Taking next door landlord to court for lack of noise insulation

davidmcn

Deleted_User said:

davidmcn said:

Deleted_User said:

You need to be aware that any official complaints you have made to the council and authorities will need to declared upon selling

As will non-official complaints, and anything which might lead to a dispute...

Define non-official. 

Very difficult to prove that an 'off the record' conversation with the neighbours about noise levels even took place. 

It's also difficult to prove that a report to the council or police took place, as I'd hope they'd safeguard the sources of their intelligence.

Nonetheless, the property information form requires vendors to declare "any disputes or complaints" (question 2):

https://tlsprdsitecore.azureedge.net/-/media/files/topics/property/ta6-specimen-may-2020.pdf

justworriedabit

Hello Op
I've not read every post.

Bottom lines. In a HMO, as long as the LL has met their obligations , nothing you can do re any more insulation.  Complain to the police/council re noise or insulate your own property.

If the noise is really bad and courts/cousil agree they will have the T's evicted.

So, insulate your own home is one option or move.

We live in a terraced house its a large victorian  type, no rentals here - but we at times do like to watch a moving with full sound effects and every so often have a family gathering and best will in the world can get noisy after drinks so we have built a false  sound reducer wall in the living room and dining room on party wall side.


There are good sound insulation laterial out there about 1 inch thick we've used those and another type then same again all in all 3-5 inches thinck inc new plaster.

justworriedabit

Btw - sound insulations difficlut to compare and can be very expensive, we jut got lucky.  We have turned on the sound sytem very high and gone next door and you can hardly hear it.

MoonChild91

I'm having similar problems OP with both our neighbours and a couple of other houses on the street. I've resorted to ringing the noise team whenever anything starts up even if it ends before they come out so there's a log, and keeping a noise diary. It's effort, but one of the houses on my street did get served with a section 80 in the summer thanks to us and a few other houses complaining frequently (they were having parties until 5am, had a hot tub in the yard, would start fires in the street etc). Sadly I think I'm in a similar position where the neighbours aren't playing music or having parties, which is all the councils seem to act on. 
Otherwise contacting the university is usually a good move, especially if they've been having parties and breaking lockdown rules; the university I work at does threaten its students with fines and suspensions if they're repeatedly found to be doing this. If the house is rented through Unipol you can also contact them about the issues you're having with their tenants. 

stargirl0

HighContrast said:

(Apologies, there isn't a legal forum, mods please move to a more appropriate forum if there is one?)

Noise - CAB

 

I live in a terrace house which is in a prime student location, therefore nearly all rentals, my family and I are owner occupiers of our house. (but yes need to move away obviously but that situation is complicated atm)

 

We live next to a rental property that is rented out 2 possibly three students, but the often have guests, even when it was peak lockdown.

 

The issue as you can imagine with students, coming back at all hours, shouting, slamming of doors etc.

 

Now I complained to the university which made some difference, and also to the council which made some difference, however the council always missed the worst of the shouting, and so seem to think along the line that is it  borderline acceptable anyway. But despite that the issue remains even if they are being "normal"

 

The problem is the house is one big echo chamber, wooden floors, painted walls, basically sounds just reverberate. I can hear a normal volume conversation. And the neighbours bathroom which adjacent my bedroom, I can hear the conversation more clearly than I would if someone was talking to me the upstairs landing with my door closed. I have been woken at various times by someone having a drunken mobile phone chat.

 

I asked the students, they can't really hear us because we have carpets, thick curtains, wallpaper etc.

 

I know there are rules for flats i.e. no wooden flooring etc., but I guess it is a bit more of a grey area for houses? Are there minimum requirements here too? But I'm considering taking legal action against the landlord because this noise travel/lack of soundproofing from the property, and so that they remedy this. Basically they layout/decor of the house is unsuitable (IMO) for its purpose i.e. a student let in still residential area.

 

What I want to know, is what do I need to consider? And what help can I get, if any, RE legal costs (is it Citizens Advice who do this?)

 

I think I will need to get independent noise monitoring, (as I say council always miss the worse of it), is this admissible in court? And again is this something citizens advice can help with?

Can I also sue for damages/personal distress/health implications?

Thanks

Just wondering how you got on?  

elsien

The person you are asking hasn't logged in for 12 months so probably isn't going to respond.