Thuds from barefoot footsteps above meets all building standards!?!

Jaguar555

Hi,


I moved into a new build apartment last month. It's in London and I paid £475500 for the apt - not cheap. It's on the 9th floor of a 10 story modern new build and there are concrete floors between each level. The builder is a reputable builder (who I am refraining from naming right now)


Each time the people in the apartment above me are home I can hear them walk around barefoot in their living room above mine. It's a constant thud, thud, thud sound. I can hear this while watching TV or having a conversation. I know the people and they are very nice people not doing anything abnormal. It's just walking back and forth from the kitchen to their sofa. They don't have kids.


I don't hear any airborne noise from above (music, speaking etc). It's only the impact of walking.


I asked other residents in the building if they have a similar experience and although they hear noise from above occasionally. It's nothing like I have to put up with.


I contacted the Developer and they came around and witnessed it themselves. They acknowledged that it was strange. They followed it up with an email saying that they met all NHBC standards so they won't be taking any further action. They carried out acoustic tests and said that they meet all standards that they need to meet. They considered the case closed from their end.


Informally one of the acoustic test engineers mentioned that it would probably pass tests as the absolute sound is not loud. However, they agreed that something doesn't seem right and questioned maybe if the "bridge" is broken allowing impact sound to travel down.


I'm at my wits end about what to do next. The constant thudding is driving me crazy especially when trying to work or read in the evenings.


Is it reasonable to expect to hear somebody WALKING around BAREFOOT in the apartment above in a brand new, insulated new build worth almost 500k?


Should I get an independent Engineer in to have a look at what is happening.


If I have to go down a legal route I will but would like to get the view of others and maybe suggestions about what else I could do?


Many Thanks

Thrugelmir

What flooring have your neighbours laid?

Dean000000

What legal route?

What performance/measure of acoustic insulation were you sold in your contract?

Jaguar555

Unilin laminate flooring. It is laid with insulation underneath it on a concrete floor.


I have the same in mine and I have checked if the people below me can hear me but they can't


I've lived in a similar building with the same flooring for 5 years prior to this but never been able to hear those above me.

Jaguar555

Hi Dean,


My rationale is what I am experiencing is not reasonable - somebody walking barefoot. My view is not that it is low quality but there is a fundamental issue that needs to be addressed and they are not taking action to fix it.


I challenged them that if this is what they think is reasonable to bring some other prospective buyers in to witness what they expect homebuyers to tolerate.


I'm no lawyer or engineer but something is wrong with the insulation …

Carrot007

Jaguar555 wrote: »

somebody walking barefoot

Have you installed spy cameras in their apartment?


Anyhow...


Some people are not cut out for the noise you will get in apartments, quater houses, terraces, semi-detached, of even new build "detached" but may as well not be.


Laminate is not suitable for apartments, but you have it too so you have no room to complain.


Your best option is move. I am sure you do not want to hear that right now, but do come back in two years to say so.

Jaguar555

Carrot - I know my neighbours and have checked with them. We've carried out tests amongst ourselves when I told them I could hear their every footstep below.


I've lived in an apartment for many years but I've never experienced anything like this.


I'm not talking about occasional noise. This is ongoing - when they walk … I hear them .. thud … thud … thud

xylophone

Are they really walking barefoot all the time on a laminate floor without underfloor heating?

That must be chilly except in the summer!

Improved impact noise insulation required either for their floor or your ceiling?

Carrot007

xylophone wrote: »

either for their floor or your ceiling?

For which is is worth pointing out will cost a lot for a little reduction.


Could well be the building design or something to do with your particular level.


As I said I would not personally consider an apartment where laminate was allowed (although enforcing that is another matter).

Jaguar555

xylophone - all the apartments have underfloor heating. It's a modern build.


Carrot - the full name of the flooring is Unilin LVT flooring.


What sort of engineer would look into this sort of issue if I were to get someone to look at it?

Dean000000

Depends for what purpose. If you want an engineer to prove something is defective (and therefore claim from the builder) then you are wasting your time.

If you genuinely just want advice on how to improve the situation call in an acoustic engineer, who can recommend ways to improve.

Both Their advice and suggested works will cost Money.

Nhbc have ruled it’s within the required standard - so I don’t believe you have any recourse