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

jonners666

Maskface said:

We were more erected by noise from beneath us as you really could hear everything. Even sex.

Well... that'd do it! 

Maskface

jranks123 said:

@Maskface did you consider getting soundproofing in the floors?

No. It was rental. 

greensalad

Maskface said:

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.

... Freudian slip there? 

michael1234

You can pull out or ask for a price reduction at any stage until exchange of contracts. You're getting most people say don't do it because it is considered bad practice as everyone in the chain (at least your vendors) will have spent a bit of cash and a lot of time up to that point and obvisouly puts your vendors under a lot of pressure.

However, taking morals out of the equation if you've only just found out the place is no good then yes you can pull out. You can also ask for a reduction but before you do remember everyone reacts differently. I had it happen to me a few years ago and I took the house off sale and wouldn't deal with the potentials buyers again as I was so annoyed with them. Yes probably I shouldn't let emotion dictate matters but as I say everyone reacts differently and you might get the discount or you might lose the sale.

Bendy_House

Jranks, are the existing floors the original timber floorboards? Are they 'nice'?! Ie, are they a feature that attracted you to the place?

If not, then carpets with good acoustic underlay and/or laminate flooring with ditto should make a very significant difference. Possibly even double-layer of insulation, say 8mm LD fibreboards first, then underlay... And also seal around the perimeter between the skirting boards and the floor - block any tiny air gaps that can be the source of significant sound transfers.

As said by others, tho', it's unlikely to be a full 'cure', and then it comes down to just how reasonable everyone's expectations are.

As also mentioned above, if you could have a trial by one person walking around as normal, whilst the other listens in the flat below, then you should have a good idea of where in the 'reasonable' spectrum the issues lies.

Irishpearce26

michael1234 said:

You can pull out or ask for a price reduction at any stage until exchange of contracts. You're getting most people say don't do it because it is considered bad practice as everyone in the chain (at least your vendors) will have spent a bit of cash and a lot of time up to that point and obvisouly puts your vendors under a lot of pressure.

However, taking morals out of the equation if you've only just found out the place is no good then yes you can pull out. You can also ask for a reduction but before you do remember everyone reacts differently. I had it happen to me a few years ago and I took the house off sale and wouldn't deal with the potentials buyers again as I was so annoyed with them. Yes probably I shouldn't let emotion dictate matters but as I say everyone reacts differently and you might get the discount or you might lose the sale.

I want a reduction because downstairs say they can hear you sometimes....I know what outcome this is going to have. 

I don't think this scenario has anything to do with bad practice, its like asking for a reduction because the flowers in the garden give the neighbours hayfever.

cattie

In the case of noise transference, It would be the lower flat buyers that could try to negotiate a lower price due to noise from the above flat, and not the buyers of the upper flat where the noise emanates from.

jranks123

Bendy_House said:

Jranks, are the existing floors the original timber floorboards? Are they 'nice'?! Ie, are they a feature that attracted you to the place?

If not, then carpets with good acoustic underlay and/or laminate flooring with ditto should make a very significant difference. Possibly even double-layer of insulation, say 8mm LD fibreboards first, then underlay... And also seal around the perimeter between the skirting boards and the floor - block any tiny air gaps that can be the source of significant sound transfers.

As said by others, tho', it's unlikely to be a full 'cure', and then it comes down to just how reasonable everyone's expectations are.

As also mentioned above, if you could have a trial by one person walking around as normal, whilst the other listens in the flat below, then you should have a good idea of where in the 'reasonable' spectrum the issues lies.

Yes, they are  

I've found quotes to take up the floorboards, put in insulation, and put them back, for about £5k. 

Think we will go ahead and hope that downstairs will pitch in 

Maskface

greensalad said:

Maskface said:

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.

... Freudian slip there? 

Oops lol 😳🤣

Irishpearce26

cattie said:

In the case of noise transference, It would be the lower flat buyers that could try to negotiate a lower price due to noise from the above flat, and not the buyers of the upper flat where the noise emanates from.

Or the lower flat could rectify their problem by installing soundproofing their end?