Advice on noise from from neighbour after recently buying

sniggings

PlymouthMaid wrote: »

It is probably just the case that at 1 am when you are trying to sleep, it all sounds quite loud whereas when you viewed in the daytime/early evening you would not have noticed normal amounts of noise. It is just unfortunate you you seem to be living below night owls.

no, it's because the sound proofing is crap and some inconsiderate sod is watching TV in bed with the sound up.

Rosemary7391

sniggings wrote: »

that's the point, not many flats, it seems, are properly built, and to get 4 neighbours that are considerate is rare imo.

I wouldn't mind but they are no cheaper! you don't know you have considerate neighbours and properly built flats until it's to late.

Do you not mean 8? I reckon my only noisy neighbour is diagonally above my flat, but usually only at reasonable hours for short times so not too bad really! I like to think that most people are reasonable. As for the construction, I guess I'm no expert, I've only lived in this flat but it must be pretty solid to be more than 100 years old. Maybe newer ones have thinner walls thus poorer sound insulation? Which type is more common is probably area specific.

sniggings

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

Do you not mean 8? I reckon my only noisy neighbour is diagonally above my flat, but usually only at reasonable hours for short times so not too bad really! I like to think that most people are reasonable. As for the construction, I guess I'm no expert, I've only lived in this flat but it must be pretty solid to be more than 100 years old. Maybe newer ones have thinner walls thus poorer sound insulation? Which type is more common is probably area specific.

thought we were using the term "well built" to mean good sound proofing, fact is now, builders do the least the can get away with,unlike many years ago they seemed to take pride in building with decent materials and making the building look attractive.

Add to that,we are getting louder, 5.1 TVs with subs etc the soundproofing is in many cases just not good enough, and equally the laws on sound nuisance isnot goodenough, for a nation that is living closer together.

For those reasons I would never buy such a property and am amazed when someone has the choice do.

As said it's not like these properties are loads cheaper.

It's a risk, you may have been lucky but many arn't, when spending so much money, should we be praying we get 4 or 8 considerate neigbours, I would be looking to reducing my risk/neigbours.

System

It's a groundfloor flat on the end of the block, so basically only neighbours above and on one side. With the neighbours on the side, the party wall is just one of the bedrooms, and part of our hall, the other 3 sides are outside walls. I guess the top floor equivalent would have been better, but during my property hunting I didn't once see a top floor flat for sale, most were middle or ground.

The level of noise I am hearing would definately have been noticeable during the viewings, they were just quiet those days I guess.

As many have pointed out, it could be a lot lot worse, so I'm not going to go down the official complaint route or anything like that. If I see them I might mention it.

Hoploz

I would mention it in a friendly chatty way, and see if it makes a difference
'I've never lived in a flat before, haha isn't it amazing how the sound carries ...' 'I hope I don't disturb any of the neighbours ...' etc

Unfortunately sound does seem to travel downwards. I hear upstairs and the person below me hears me. Not much can be done, just be considerate

giger

Is the layout of the upstairs flat the same? Maybe their lounge is above your bedroom?

As has been mentioned, any noise seems amplified at night as the background noise around you is quieter.

Could you apply some form of sound proofing to your ceiling? It would cost money and result in some re-decoration work, but you can get sound absorbing rock wool insulation that you can put in floors and ceilings (the gap between their floor and your ceiling).

Failing that mention it to them, problem is that chances are the last person complained and they did nothing, or it has never been mentioned before - either way if it is a long term tenant above it may be difficult to get them to change their ways....

atolaas

I live in a ground floor flat with my 4yo son. I had a new neighbour move into the flat upstairs in September. He's a single man in his early 20's and is fond of late nights and loud music...shocking I know! I found that talking to him and explaining that I can hear (and feel) his music when he cranks the volume up at night worked wonders. He was very apologetic and has been very considerate since we had our chat about a week after he moved in. I was spoilt by the previous tenants who were so quiet I couldn't tell if they were home or not 90% of the time. Chat with your neighbour and explain the problem to them. Hopefully they will be reasonable.

System

giger wrote: »

Is the layout of the upstairs flat the same? Maybe their lounge is above your bedroom?

As has been mentioned, any noise seems amplified at night as the background noise around you is quieter.

Could you apply some form of sound proofing to your ceiling? It would cost money and result in some re-decoration work, but you can get sound absorbing rock wool insulation that you can put in floors and ceilings (the gap between their floor and your ceiling).

Failing that mention it to them, problem is that chances are the last person complained and they did nothing, or it has never been mentioned before - either way if it is a long term tenant above it may be difficult to get them to change their ways....

The layout is the same, so it's definitely their bedroom above mine. Unless they are using their bedroom as a front room? Which would be a bit strange, because the lounger/diner in these places is quite big... The ceiling/floor is solid concrete, so any sound proofing would need to be done with a suspended ceiling, something I'm not really keen on to be honest.

If I see them in passing I might mention it. If the last person complained, then I would have some recourse against the vendor. The vendor said there were no issues on the property information forms, and I even asked the question directly and they categorically said there had been no complaints of any kind.

Last night it was like the whole family was in the bedroom above me, with the TV on and talking away to each other... at 1am... Why don't they just stay in the front room if they want to do that? I am almost certain now the problem is because they have a laminate floor in the bedroom. We don't hear this sort of noise anywhere else, it's definitely noticeable louder and clearer in the bedroom.

System

the noises you describe hearing don't really go with a solid concrete floor construction, however are there any service voids around the room for pipes etc to the upper flat? could be sound travelling through that way

System

the_r_sole wrote: »

the noises you describe hearing don't really go with a solid concrete floor construction, however are there any service voids around the room for pipes etc to the upper flat? could be sound travelling through that way

There are two cupboards behind my bed which contain electric meters etc. I'll see what the ceiling in those is like. If I tap the ceiling in the rooms though, it's rock solid...