Advice on Floor issue due to Neighbour

Jaynorth_2

Lorian wrote: »

Are you sure the vibration is not your water supply pipes vibrating, particularly after flushing the toilet perhaps, if the valve is faulty, before retiring? It can set up deep vibrations for a long time.

Yes I am certain - I can hear them switching it on and off and I deliberately moved from room to room in the middle of the night just to test their determination and see how easy it is for them to carry whatever it is that they are using, and because of this I have heard them carrying it down the stairs or at least someone carrying something down the stairs when I moved to the living room from my bedroom.

PhilE

This is a difficult situation. The council will most probably do nothing, and if you complain to the council you have to declare the complaint when selling the house. That will cost you money.

No point in talking to the neighbor, he's a bully and will only respond to aggression.

One of the biggest faults of the UK, is that there is not much support when it comes to neighbor issues. First world rate of tax, without the protection that German or Swiss citizens get when it comes to our right to peace and quiet.

The only real solution is to get out of there. You have my sympathies.

Jaynorth_2

PhilE wrote: »

This is a difficult situation. The council will most probably do nothing, and if you complain to the council you have to declare the complaint when selling the house. That will cost you money.

No point in talking to the neighbor, he's a bully and will only respond to aggression.

One of the biggest faults of the UK, is that there is not much support when it comes to neighbor issues. First world rate of tax, without the protection that German or Swiss citizens get when it comes to our right to peace and quiet.

The only real solution is to get out of there. You have my sympathies.

The problem is that I have just bought the place and cannot afford to sell up and move with stamp duty, legal fees, estate agents fees.... not to talk of the possible loss in value ... I would most likely end up making myself homeless or going back to renting which does not make sense, which is why I am seriously considering forcing the issue with the council.

There is equipment that can monitor and report on this kind of thing, it is not magic it is just science and I am sure that any acoustic engineers will back me up on this. I have approached companies that make this equipment and even hire it out but they told me that they do not deal with private individuals, only councils yet councils will not hire the equipment because they do not have the budget for it which leads me back to my original approach - surely there is something I can do in my property even if it is just in one room to mitigate against the effects of what they are doing next door?

pinkshoes

I have a violin you can borrow. Early morning practices are best...

(Sorry, other helpful suggestions, but sending sympathy.)

J_B

Jaynorth wrote: »

he just follows me to the corresponding room in his property.

Jaynorth wrote: »

Yes I am certain - I can hear them switching it on and off and I deliberately moved from room to room in the middle of the night just to test their determination and see how easy it is for them to carry whatever it is that they are using, and because of this I have heard them carrying it down the stairs or at least someone carrying something down the stairs when I moved to the living room from my bedroom.

Sorry, I don't understand - how can a neighbour tell which room you are in???

Jaynorth_2

J_B wrote: »

Sorry, I don't understand - how can a neighbour tell which room you are in???

Not sure if you read my previous post but I explained that the houses here are very old and are of "single skin" construction or single brick, so you tend to find with these types of terraced properties that noise travels very easily so you can hear when someone goes up and down the stairs or in the corresponding room in the neighbouring property. Particularly if you are interested in listening and following your neighbour around with the intention of causing trouble.

naf123

Have you tried air mattress under your regular mattress ? Or perhaps a hanging bed suspended from the ceiling although I suppose the risk is the joist in the ceiling might be affected too .

Ideas here

https://www.improvisedlife.com/2015/07/06/vibration-fixes-levitation-suits-air-mattress-shock-absorbers/

Air mattress under the mattress is probably a good idea but you might need a stepladder to get into bed !

Mistral001

Maybe this machine that shakes the floor is something to do with the neighbour's business. If it is, then that could be considered a change of use of the building and against the Planning laws.

Carrot007

Sorry but everything you say just sounds like unproven paranoia.


Yes it is the british way to avoid speaking and get on with it, however you have no eveidence he is doing anything and no proof he know what he is doing. Like it or not talking is always the first port of call. And yes it is much harder now you have left it so long, however it's either do that, put up or move that are your options.


And yes I have had odd neighbours. One would play a recording of a karaoke night repeatedly, loud every night. Took a while to realise what they were doing. Fortunatly at the time I could sleep though everything and be louder back on occasions. Still pretty odd though.


You may well be able to get help but without being prepared to do anything yourself up front you will get nothing unless as you say it is very loud goings on.

Money_Grabber13579

I do wonder why he would only start doing stuff like this shortly after you move in? Is it possible that you could have upset him in anyway, even unknowingly and this is “revenge”?

For example, do you have a TV attached to your wall where the sound is transmitting through to his side? Or (personal question which you don’t have to answer!) do you snore and he can hear that?