Noisy neighbours

MrXXXXX

Hi,

I just bought my first property - a ground floor flat (built around the year 2000) and the noise from footsteps upstairs is extreme. They also have kids running around.

I do feel stupid not investigating this properly before my purchase - I think I was so wrapped up in the mortgage and legal side of things I didn't pay enough attention to the property itself. I viewed the flat three times and didn't hear major noise problems and the estate agents said they didn't know who lived upstairs.

However - the noise is such that I would be surprised if there had not been previous complaints. The vendor did not mention any complaints / issues etc in his legal documents.

I have a few questions...

1) If I was to ask the council of any records of noise complaint, would I have to disclose this request for information if/when I come to sell?

2) If I contact the block management company to ask if they had ever received noise complaints, would I need to disclose this on selling?

3) Similarly, If I ask the management company to check if the upstairs neighbours have broken their lease agreement by installing laminate flooring (only carpets permitted) - would I have to disclose this request for information?

4) The previous owner of my flat was a landlord who rented the property out. Would there be a record of complaints made to him, but not the council? I guess this would be very difficult to prove.

Any help on the items above would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Sibz

Have you met your upstairs neighbour?
Try talking to them - they be completely unaware of what you're hearing. It may be the way the place was built that it amplifies sounds (shouldn't be but often happens).

Surely you want to keep it amicable as much as possible?

theartfullodger

Follow CaB advice here...
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/problems-where-you-live/complaining-about-your-neighbour/


Next time, so what almost nobody ever does: Lurk around close by several evenings and weekends, sit in car with windows open. Before exchanging knock on several neighbours doors, explain you're buying, look forward to meeting them again in future, any things they'd mention?

MrXXXXX

Sibz wrote: »

Have you met your upstairs neighbour?
Try talking to them - they be completely unaware of what you're hearing. It may be the way the place was built that it amplifies sounds (shouldn't be but often happens).

Surely you want to keep it amicable as much as possible?

Hi. Yes I did raise it with them. They said 'It's what kids do' and 'the building has bad soundproofing'. Both are understandable reasons, but it felt like their answer had been given before...maybe to previous occupants downstairs. Hence my questions at start of this thread.

The building is indeed very poorly soundproofed (airbourne noise is ok, but impact noise from feet booms through the whole structure). I just feel that the vendor must have know this and failed to declare it.

MrXXXXX

theartfullodger wrote: »

Follow CaB advice here...

Next time, so what almost nobody ever does: Lurk around close by several evenings and weekends, sit in car with windows open. Before exchanging knock on several neighbours doors, explain you're buying, look forward to meeting them again in future, any things they'd mention?

If I ever get the chance again I totally will. I'm currently sick with regret and really anxious that I'll never be able to sell the place because of the noise. I should be enjoying my new flat but I just feel like an idiot.

I can't hear airbourne noise (talking, TV) but the footfall impact noise booms through the building structure.

I'm trying to get an appointment at Citizens Advise regarding a search for previous complaints etc. I fear, though, that as the previous owner rented the place out he will say the complaints were from his tenants and he knew nothing about it.

G_M

What exactly do the leases say about flooring.

It should be easy to distinguish between the sound of feet on a fitted carpet and a laminate floor (or similar). Frome what you describe it sounds like the latter.

So: lease?

financegeek

As frustrating as it is, if the previous owner rented the property out it's unlikely he complained about the noise and if tenants did complain to him, i'm not sure how you'd prove it.

rather than going down the compensation route (as you'll probably just be throwing good money away) you're probably better off trying to resolve the issue yourself.

can you add sound proofing to your property to reduce the noise? or speak to the management company about checking that your upstairs neighbours to have appropriate flooring (as specified in your lease)

Rich2808

OP - having lived above a family with stomping toddlers (that was bad enough) - you have my sympathy.

While acknowledging the above options on soundproofing etc it may involve a lot of effort and cost for not much benefit. Your ideal upstairs neighbour is a single person who works long hours so is never home - and as a long as the family/kids aren't excessively noisy between 11pm and 6am you are unlikely to get much sympathy from management companies and local council noise teams.

Get some good headphones - so you can watch tv - and earplugs and develop an active social life or work late so you aren't home until they go to bed. Or move. Because if you are noise sensitive it is unlikely to go away as an issue unless they move or you do.

As houses become more expensive more and more families with young kids are living in flats - its a fact of modern day life.

shortcrust

It's ironic that you want to find out if information was withheld about the noise when you bought but you're worried that your enquiries will prevent you from withholding information about the noise when you sell.

MrXXXXX

shortcrust wrote: »

It's ironic that you want to find out if information was withheld about the noise when you bought but you're worried that your enquiries will prevent you from withholding information about the noise when you sell.

Yes it is I suppose. I've realised that this is the way of the world. I feel like I've been duped and perhaps I will need to play the same game even if it's not in my nature. Quite honestly I don't know what the hell to do.

sal_III

MrXXXXX wrote: »

Yes it is I suppose. I've realised that this is the way of the world. I feel like I've been duped and perhaps I will need to play the same game even if it's not in my nature. Quite honestly I don't know what the hell to do.

Unless you specifically asked about possible noise from neighbours and was lied to (which doesn't seems to be the case, from what you have said so far), you weren't duped.

You duped yourself, by rushing into buying a property without checking all the bases.