Update on noisy neighbours issue

littlemissbliss

I made a post about this before, maybe a couple of times but one got closed because I was in so much distress with it. 

In May 2025 I bought and moved into my home which is a ground floor 2 bedroom apartment. When viewing the flat I did ask about soundproofing which was all good (apparently). However the day I moved in it sounded like a children’s gym was above my head! Hoping it was a one off I left it, but this was a daily occurrence to the point where it did almost cause a fire in my flat (through the vibrations). Anyway fast forward I did try contacting her, sent her notes, all ignored. I spoke to the last owner who gave me the housing association group (Mears Group), I contacted them which was ignored. I contacted the buildings management company but they was unable to do anything, I then contacted the council and logged it as a case - but it was very difficult to get them to act. I contacted the CAB but the waiting list was huge so I did end up having to pay for a solicitor to send out legal letters (to my neighbour, her landlord and the council).

Off the back of that, firstly the neighbour got abusive once she got her letter and that on its own was recorded as a warning from her reaction alone, Their landlord just stated that his not liable and that it’s up to me to sort it out (which is incorrect), the council said they would put sound measuring equipment in, and my solicitor told me it would be a gamble taking it to court unless I had solid evidence. I did a recording of the noise,  but not measured. So I had to move out for a month because the banging was just to bad, even with sound cancelling headphones I could still hear it. 

Taking us the January of this year, i moved back into my flat and I asked the council to give me a date when the sound measuring equipment can be installed. She told me to give it a bit of time as they were given a final notice. I asked what this meant and I still have no idea to this day - but they have no powers to evict. The situation improved for a few weeks then started to slide back again. Feeling incredibly frustrated that it’s not far off a year now and I am still having to deal with this, last week I asked the council again “when can I have the sound measuring equipment installed?” - ignored. 

I have both recorded the noise which everyone has a copy of including legal, the landlord is refusing he has it even though my solicitor sent it. I have measured the sound myself and get to about 70dbs (that’s on a good day). The day I moved in it must have been around 80 - the council knows this and will not get this officially recorded. Hence why I can’t go to court. 

So being completely out of options I have only 2 options left, move or add in soundproofing from my own wallet. However sound proofing is not garenteed to work and I would need my whole ceiling removing. It was also an asbestos ceiling which can be quite dangerous for both flats. 

Currently my work contract is almost over so I can’t do it yet, and the reason I can’t move as I was laid off. 

So currently I am being forced to sit below this noice I can’t escape from. I did have to rehome my house rabbits because I needed the freedom to just up and go if it was getting too much. I had been staying with my parents. 

There should be a law on this, it’s not right that certain people are protected while others have to suffer. I have no option left to me but to spend a fortune, whichever way you look at it - when it would be so much easier if the person above was just considerate. 

If anyone has more suggestions do let me know. 

user1977

Previous threads here so everyone knows what advice has already been provided:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6556883

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6525952

anselld

I doubt there will be new ideas after two treads previous.  OP you need to persist with the Council as they are the ones who actually have enforcement powers.  Complain to your Councilor if you are not getting response from the relevant department.

Tabieth

anselld said:

Complain to your Councilor if you are not getting response from the relevant department.

This is very, very good advice. My last job was in a local authority. Officers really step it up when the elected members get involved. Go to your Councillor and they may well get this fast tracked for you. 

Baldytyke88

littlemissbliss said:

There should be a law on this, it’s not right that certain people are protected while others have to suffer. I have no option left to me but to spend a fortune, whichever way you look at it - when it would be so much easier if the person above was just considerate. 

If anyone has more suggestions do let me know. 

I think very few will have experience of living in a flat. My daughter came to live with me and installed wood flooring in her bedroom, so it's now very noisy. But none of the neighbours complained. It would be cheaper to pay for the flat above to have thick carpets than mess with your ceiling. Some flats in my area are for those over 55s only.

Noise is very subjective, maybe the noise didn't bother the last owners.

littlemissbliss

Baldytyke88 said:

littlemissbliss said:

There should be a law on this, it’s not right that certain people are protected while others have to suffer. I have no option left to me but to spend a fortune, whichever way you look at it - when it would be so much easier if the person above was just considerate. 

If anyone has more suggestions do let me know. 

I think very few will have experience of living in a flat. My daughter came to live with me and installed wood flooring in her bedroom, so it's now very noisy. But none of the neighbours complained. It would be cheaper to pay for the flat above to have thick carpets than mess with your ceiling. Some flats in my area are for those over 55s only.

Noise is very subjective, maybe the noise didn't bother the last owners.

Unfortunately the landlord is not willing to get involved. He says it’s nothing to do with him. I have already suggested going 50/50 with the landlord to the council, but no one will supply his contact details to me and I don’t know his name. 

I feel though that as the noise is getting up to 70dbs it’s going to take more then a carpet 

The last vendor moved because of the noise…unfortunately I didn’t know this at the time nor did she have to declare it

littlemissbliss

anselld said:

I doubt there will be new ideas after two treads previous.  OP you need to persist with the Council as they are the ones who actually have enforcement powers.  Complain to your Councilor if you are not getting response from the relevant department.

I will take a look who mine is, thanks for that, 

the lady I am communicating with in the Public Health and Protection Services, Public Places department says they have no enforcement powers. I do disagree with this.
very eager to close the case, not so eager to record the evidence.


if they want me to shut up about this then they need to do their jobs.

swingaloo

If you dont have name or address for the landlord where has your solicitor sent the noise recording to. You said the landlord was refusing it

LoopyLoops

littlemissbliss said:

Baldytyke88 said:

littlemissbliss said:

There should be a law on this, it’s not right that certain people are protected while others have to suffer. I have no option left to me but to spend a fortune, whichever way you look at it - when it would be so much easier if the person above was just considerate. 

If anyone has more suggestions do let me know. 

I think very few will have experience of living in a flat. My daughter came to live with me and installed wood flooring in her bedroom, so it's now very noisy. But none of the neighbours complained. It would be cheaper to pay for the flat above to have thick carpets than mess with your ceiling. Some flats in my area are for those over 55s only.

Noise is very subjective, maybe the noise didn't bother the last owners.

Unfortunately the landlord is not willing to get involved. He says it’s nothing to do with him. I have already suggested going 50/50 with the landlord to the council, but no one will supply his contact details to me and I don’t know his name. 

I feel though that as the noise is getting up to 70dbs it’s going to take more then a carpet 

The last vendor moved because of the noise…unfortunately I didn’t know this at the time nor did she have to declare it

It sounds like a very stressful and horrid situation!   Did your solicitor write to the landlord?  Or was the tenant saying that landlord doesn’t want to know?  Does the tenant rent direct from the landlord or through a letting agent?  Can you download the title deeds from land registry for £7.  That will at least give you the registered owners name.  Might help you forward a little? (May involve a little detective work and not sure it will exactly help).  Just a thought.  Totally agree with contacting your councillor. 

anselld

The Landlord is probably going to be fruitless.  As said above it is the Council who hold the enforcement powers.  The Landlord might have the nuclear option of a section 21 (for the time being at least) but is unlikely to want to evict an otherwise good tenant.

Murphybear

Hi

Im sorry to hear about your problems, noisy neighbours can be evil.

I’m hoping the following may help.  

This is from the Local Government Ombudsman site and this article is specifically about council staff who have done what yours have done and just said they can’t help.   I think you will find the last paragraph (in italics) very helpful.  Their website is lgo.org.uk

“This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people having problems getting the council to deal with anti-social behaviour near their homes and who may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman.

My neighbours are causing me problems with anti-social behaviour, and the council doesn’t seem to be doing anything about it. Can the Ombudsman help me?

In many cases, yes. Councils have a range of powers to tackle anti-social behaviour, such as vandalism and intimidation, and nuisances, such as noise or pollution. If you report an issue like this to the council, it has a duty to consider your report, and decide whether it justifies further investigation and/or enforcement. 

If you do not believe it has responded properly to your report(s), you should first make a formal complaint to the council. If you remain dissatisfied after that, we may be able to investigate. Our investigation will look at whether the council has properly considered the evidence about the problems you have reported, and whether it has properly considered what its response should be.”