Upstairs neighbour floor

pdiggitydog

Hi there,

We live on the ground floor of a converted house and there is one flat above us on the first floor. The noise we hear from upstairs is unbearable; we can hear her walk around, singing at the top of her lungs all hours of the day, we can hear her dog so loudly it sounds as though it is running around in our flat and we even hear her phone vibrate. She recently had some work done in her flat and we saw her old carpet had been removed (seeing as it was left in front of our windows for a week), we think due to the increased level of noise she may have replaced it with hardwood floors (or polished floorboards as we heard something to this effect when the work was being done). I know often when houses are converted into flats the planning permission stipulates the upstairs must have carpet due to noise travelling, so my main question is is how do we find out whether this is the case for her flat? Do we get the deeds will they have the information about carpet or hard floor? Any information would be hugely beneficial!

Thanks so much

xylophone

You own the flat (leasehold/share of freehold)?

What does the lease have to say on the matter?

lindens

Do either of you own your flat?
Leasehold or freehold?

pdiggitydog

Hi there,
We rent the flat- our landlord owns the leasehold and the council owns the freehold I think? Do you mean what does our rental contract say?
Thanks!

pdiggitydog

The upstairs neighbour rents I think and I am not sure about who owns the freehold/leasehold

Crumble2018

I think you'll be on a losing battle here I'm afraid. Even if they are in breach of the lease upstairs, only your landlord can make a formal complaint, and even if he's willing to do that, it could take forever to resolve. I'd be thinking about moving. I have lived with someone above me before, and vowed that I would never do it again!

pdiggitydog

Thank you for your advice, I completely agree with never living below someone again! It can completely ruin your life!

lindens

Converted flats especially can be a nightmare, no proper insulation, low cost conversions etc

I agree with above. cut your losses and move - to a top floor flat or purpose built flat!

VincentVincent

If you move to a top floor flat or any level with neighbours below you, try not to become the thing you hate.

Some people prefer living in top floor flats and suggest others do the same so they don't have noise from above, while simultaneously giving no concern about becoming the source of the noise. As though it's their right to inflict the same annoyances on others because they experienced the same.

Crumble2018

VincentVincent wrote: »

If you move to a top floor flat or any level with neighbours below you, try not to become the thing you hate.

Some people prefer living in top floor flats and suggest others do the same so they don't have noise from above, while simultaneously giving no concern about becoming the source of the noise. As though it's their right to inflict the same annoyances on others because they experienced the same.

When we moved into ours, we bought our neighbour downstairs a bottle of wine to say hello, and apologise in advance about the noise of moving in. Since then we have checked with her several times to make sure she can't hear us making any noise. And our neighbour opposite has just had her flat re-carpeted as she has a 2 year old and was worried about the neighbours downstairs hearing her running around. There are still SOME considerate people left in the world!!

pdiggitydog

I do agree with moving however, it is quite expensive to move and stressful and whatnot but it's still not out of the question, but do you reckon there is no hope on the finding out if they've taken the carpet and getting them to refit it again?