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

Irishpearce26

jranks123 said:

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 

I certainly wouldn't be entertaining any idea of spending £5k to appease my neighbour who i know nothing about. I guarantee they will likely reject any proposal of them forking out £2.5k to pay for this.

OP take your time and focus on moving in first, you may be quieter than the previous owners and may not be an issue at all. Try the suggested rug option first. 

user1977

Irishpearce26 said:

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?

It's considerably easier (and more effective) to insulate by lifting up the floorboards than trying to do it under the ceiling from beneath. And I suspect most of the problem is the impact / echoing from upstairs if they've got solid floors. The floorboards may be "original" but originally there would also have been carpets...

TripleH

We have lived in purpose built flats and even there sound doesn't travel directly upwards.

Once had a neighbour complain about the noise we made 10 minutes earlier as we came home with bags of shopping. Also had a complaint made about us scraping chairs on the floor when we were both ill in bed. There it was our neighbours and noise travelling diagonally.

Remember if you fix one room it might not fix the noise from another room coming into the same room.

People are quick to assume if the noise sounds above or below them it is coming directly above or below.

rexmedorum

Irishpearce26 said:

jranks123 said:

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 

I certainly wouldn't be entertaining any idea of spending £5k to appease my neighbour who i know nothing about. I guarantee they will likely reject any proposal of them forking out £2.5k to pay for this.

OP take your time and focus on moving in first, you may be quieter than the previous owners and may not be an issue at all. Try the suggested rug option first. 

It doesn't sound like they're expecting this to be done, so I'm not sure I would even suggest it. If you did be careful not to back yourself into a position where they are now expecting you to do it an get angry if you don't (even though they originally never thought about it)

Irishpearce26

user1977 said:

Irishpearce26 said:

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?

It's considerably easier (and more effective) to insulate by lifting up the floorboards than trying to do it under the ceiling from beneath. And I suspect most of the problem is the impact / echoing from upstairs if they've got solid floors. The floorboards may be "original" but originally there would also have been carpets...

But to the tune of £5k! That's the risk you take buying a flat. If the neighbours are that bothered (sounds like they aren't after suggesting buying a rug) then best thing to do is at least live in the place 3-6 months first and then discuss options.

firebubble

You don't know what's gone on in the past for your neighbours and how much they've been traumatised by noisy upstairs people. Noisy upstairs neighbours make life really miserable. Equally, if you're the downstairs person you can't literally tiptoe round, you do have to be able to live your life.

I've been in both situations. The difficulty is that once people become sensitised to noise, they can be on a hair trigger. My suggestions would be:
If you can carpet, do. If you can't or don't want to carpet, change into slippers when you get home. This habit alone can make downstairs neighbours weep with gratitude. 
Check for any obvious sources of future tension - is their bedroom below your washing machine or tv? If it is, be considerate and don't run them overnight.
Check your lease for restrictions on pets, music, radios etc and make sure you comply. 
When you met your neighbours, are they a similar age, lifestyle, shift pattern? If you get to know them, you'll know when they're not there and you can let rip on the noise! Also, lockdown made plenty of people notice noise they had previously lived with - are they (or you) going to back to a workplace - that might help too.
Be prepared to be considerate based on the construction of the property - no slamming doors, jumping (exercise) around, hoovering at midnight etc.
TVs with surround sound set ups, stereos with lots of bass - you might have to forego these. Wireless headphones are great though!

Try not to draw a line of 'it's my property and I'll do what I want'. Lovely neighbours are worth cultivating and displaying a bit of consideration goes a long way. People just want a quiet life. 

Hopefully you'll all work out an equilibrium. If they keep going on and you're at the point where you really feel like you are being as quiet as possible, suggest getting your floors insulated for noise if they want go halves (or even more - when I was the downstairs neighbour, I did suggest paying two thirds of the cost of getting it insulated because the only other choice was to move). If they really are desperate for quiet and don't want to move, this might be really appealing to them. 

Irishpearce26

firebubble said:

You don't know what's gone on in the past for your neighbours and how much they've been traumatised by noisy upstairs people. Noisy upstairs neighbours make life really miserable. Equally, if you're the downstairs person you can't literally tiptoe round, you do have to be able to live your life.

I've been in both situations. The difficulty is that once people become sensitised to noise, they can be on a hair trigger. My suggestions would be:
If you can carpet, do. If you can't or don't want to carpet, change into slippers when you get home. This habit alone can make downstairs neighbours weep with gratitude. 
Check for any obvious sources of future tension - is their bedroom below your washing machine or tv? If it is, be considerate and don't run them overnight.
Check your lease for restrictions on pets, music, radios etc and make sure you comply. 
When you met your neighbours, are they a similar age, lifestyle, shift pattern? If you get to know them, you'll know when they're not there and you can let rip on the noise! Also, lockdown made plenty of people notice noise they had previously lived with - are they (or you) going to back to a workplace - that might help too.
Be prepared to be considerate based on the construction of the property - no slamming doors, jumping (exercise) around, hoovering at midnight etc.
TVs with surround sound set ups, stereos with lots of bass - you might have to forego these. Wireless headphones are great though!

Try not to draw a line of 'it's my property and I'll do what I want'. Lovely neighbours are worth cultivating and displaying a bit of consideration goes a long way. People just want a quiet life. 

Hopefully you'll all work out an equilibrium. If they keep going on and you're at the point where you really feel like you are being as quiet as possible, suggest getting your floors insulated for noise if they want go halves (or even more - when I was the downstairs neighbour, I did suggest paying two thirds of the cost of getting it insulated because the only other choice was to move). If they really are desperate for quiet and don't want to move, this might be really appealing to them. 

Equally what have the downstairs neighbours done to resolve THEIR issue? By the sounds of it, nothing apart from recommend the new owners put a rug in. You don't buy a place to live to be control by controlling measures such us don't listen to the radio, TV no higher than 5, walk on tip toes etc. 

For me the neighbiours need to invest in this solution not the new owners.

lookstraightahead

I live in a Victorian house and you can hear everything upstairs from downstairs.

op, why are you surprised your downstairs neighbours can hear upstairs, and why would you expect money off? It's like asking for money off your holiday to Benidorm because when you booked your holiday to Benidorm you were surprised you were going to Benidorm. 

Wanderingpomm

Tecsound on the floors, it just sticks and you out your flooring into. Works like a dream 

Norman_Castle

jranks123 said:

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.

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

Earlier this year I lifted my floorboards, put in insulation, and put them back. £5k? It had a limited effect but it did make a difference. I used acoustic insulation roll, acoustic blocks would probably have been better but the rolls were bought very cheaply. I was aiming to limit the noise of the oaf that lives beneath me. He has an stupidly loud voice and insists on making extended phone calls at night, he's also thoughtfully bought a soundbar for his tv which he insists on watching through the night. The noise was reduced and oddly I noticed it seemed to now be coming from the sides of the room presumably through the walls. I suspect its benefited him more than me.

I've lived in the same flat for years and the biggest difference with noise travelling between floors is the residents. Previous tenants of the oafs flat were rarely heard. Its quite likely your new neighbours are considerate and therefore quiet, it also appears they will be easy to work with to find solutions if there are any problems. The current occupants may just be noisy people, I've got friends who I have to ask to turn their tv down to have a conversation with them. Victorian conversions along with other attached properties can be fine if the occupants are aware of the limitations of soundproofing and how intelligent adults should behave.