New neighbours & too much noise, wanting to move

JessyRM

Hi Guys,

I'm in a bit of a pickle trying to decide whether to move or not. I live in a one bedroom flat I have been in for about a year, for most of the time I've been here the flat above has been empty. There was someone there for the first three months and the noise was a bit annoying but nothing terrible.

I have been thinking about moving somewhere bigger as I got a promotion at work and wanted more space for family and friends to stay, however I am currently paying off debts and putting my energy into that (I owe about 5K in total). My new promotion gives me an additional £500 a month so I thought great I can plough that into my debts and start saving.

Unfortunately now some new tenants have moved in upstairs and are making my flat unbearable. They wake up at 3am and 4.30am every day for work and make so much noise it wakes me up every time. I have spoken to them, wrote to them and the landlord. It seems to just be the building as they say they are only getting up and ready for work and can't be any quieter.

Has anyone moved because of neighbours? Has it been worth it? I don't know if I should try and stick it out until I've paid off my debts or move and live in peace!

I would be spending an additional 100-150 per month on a larger property but the agency fees are what is putting me off as they ask for so much.

Thanks

Jess

m0bov

Have you gone upstairs and asked them to stop?

glasgowdan

I'd definitely move if I were you, not totally due to neighbours, but just living in a flat in general. Would you be looking for a house? Semi detached etc?

coffeehound

OP, have you tried good quality ear plugs? I too have a noisy upstairs neighbour but ear plugs allow me to sleep through it.

Upsidedown_Bear

If it making you that unhappy and you can afford to move then do so
Life's too short to spend it being made miserable by neighbours.

moneyistooshorttomention

Personally - some peoples definition of "quiet" probably isnt the same as many of us would use. So they may genuinely think they are being quiet - but, in objective terms, they arent.

I know what you mean - as one set of neighbours to my last house used to set their alarm clock to go off during the night in order to be at work in time. I tried to point out politely that they were getting up for work earlier than most and request them to switch their alarm off as soon as it had done its job and woken them up. They wouldnt:mad:

To me - I just thought "they're jealous I work normal hours" and tried stuff like earplugs.

In your position - I'd "think positive" (ie "Hopefully they will decide to move soon") and carry on with my personal plans of paying off my debts. They're not going to give a monkey's about you being at risk of not having money you need to hand should a financial emergency crop up because they've "spent your money for you" in effect by causing you to move against your will. Hence, in your position, I'd refuse to have my plans disrupted by a move I myself hadnt decided on iyswim.

david1951

Sounds like you've tried talking to them. If that's the case then just save up the moving costs and move - you aren't in that much debt and as others have said life is too short. Just make sure you don't move into somewhere just as bad. Top floor flats are a safe bet.

I have the same problem, only in my case I am married to it...

glasgowdan

david1951 wrote: »

Top floor flats are a safe bet.

Top floor is the LAST place I'd move after seeing what our old neighbour on the top floor went through every few months! Not only noise from the side and below, but the constant rainwater issues. She was utterly at the end of her tether with it all.

JessyRM

Thank you for all the replies!

Yes I have spoken to them and wrote a letter, they say sorry and they will try to be quite but that they cant do much more. I believe them, some people are just heavy footed/handed.

I'm viewing a few places this week, I am lucky as I live in the city there is always loads of places for rent around my area. I think im going to take my time trying to find somewhere perfect and save as much as I can in the meantime.

Thanks

Jess

bod1467

Do they have wooden flooring upstairs? If yes, could they fit rugs to try to deaden the sound? (I'm assuming its footsteps that you're commenting on).

TiddlyPom

Definitely move. I was in similar position to you and couldn't move for various reasons and was stuck with the noise for almost a year. Despite this being almost 15 years ago, it had left me super sensitive to the noise of others to the extent I get very stressed, anxious and angry.
I do my bit by deep, slow breathing and my now neighbours do their bit by being lovely and quiet neighbours.