HMO, Flats Fire Doors & Laminate Floors Noises

NorbieG

I'm 77 years of age.  For 7 years, I've been in a noise problem situation coming from HMO house fire doors and laminate flooring.  It’s an ex-council property like mine.  The local council did nothing to fix the noise, although I believe it’s their responsibility as they permitted fire doors to be fitted in the HMO property.   However, the council did a biased-bogus, covered-up, flawed noise investigation.  They even tried to blame the noise on unsociable behaviour of the tenants; when in fact, it’s the fault of the poor construction of these ex-council's properties/buildings and the council is to blame.  These properties/buildings with very thin party walls, and no insulation; and the upper half of these houses' outer solid walls are made from Fly Ash and are classified as prefabricated.

I've already ended up in the hospital with heart palpitations, high blood pressure, and suffered a mild stroke, due to the trauma - stress, anxiety, depression, because of the noise and what the council have put me through. I also had suicidal thoughts until when my doctor spoke to me and told me a few home truths about the council.

Recently, I’ve been experiencing the same sort of fire doors [also permitted by the council] and laminate flooring noises coming from two flats [upper and lower] on the other side of me; also ex-council.  But, the council is not doing anything about the noises from the flats, either.

Another problem is that; because of the noise, I'm unable to sell my property to escape them, or even downsize.

Emmia

Who owns the HMO?

The fact regulations require fire doors on this HMO might have nothing to do with the council.

NorbieG

Emmia, sorry I haven't been on the thread because I didn't think I'll get any response on this forum.

However, in answer to your question; the HMO house belongs to a private landlord [but it may as well belong to the council as they favour HMOs..., and HMOs are known as the new style of council accommodation].  And the flats on the other side of me [where I'm also experiencing fire doors and laminate flooring noises] the council is the freeholder.  it's the council who permitted the installation of fire doors in unsuitable properties.  They told me that themselves;  although they won't tell me which properties are not suitable for fire doors.

Emmia

Ok, I don't see that it's the Council's responsibility to fix, as they don't own the HMO(s). It is the owner(s) of the HMO(s) who would be responsible.

However, fire doors are required for obvious reasons, so I can't see you're going to get that altered. So if this is causing you serious health issues, then the only option I think is moving yourself.

loubel

As Emmia says, the HMOs are required to have fire doors. Is your complaint that you can hear them slamming shut through a thin party wall but the council have already investigated and found no actionable noise disturbance? Have you tried putting up sound insulation on your side?

user1977

Emmia said:

However, fire doors are required for obvious reasons, so I can't see you're going to get that altered. 

Fire doors aren't going to be removed, but they can often be made less slammy by adjusting the springs.

mexican_dave

Yes, @user1977 is right, the door closes have oil operated dampers that slow the closing of the doors. Easily adjusted in a couple of minutes. Suggest you write to the landlord to ask for these to be adjusted to avoid the noise you experience. Your post seems to one of "conspiracy" on the part of the Council, sorry that's not the case, it's just buildings are built with good intentions, but lessons are learned and newer constructions don't have the same errors, and the requirement to have fire doors is to keep people safe, it's in the Regulations. Suggest you stop looking for villains, but instead try to improve the things you can, if that fails move.

NorbieG

mexican_dave said:

Yes, @user1977 is right, the door closes have oil operated dampers that slow the closing of the doors. Easily adjusted in a couple of minutes. Suggest you write to the landlord to ask for these to be adjusted to avoid the noise you experience. Your post seems to one of "conspiracy" on the part of the Council, sorry that's not the case, it's just buildings are built with good intentions, but lessons are learned and newer constructions don't have the same errors, and the requirement to have fire doors is to keep people safe, it's in the Regulations. Suggest you stop looking for villains, but instead try to improve the things you can, if that fails move.

So @mexican_dave I’ve done my research. It’s true about the dampers, but an acoustic company has informed me that even with the dampers adjusted, there will still be noise due to the poor construction of the buildings. According to the council, they’ve approached the landlord... It seems like you’re either a council worker, an HMO landlord, or a businessman who doesn’t care about people’s well-being. What about the regulations on noise pollution that are supposed to protect me?

I’ve been living here for 36 years, long before the HMO and council’s regulations. Shouldn’t the council consider installing sound insulation in these properties if they require fire doors and laminate flooring? It appears the council doesn’t care about my well-being because it’s not in their interest. You suggest I stop looking for villains...  From my personal experience, and what I have heard and read, the council and the whole political system are the villains!

Would you buy a property with that kind of noise coming from both sides? If so, I’m open to selling it to you or anyone else!  Even the council won’t buy it back from me so I can move.