Noisy Neighbours

Karinet

Hello Everyone,

I have lived in my own leasehold property since 1994 and I have never experienced so much noise until now and this is awful.

In December 2025, the flat above mine was sold to someone. In March this year three adults moved in and it has been a nightmare since with their noise. They don't play music but they keep crashing & banging when they feel like it, no matter if it's day or night, and they stomp heavily all the time when they walk. This is awful and it"s making my life a misery. I have politely asked them to reduce their noise in an informal way. I have also, dropped a polite note in their letterbox but there's no change. I have concluded that they have no intention to do anything about it.

I am about to write to the owner of the property via their solicitors brcause I don't have a contact addtess for them and I prefer not to put anything in the property's letterbox in case it doesn"t get passed on. The Land Registry have not yet updated their records and the previous owner is still showing on the title. They've told me the earliest to update the records will be in June.

Writkng to the property owner's solicitors doesn't guarantee that my letter will be forwarded but I can only try and hope for the best.

I have already spoken to a ward councillor from the council and they advised me to wait 10 days for a reply from the property owner. If I get no reply, I should contact them again and they will file a report for me.

I know the permanent solution would be to sell up and move out but I'm still working and I work and live in London. I could my property in the space of weeks if I want yo but I'll never be able to buy anything in London so I have to wait until I retire so that I can move outside of London, as I won't be tied to a job but this won't be for another 11 years.

Your suggestions are very much appreciated.

Many thanks

Karine

WIAWSNB

Hellish. And it's disappointing they haven't tried to modify the cause.

Obviously we don't know how bad it is, and everyone has a different level of noise tolerance, and it has to be accepted that there will, almost certainly, be some noise transfer between flats at some point. However, foot-fall, which appears to be the major cause for you, shouldn't be a significant issue, unless the floor material is unsuitable, or occupants are being inconsiderate.

So, can you work out why the noise level is so high? For instance, is it clear they are wearing outdoor footwear inside - solid clunks instead of muffled thumps? And, often significant, can you tell if the floor covering is hard - laminate/wood - or carpeted?

Check your lease for what it says about noise, nuisance and floor coverings.

And wait for the ManCo/FH to reply.

Do you know the composition of the three adults? How many bedrooms does the flat have? Have you met them?

elsien

it’s not entirely clear from your post if you believe that the flat is rented out to the noisy neighbours or not? That is the presumption, but just for the sake of clarity.

Grumpy_chap

Has the owner upstairs lifted carpet and replaced with laminate flooring?

Karinet

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I went to the flat in question and the floor is a laminate. I've lived at my property since 1994 and these flats were originally carpeted when they were built in 1986. I think this is because there's only a small gap of about 4" between the ceiling and the floor above. Hence the need for carpets. In terms of noise tolerance, I know that there'll always be some kind of noise in a flat but some people are noisier than others but they have no rights to cause a disturbance to others. Some people moved in the property below me and they were very good from day 1. I'm not noise-sensitive as some of you may think. The noise created by the people above me is excessive and unnecessary. I do know what normal everyday noise sounds like and the noise I'm experiencing is not. Unfortunately, in the lease, there's only a covenant where it says that a leaseholder must not do or do something that will stop anorher leaseholder from enjoying their property but nothing is mentioned about keeping the flats carpeted. In terms of management, it's self-managed and there's no formal arrangement, therefore, there really isn't anyone I can complain to.

WIAWSNB

What does self-managed mean? Who is the Freeholder?

Are you certain there is nothing in the deeds that says 'carpets'?

Tree_pipe99

I think anyone reasonable would think that installing laminate flooring to an above ground level flat would fall under "must not do something that will stop another leaseholder from enjoying their property" if the resulting noise is impacting you.

If you aren't already doing it, keep of log of the noise with date/times and provide that to the ward councillor and property owner you're in touch with.

Good luck.

ic

What is the noise? Is it boisterous, jumping around, perhaps exercise - or people walking around? Is it TV or music full blast, use of power tools, slamming doors, etc etc? You say the noise is "unnecessary" - how do you know its unnecessary? People have a right to live in their home, and move around it.

Karinet

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81971583#Comment_81971583

I'm saying it's unnecessary because they stomp heavily all the time, they sometimes jump on the floor or run around , they use some kind of water power pump or machinery at least 20 times a day, they open and close squeaky doors frequently, they move and drop items on floor frequently and do a lot of crashing & banging generally. The thing is, it doesn't only happen during the day, it also happens in the evening and at night and the noise wakes me up. I don't know what they are doing but it's excessive. I have already had a polite word with them and wrote a polite note to them ,telling them what the noise was and to be more mindful but it made no difference. As for the stomping, it may be delibrrate because it's noisier when it happens in the evening and at night above my bedroom when I try to get some sleep. There's a huge difference between them and the previous occupiers. I had no issue with them at all so it's not hard to establish what's reasonable and what's not. It seems that you're seing me as the bad person here. Can I just say that they have the right to do what they want in their home but they have no right to cause a disturbance to others and stopping them from enjoying their own home which cost them a fortune to buy. Other residents have also complained about the noise.

WIAWSNB

We take what you tell us as read, unless there's obvious cause to suspect otherwise, and I don't think there is.

So, yes, it sounds hellish.

The fact that other residents have also complained is significant. It's about the same people, yes, and the same stomping?

You need to tell us;

1. Is the flat rented out to these folk? Or do they own it?
2. Who is the Freeholder? Who do you pay ground rent and/or maintenance to?
3. Is there a management co?
4. Have you double-checked your deeds for carpets?
5. Do you have Legal Protection included on your contents policy?

Can you record the noise? Have you had anyone in your flat who could actually as a witness to the noise level and regularity?

Do you have any idea why they are being so stompy?! What age are they?

You came on here for advice, but we cannot do so without more info.

Karinet

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81971483#Comment_81971483

Hello,

Thanks for your input.

I have a noise diary and I record everythkng when needed.

I know that the previous owner replaced the carpet with a laminate flooring - the property was sold to someone else in December 2025. I can't complain to the freeholder because it's just a company that was set up when the block of flats was built and it's sort of run by some leaseholders who are directors. It's not properly managed and there''s no external managing agent so the set up is very informal and, therefore, I have nobody to complain to apart from the new owner of the property themselves if I can get hold of their details. Unfortunately, the land registry have not updated their records and they've told me they should do this in June at the earliest so I'm in a no-win situation at the moment.