S

Noise reducing underlay will only really benefit the people below! If it's impact underlay you'll just have stopped them from hearing your movements and footsteps etc......though it should offer you a little protection.

What you need is acoustic matting underlay.....that prevents airborne noise and is worth every penny.

A lot of noise problem is caused by the fashion for wooden flooring, and if the lease prohibits it, then do something about it. It's your right and they are in breach of the lease, though maybe they don't realise? Why did you have no problems with the previous occupiers? It's strange you can the scraping of a chair with your new ones, but you didn't with the previous ones?

A conversion is ultimately a house, and when you're upstairs in your bedrooms you don't usually hear very loud noises coming up from the lounge or kitchen when, say, your partner/children are downstairs, so you shouldn't have any extra noise in a conversion.

Have a kindly word with them and also buy earplugs etc.....lots of women use earplugs to block out their husbands snoring, and they're almost snoring in their ear! So they do help!