Preparing to buy first home- Worried about neghbors

upoiupou

I'm surprised this is a concern if it hasn't been an issue in 8 years of living in various rental properties and your Mum's semi. Have those properties got anything in common? For example, were they built around the same time and/or in a particular style? If so, maybe look for something along similar lines.

I bought my first flat only to find out that the live-in owner of the flat below was a part time DJ who used professional sound equipment in his flat at high volume with four speakers up against the ceiling (which was my floor). My flat used to shake. He also worked shifts and often got up at 4am with a loud radio alarm that he left on for about half an hour. When I talked to him, he didn't accept the idea that he should change the volume of his life because it was inconvenient for me.

It doesn't get much worse than that noise-wise. But it's unlikely you'll have that kind of problem. I've never heard of anyone else having an experience like I did. And even though I had that - I survived. I actually did negotiate with him on some points (eg the times that he was noisy), I took some steps to reduce the impact on me. And he ended up moving out after about 18 months. The quietest person in the world then moved in instead! My flat was great for all the reasons I bought it in the first place, and I lived there many more years before selling.

All you can do is do your research using the suggestions others have posted, then don't worry about it too much. Worst case scenario, you can do all kinds of things to reduce noise like putting insulation under the floor boards. But it's unlikely to come to that.

sniggings

TBagpuss wrote: »

I have lovely neighbours and other than very ocasional noise when their young daughter has a party or a tantrum, I don't hear anything. But the next step in my plans for the hosue involved having built-in bookcases all along the wall that joins their house to mine - I'm pretty sure that all that paper will further deaden the sound!

Why? surely she can't have that many tantrums or parties? if she does, not sure why you think you have "lovely neighbours".

TBagpuss

sniggings wrote: »

Why? surely she can't have that many tantrums or parties? if she does, not sure why you think you have "lovely neighbours".

The bookcases are going in because I want them. Having 3,000 still in boxes isn't the ideal interior decor look!

The sound deadening is simply a bonus. And will stand me in good stead if the neighbours ever move and someone less lovely were to move in.

Davesnave

sniggings wrote: »

Why? surely she can't have that many tantrums or parties? if she does, not sure why you think you have "lovely neighbours".

Lovely neighbours can be gone in a matter of months, to be replaced with the other kind. No doubt the minimal noises that come from next door are a good indicator of the potential for future problems.

If one is re-furbishing part of a house, it makes sense and costs less in time and disruption to plan in noise reduction on party walls, although I'd use specialist products, rather than just books!

ultrak3wl

Never understood why someone building a house would think it's acceptable to construct party walls through which you can hear your neighbours breathing.

Mgman1965

david1951 wrote: »

Someone buying the flat next to my (old) place had a sound test done as part of their due diligence. You need to get permission but I was happy to let them do it. They set up speakers and microphones in each room and pressed a button; takes less than 10 minutes.


My current neighbors have a grand piano. Hasn't been a problem so far but they said they would usually only play it before 6pm. I've never needed (or desired) to ask them to be quiet. In fact I quite like it as they are brilliant pianists.


Films....depends on the frequency, loudness, time of day. My other neighbor watches films quite loud, but usually only on Sunday evenings, and before 10pm (or turns it down after).


I would be prepared to make some sacrifices if you currently watch films and play music until the early hours. If not, see how it goes.

A lot depends on what sort of films you watch. A Romcom played loud (music and laughter) is not so objectionable as a film that sounds like world war three breaking out next door (bombs and lots of gunfire going off).

jimbog

ultrak3wl wrote: »

Never understood why someone building a house would think it's acceptable to construct party walls through which you can hear your neighbours breathing.

Because it's cheaper to do so, they won't be living there and by the time the buyer realise it's too late

teddysmum

Sound from next door,in a semi, depends on interior furnishings, too.


We only used to hear our last neighbours if they had a row , slammed doors or did DIY, but since the remaining one died the house has been empty for over a year, so we have been spoiled.


It is now in the ownership of a builder who is doing it up and the noise is horrific at times (especially drilling on the separating wall at 8am), but as the carpets and soft furnishings have been stripped out I can hear every movement upstairs, coughs and sneezes, conversations, the radio and all tool usage. (I just hope the new people have carpets and not laminate flooring).