Just moved to a basement flat, horrible soundproofing

8bits

Hi,
I have just moved to a 1 bedroom basement flat in London and the soundproofing is really bad. I can basically hear every footsteps, conversations, laughs coming from upstairs when I am in the flat. When I say footsteps noise I mean that when people are walking upstairs I can hear dull, loud sounds that sometimes make the floor and/or windows somehow moving/shaking...

Here's the thing, I cannot really ask anything from the people upstairs as it seems they are just living normally but it's just the flat's soundproofing that is really bad. I suspect they can also hear me...

My contract is for 6 months as the agency told me the landlord was selling the flat. I managed to reduce the rent as it was unfurnished so not so many people would want to move with their furniture for 6 months only.

I haven't started to talk about this problem to the agency, but it looks like my only options is to talk about this to the agency and hope that the landlord will be fine with me leaving before the end of tenancy in 6 months.

What are your thoughts? What are my options if the landlord does not want?

Slithery

You signed a 6 month contract. If the landlord doesn't let you terminate early then you have to pay rent until the end of the tenancy, there's nothing you can do about it.

Did you not notice the noise when viewing?

8bits

Yes, I signed but I would have never signed if I had known about this.

It was quiet when I visited the flat. It's almost impossible to know beforehand as viewings do not last 2 hours (it's London) and even if it did there is a chance the neighbors are not in their flat anyway.

zagubov

Lots of London flats are conversions with poor soundproofing,so don't get your hopes up about moving elsewhere. I've lived in attic flats and basement flats there, and the upper ones were the only quiet ones (although I feared for my downstairs neighbours).

8bits

zagubov wrote: »

Lots of London flats are conversions with poor soundproofing,so don't get your hopes up about moving elsewhere. I've lived in attic flats and basement flats there, and the upper ones were the only quiet ones (although I feared for my downstairs neighbours).

I know what you mean as I have been living in London for 7 years in at least 5 or 6 different flats. But this one which is in this typical victorian house is one of the worst...

8bits

So I found out the sale advert online and it is actually the whole house that is being sold (for more than £1m) and it is currently divided into a split-level 2 bedroom maisonette and a one bedroom basement floor flat.

This explains why the soundproofing is so bad...

accidental_landlord_2

There is no solution other than moving. Get out ASAP - look for any break clauses in tenancy agreement.. IIRC there may be one at 30 days but I could be wrong. A very similar situation made me endure a hellish year while renting in London... I wouldn't wish it on anyone! Best of luck.

00ec25

accidental_landlord wrote: »

IIRC there may be one at 30 days but I could be wrong. .

No idea what you think you are recalling, a 6 month tenancy lasts for 6 months and as we have not seen the actual contract the OP signed we have no idea if there is a break clause before that date.

in reality it would be 99.9% unlikely such a clause would be present since the LL cannot start possession claims during the first 6 months of any tenancy except under very specific grounds, and a generic break clause is not such a ground.

the "solution" for the OP is to negotiate with the LL and ask the LL if they are willing to agree an early termination ("mutual surrender"). The LL will be in a position to dictate terms in such circumstances - typically, but not limited to, the tenant paying the LL's costs for re-advertising and vetting new tenants.

accidental_landlord_2

00ec25 wrote: »

No idea what you think you are recalling, a 6 month tenancy lasts for 6 months and as we have not seen the actual contract the OP signed we have no idea if there is a break clause before that date.

in reality it would be 99.9% unlikely such a clause would be present since the LL cannot start possession claims during the first 6 months of any tenancy except under very specific grounds, and a generic break clause is not such a ground.

I'm sure I had 2 weeks to give notice to terminate the tenancy agreement I had and only have responsibility for the first 3 months rent... As you said different contract and I'll admit to knowing little as to what is or isn't fair when it comes to these...

I think you'd agree nothing's sorting the OPs problem within 6 months apart from moving if possible.

(On a side note- we've bumped into each other on a few topics in the last couple of mins - mainly you quoting me... I am new here today and have been asking for advice on a topic I know little about... In return I've been trying to chip in where I think I can point someone in the right direction, I'm not trying to be a know it all... simply trying to contribute in return.)

hazyjo

Loads of people find things like this out after buying - I suppose you have to look on the bright side that you have a short tenancy and haven't just signed up to a 5 year mortgage deal and spent possibly 10s of thousands...


I am very noise intolerant so feel your pain. I would be having music on all the time to distract me and trying my best to sit it out without going crazy.


As above, it's worth a try with the LL but don't hold out much hope. Money talks - if you can offer to cover some costs, it may help.

00ec25

accidental_landlord wrote: »

(On a side note- we've bumped into each other on a few topics in the last couple of mins - mainly you quoting me... I am new here today and have been asking for advice on a topic I know little about... In return I've been trying to chip in where I think I can point someone in the right direction, I'm not trying to be a know it all... simply trying to contribute in return.)

fair enough, but please be aware that if you offer a "directional steer" then do so only where you know that what you say is in accordance with landlord and tenancy law, otherwise people will correct your post and that will simply become tedious for all

personal experience is not always a guide to what is right. There are many LL who flout the rules through either deliberate action or because they have not yet educated themselves as they did not intend to be full time professional LL, and so do things or write contracts that are meaningless or just wrong.

as you want to help then start by learning the basics by reading G-M's guides to tenancy rules, then you will be able to contribute from a knowledge base:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5180214