Problem Neighbours - Advice needed

ScotlandBoy

Hi

We have lived in same address for quite a few years now. We have neighbours above who are really not nice people and given us problems. They don't own home nor do we as both rented from local authority. I have sent emails, evidence etc throughout these years to local authority and still do nothing definitive. I have written to a lot of senior managers within the authority and nothing is done. They did a noise report and during that time we were going through certain legal and complaints processes and ironically found no issues from above neighbour in terms of noise.

They have laminate flooring throughout property and you can hear everything they do, toilet habits, footfall is very high and conversations etc. Tried to get local noise team out on several occasions, not interested or don't have time to come out at specific times nor open to discussion. I even offered to cover expenses. It is getting really difficult now to see what options I can take?.

We can get our own independent report done but this is at a considerable cost, I want to go through legal process again but how would that work getting access to contest and perform this?. Any chance of getting authority to recoup cost if found to disprove their report?. This is causing damage to property and health. The ceilings are cracking in certain rooms now as there is little sound insulation in between the ceilings, which have been not repaired properly and upstairs installed thin polystrene underlay which is cheapest and most ineffective sound absorption material. The authority tried to help noise in toilet with putting in a lower ceiling to existing one and putting in "thermal insulation" in this instead of a proper sound insulation ceiling, I have read a report that thermal insulation has no acoustic value whatsoever, complete waste of money.

I queried the local authority to see if permission was granted to install flooring in property above, as it specifically states it needs permission as part of rental agreement. Was not allowed to know this information and they also reinstalled new flooring this year, yet I get feedback, "its never been needed" yet specifically says you need permission in tenancy pack.

It is really difficult for us to move as main tenant suffers from bad health, we were advised to move onto another housing list by authority and has made it worse for us to move aswell as list is longer. I have got local councillor involved and he couldn't help either to get any real change. What I am asking is massive policy change and cost would be significant and probability would be little as a precedent is something they would be reluctant to create, as one gets they all get really.

I am at a loss at what to do really, any advice would be great?

G_M

1) Move
2) Persuade neighbour to move
3) persuade LA to evict neighbour
4) Persuade neighbour to lay carpet
5) Persuade LA to lay carpet
6) Persuade LA to force neighbour to lay carpet

HappyMJ

ScotlandBoy wrote: »

Hi

We have lived in same address for quite a few years now. We have neighbours above who are really not nice people and given us problems. They don't own home nor do we as both rented from local authority. I have sent emails, evidence etc throughout these years to local authority and still do nothing definitive. I have written to a lot of senior managers within the authority and nothing is done. They did a noise report and during that time we were going through certain legal and complaints processes and ironically found no issues from above neighbour in terms of noise.

They have laminate flooring throughout property and you can hear everything they do, toilet habits, footfall is very high and conversations etc. Tried to get local noise team out on several occasions, not interested or don't have time to come out at specific times nor open to discussion. I even offered to cover expenses. It is getting really difficult now to see what options I can take?.

We can get our own independent report done but this is at a considerable cost, I want to go through legal process again but how would that work getting access to contest and perform this?. Any chance of getting authority to recoup cost if found to disprove their report?. This is causing damage to property and health. The ceilings are cracking in certain rooms now as there is little sound insulation in between the ceilings, which have been not repaired properly and upstairs installed thin polystrene underlay which is cheapest and most ineffective sound absorption material. The authority tried to help noise in toilet with putting in a lower ceiling to existing one and putting in "thermal insulation" in this instead of a proper sound insulation ceiling, I have read a report that thermal insulation has no acoustic value whatsoever, complete waste of money.

I queried the local authority to see if permission was granted to install flooring in property above, as it specifically states it needs permission as part of rental agreement. Was not allowed to know this information and they also reinstalled new flooring this year, yet I get feedback, "its never been needed" yet specifically says you need permission in tenancy pack.

It is really difficult for us to move as main tenant suffers from bad health, we were advised to move onto another housing list by authority and has made it worse for us to move aswell as list is longer. I have got local councillor involved and he couldn't help either to get any real change. What I am asking is massive policy change and cost would be significant and probability would be little as a precedent is something they would be reluctant to create, as one gets they all get really.

I am at a loss at what to do really, any advice would be great?

As the above 2 posters have said your only real option is to move.

Prodigy

Thanks to you all for replying...

Neighbours will never move, the last two tenants all had problems with them, i spoke to them and they all said were practically forced out. The said neighbours have convictions and one for bothering us as tried to speak to them about these issues and got their angst for it. Council are not prepared to listen to previous issues in regards to tenants beforehand either as in their opinion, once they leave, not our problem anymore...that's attitude i have to put up with from them.

The noise report done didn't address issues stated, impact noise etc. There is a deeper and comprehensive test that could be done but council have just the legal minimum to suffice. All council did was place a microphone in one room and listen to ambient noise. I think their previous report was bias a bit due to legal proceedings. We can hear their conversations etc and ours probably heard also which is a complete invasion of privacy. Have the right to privacy in your own home.

The authority have already set precedent by trying to resolve issues in toilet so cant say definitively in terms of noise problem there isnt one.

I wish you all could sit and listen to what we hear, i have been complaining since 2004 about this.

We would love to move but circumstances haven't favoured that as explained. :-(

fairy_lights

Prodigy wrote: »

I wish you all could sit and listen to what we hear, i have been complaining since 2004 about this.

We would love to move but circumstances haven't favoured that as explained. :-(

Have you been on the waiting list for the other housing authority all that time?
I really don't understand why you've stayed there for so long if it's that bad, health problems or not you could have found a way to move after 11 years.

Norman_Castle

I've lived in the same flat for over 20 years. Its linked to four other flats. Other tenancies have changed and the biggest factor in the noise I hear is the tenant. Some will be very quiet and some are noisy. Soundproofing may make a limited difference but would be very expensive and realistically is not going to happen. As their noise is clearly becoming unbearable and they are unlikely to move then you should consider moving.

Prodigy

Thanks to you all for replying.

Problem is main tenant here (who is relative) doesnt keep well anymore due to major illness and due to new rules in regards to things, moving is hard for someone on benefits. I moved back to help care in meantime but need to back to work full time again soon. The council actually moved my relative off medical list onto another list which made it harder to move now. Ridiculous.

The cost of insulating full home is £10k as i got quote from a builder. We clearly wont pay for this and isn't our property so why should we but council wont create precedent by this as i have been told this is a major problem within their housing stock and will cost a lot of money for them.

The actual tenant above is in breach of their lease but the council wont address fact of installation of flooring anyway nor insulation by them above, these flats were not designed for laminate flooring.

There is legal channels to go on but I am hoping some legal person on this could offer some advice also to help?