1883 built flat okay?

JC1440

I know most new build flats are garbage when it comes to noise bleed-through, and was wondering, if a flat is situated in an old building, is there a lot better chance it will be okay in this aspect?

I currently am in a new build flat and it's horrible, I hear everything from the other tenants, to their kid running up and down above me, to the guy below me snooring! I lived in a very old building about ten years ago and never heard a peep from the other tenants. I'm viewing a flat this week that was built in 1883 so am sort of hoping this has a chance

G_M

As a general rule, yes.... but not always.

Was it purpose built, or a house that got converted?

Speak to the neighbours. No point asking the vendor about noise, he just wants to sell the flat. But the guy upstairs/downstairs will (hopefully!) be more forthcoming. Also well worth finding out what the guy above/below is like anyway!

da_rule

Also, try and do a second viewing at a different time, e.g. early evening and just see what you can hear.

cattie

Is the flat in a block or what is termed a purpose built Victorian maisonette?

Victorian maisonettes usually look like a standard Victorian house, but have 2 front doors side by side. One door leads to the ground floor maisonette & the other door opens onto the staircase that leads to the upper maisonette.

I used to live in one of these & one of the big downsides was the lack of effective insulation, so living below you could get a lot of noise from above, especially if they didn't have carpets down.

I've actually found purpose built flats in blocks don't suffer much from sound transference, not modern ones though. Those built between 60's-80's are the ones I have experience of.

Campervanman

The purpose built/conversion issue is key. I owned a flat in a georgian building at one time. The orginal internal walls were fine for noise transfer but the partition walls between the stairs and the flat was so thin it felt like folks who were walking up the stairs at night were in your bedroom. Also check the lease - most modern leases stipulate that carpets must be laid (except in kitchens and bathrooms) and this reduces noise transfer from any flat above. Older leases often do not mention this and so people can have hard flooring and the noise of people clattering over floorboards can be really unpleasent.

JC1440

Thanks for the replies.

It looks purpose built. It's called ''The Avenues'' which sounds more flat-ish than an office or something?

I may ask the person that would be below me (it's a top floor flat that I'm applying for) but the issue I now have with that is that the place I live in now, which is horrendous for noise, I asked the then current tenant what the noise was like and, basically, the scumbag lied his backside off. So even if the person in the flat below told me you can hear a pin drop, I'd still be wary.

Doesn't look a Victorian maisonette.

Campervanman

Ask the question as if you are going to make the noise. "If I have a party is it the sort of place folks complain? Will they hear it or not? Its a nightmare in my current place, Ive had people complaining when Im talking or just having a laugh. Is it a block with young folks who wont care or older folks who want it quiet?" You are likely to get much more honest answers if you are asking if the neighbours will hear you rather than the other way around but the information will still enable you to know if there is a sound transfer problem.

pinkteapot

Campervanman wrote: »

Ask the question as if you are going to make the noise. "If I have a party is it the sort of place folks complain? Will they hear it or not? Its a nightmare in my current place, Ive had people complaining when Im talking or just having a laugh. Is it a block with young folks who wont care or older folks who want it quiet?" You are likely to get much more honest answers if you are asking if the neighbours will hear you rather than the other way around but the information will still enable you to know if there is a sound transfer problem.

And totally worry your new neighbour that you're going to be having lots of loud parties....

nickyg2000

I bought a purpose built 1930's flat in a small block. The sound transfer is awful. Creaking floor boards, talking, doors closing, snoring. Even with quiet neighbours its just !!!!.

We spoke to the people in another flat and they said it was quiet just because the person above them is very quiet, she creeps about has no friends over etc. There is no way to know unless you have a sound test/

Campervanman

I was thinking of asking the vendor the question. I agree, ask the same question of the neighbours and they will dread your arrival!