About to complete on house but downstairs have mentioned noise...

jranks123

Hi all, first post! 

So my partner and I are days away from completion on a share of a freehold victorian conversion. We are purchasing the upstairs flat and met the downstairs flat for coffee the other day. 

They mentioned that they can hear all airborne noise from upstairs - music, talking, the TV. Our living spaces are above eachother. They said "I'm sure putting a rug down or something will fix it" but I spoke to a friend who had a similar situation and he said that the rug didn't do much and it's likely that to resolve the issue, we'd need to take up the wood floor and put soundproofing materials in, which I'm just getting a quote for but will probably cost a fair few grand.

My solicitor says this is quite common in 90s conversions of Victorian properties, when there was a lot of splitting houses into 2 where it wouldn't have been done to today's soundproofing standards. 

My question for you lovely people is thus - should we raise this with the sellers and ask for money off the house for this? Or is this the sort of thing that you just fix if you are bothered enough to sort it out?

thanks!!

user1977

If you're "days away from completion", have you exchanged? If so it's too late to renegotiate. And in any event, I'm not sure how it makes the value of the property less.

If the floors are bare wood, putting down carpet is an easy way of lessening the amount of noise.

jranks123

we have not exchanged. this was new information we only gleaned a couple of days ago. Hoping to exchange and complete at the same time

another_casualty

It seems that you have got off to a good start with your potential new neighbours .
If it were me moving above them , I'd get the flat carpeted as soon as . If you were doing decorating ,then I'd let them know and get carpet down soon after .

From what you have mentioned , you already have got a big positive . No Need to ask for a price reduction . The potential new neighbours have given you a tip off by mentioning " the rug " . 

Just laying carpet over the existing flooring would be less cost , and less hassle in the long run . 

You have the perfect opportunity to settle in quite nicely . Now is the time to take it , if you proceed with the purchase ...

deannagone

One thing you could do, is have one of you go upstairs, the other go downstairs and one stomp around, or walk around, and the other see if there is a lot of noise that could cause downstairs neighbour to complain.  You don't want that kind of harrassment.

Irishpearce26

I cant see how you could ask for a price reduction, its a material request not an issue that affects the use/value of the property. As others have said i would get a good thick carpet with good underlay fitted.

another_casualty

Irishpearce26 said:

I cant see how you could ask for a price reduction, its a material request not an issue that affects the use/value of the property. As others have said i would get a good thick carpet with good underlay fitted.

Yes ..never forget the underlay ! 😼👍makes all the difference , plus carpet lasts longer etc

Maskface

I lived in a Victorian converted house for 26 years. Even with underlay and carpet noise was always a problem. We were more erected by noise from beneath us as you really could hear everything. Even sex.

jranks123

@Maskface did you consider getting soundproofing in the floors?

another_casualty

Fwiw, I live in a gd flr Victorian conversion . 2 flats above me . Both let out .
The good news for me , is that I have insulated suspended ceilings which do make a difference . All designs vary ..

TripleH

Also taking shoes off when you get home (if you don't already) can help reduce some noise.

As is thinking about how you position speakers and felt pads are wonderful for furniture legs. Remember to lift not drag furniture.

Im not optimistic you can get a discount on the price though as it sounds more like a lifestyle issue as much as a building issue.