Advice about solving noise urgently needed

rach_k

When my washing machine is on, I can sometimes hear it upstairs at the opposite side of the house. When the kids are jumping around upstairs, I can hear it in every room downstairs. I do warn them to be careful when the thumps are particularly big and dangerous-sounding but I wouldn't dream of stopping them otherwise. I want active kids, not fat lazy oafs. I completely understand how annoying it is when those things are not YOURS but the other family still has the right to live a normal life so I don't think it'll be of much use trying to get the family above to change their behaviour any further.

When you have spoken to Environmental Health, have you always said that it's kids running around/jumping making the noise? Presumably the adults walking around makes a racket too and you said the teenage upstairs neighbours make lots of noise too. Have you tried complaining about PEOPLE (not kids) walking around upstairs and getting your elderly neighbours to do the same?

MJK4711

Yes of course. But it's not PEOPLE that are emanating the noise that is unbearable to me. It's the kids. As I've said before, it's mainly when they jump off the furniture and run about.

I can hear the parents walking about but I can live with it. My elderly neighbours suffer from the adults walking about because they come in really late and are up till the early hours.

At the end of the day we all have to live our lives here and I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a bit of peace in your own home, especially when the noise is to the extent that it's continually disturbing your sleep, whether it's from kids, teenagers, dogs, DIY, music .... whatever.

Horizon81

With it being kids, do they at least go to bed at a reasonable hour so it means you don't have the noise all night? Be grateful for small mercies. I've lived in a terrace before where the young neighbours partied and had music blasting many nights a week till the sun came up. That was absolutely hellish.

Hedgehog99

It sounds as if the children have too much un-spent energy. Fed full of junk food and high on additives as well. It is the parents' responsibility to respect the fact they live in a flat and to take the kids out to the park for a proper run around to tire them out before they come home. That way, they get their exercise and should be content with quieter activities back at home. My parents would never have allowed me to jump off furniture like the OP has suffered. It is bad parenting and this modern trend of shrugging bad behaviour off as "children will be children" is all wrong. Then they grow up into unemployable NEETS because they don't want to follow the basic rules of a decent society.

Dan-Dan

Horizon81 wrote: »

I don't think there's much you can do other than move. Even with acoustic carpet/underlay in your neighbours flat, you're always going to hear kids running about on a wooden floor. The issue may be worse than other flats due to the cheaper nature of new builds these days, especially if you have just plasterboard ceiling, then a void where the joists are, then just floorboards or chipboard floor above - effectively just like a normal house.

Unbelievable that they are/were allowed to build flats in such a way!

MJK4711

Starts at around 6am then is on and off all day. It can go on till midnight some nights but very rarely goes past that.

I appreciate that they are young children and I don't for one minute expect them to sit down all day. But they are not my children. So why am I expected to tolerate the noise they generate? Bearing in mind I am only complaining about the noise that keeps me awake and stops me from getting the rest I need.

I made a silly mistake when I moved here. I actually asked about whether the noise from above would affect me and I was told no as it was to British Standard. I should have got something in writing or checked it out a bit more.

To be honest I just didn't think and took what I was told as gospel.

Furts

Dan-Dan wrote: »

Unbelievable that they are/were allowed to build flats in such a way!

But they are not allowed to build like this. The plasterboard should have a minimum stipulated density, the gaps should be sealed and it is normal practice to fill the void with sound deadening, for example Rockwool or fibreglass. The floor above is said said to be floating hence this is isolated from the structure.

It all comes down to "have reasonable measures been taken with the construction?" Plus, did the builders do what they were supposed to do? Then if the answer is yes, then there is only so much that can be done in reasonable terms. The build date of 2013 suggests that current practice has been followed.

Without invasive investigation the builders must be deemed blameless. Basically, innocent until proven guilty. Hence it is down the numb skulls who cannot control their children to realise that they have a Duty of Care to their fellow residents.

MJK4711

Absolutely. I was shown drawings by HA. The insulation looked impressive and adequate (bearing in mind I have no knowledge) and when they explained it, it all seemed magnificent. What HA are failing to grasp is that whatever is there, it is not enough. Both of their ground floor tenants are complaining of the noise from the flat above them. We are not nit-picking. The sound is horrendous. As I type the kids upstairs are going hell for leather. I have had to leave my lounge and go and sit in my bedroom to escape it. I can still hear it but at least it is not right above my head. I would still not be able to sleep though if I fancied an early night or if I was unwell.

Short of ripping down the ceilings I will never know if what they say has been done is the case.

On a more positive note the Mediator rung me a while ago to see how things were going. I explained that there had been no change and that HA were refusing to help any further. He suggested involving Citizens Advice and is arranging for them to call me.

Got to be worth a shot?

sniggings

think you said you could hear their phone in a past post? can you also hear their TV? you shouldn't hear those if the builders have done a good job.

Sounds to me it's a bit of both, bad parenting as no kid needs to jump off chairs, and normal noises such as phone and normal walking (people who heal striker can be loud tho) shouldn't be heard.

MJK4711

I have heard their phone ringing and I hear their smoke alarm going off, which it does regularly. I haven't heard the tv but can hear the children screaming and crying.