Rented House - Law on sound?!?

Lavendyr

To me it sounds like you may not realise a) how poorly insulated flats can be against sound and b) how loud a sub-woofer can be. We - that is, my OH - own/s a 120W sub-woofer, but even in an end-of-terrace 2-bed house, we would not use it and have left it at his parents' home until we own or live in a bigger or better insulated place. It would just be too loud - even turned down low - and we wouldn't want to risk upsetting our neighbours by using it. Prior to this, OH lived in a carpeted flat and this would have been even worse.

Another example: I lived a floor below someone who had surround sound once. Several times I went to him very politely to ask him to turn it down - which he would, for a while, until the next time - and he could not believe how loud it was until he came and stood in my room while the music was playing. I could literally hear everything, not just the beat but words, tune and all. It was only when he came to hear it from my room that he realised the problem was really that bad. After that he was much more considerate.

So I would really, strongly advocate what others have said: take her a bunch of flowers and/or a cake, apologise for the noise, and ask her to help you understand the situation so it doesn't recur. Take her back to yours, put the DVD on so she can hear the volume where you are, then go back with her to her home and see what you hear there. It may well be that what is 'normal' to you is disruptive where she is. Oh yes, and do speak to the landlord and explain your side of things, just in case!

However, I would strongly recommend ditching the surround sound - especially the sub - until you have a home more suited to it, and a flat is generally not suitable for sub-woofers.

MercilessKiller

If I was single on my own I'd invest in headphones Can't imagine a romantic evening cuddle onthe couch with headphones on ^-^

I'm not happy spending £200 on something for 2 housr a week hehe. Even £50ish I'd spend with a frown!

Hopefully landlord has carpet spare!

MercilessKiller

beecher wrote: »

You clearly just want to people on this thread to back you up and say that your neighbours are unreasonable.

I want people to be constructive, which they have been and I will buy a solution to absorb bass.

I don't want peopel to come and insult me. Thanks

redcar_2

I think the flowers idea is great as she will see those as soon as you go round and that should make her more receptive and show that you are nice. She probably had to get very worked up to get the courage up to knock on the door. Approach her with an apology and perhaps ask if this was a one off problem or if it had been annoying her for a while. If you let her know you are getting advice about checking the bass issue and perhaps ask if you can listen to it from her side to help you sort out the problem. That will let her see how reasonable you are being. I would though emphasise that your girlfriend has a hearing problem as that might help her be more sympathetic too.

MercilessKiller

Ok, well may build up the courage to take some flowers round and see how she responds.

Its just ashame that she couldn't come and just ask/talk to me We've always been very close friendly neighbours and this has never been a problem before.

Errata

MercilessKiller wrote: »

If I was single on my own I'd invest in headphones Can't imagine a romantic evening cuddle onthe couch with headphones on ^-^

I'm not happy spending £200 on something for 2 housr a week hehe. Even £50ish I'd spend with a frown!

Hopefully landlord has carpet spare!

If not, get yourself down the local charity shop and buy curtains/blanket/duvet to stick underneath it to absorb the noise.

MercilessKiller

Right so the point of carpet/duvet undearneath is that the sound own't vibrate thru the floor/wall into next door full stop? Or will just minimise the effect?

Datasafe_2

If you are worried about the landlord disconnect the sub. Its not rocket science. :rolleyes:

chopperharris

MercilessKiller wrote: »

have you read what I said? *sigh*. Please people stop stereotyping!!!!!!!!!!!! *cries*

ONE movie a week, maybe twice MAX and its not on that loud. People have suggested softening bass and I'd like to know more about this.

One movie a week maybe twice is still an hour and a half to 3 hours of abuse to your neighbour , I think beecher has your card and that your lookign for sympathy and that your the real victim here.You also mention music on top of this.

You live in a flat you have rights , your neighbours have similar rights , you have responsibilities in return for rights.

You have bought a high powered home cinema and/or stereo system and you want to use it , then use it , the nieghbours though have not and do not wish to be enduring hours of bass they will use what they can to NOT hear it.They have the ability to complain and ultimately have your equipment removed under asbo....which will lead to eviction.

Just for interest I have a big cinema setup , have done ever since I bought my own home that isnt "attached to another".

Bass slows on hard surfaces like brick , it doesnt in air , so while you think its ok for you level it still ripples in ALL directions...I bet you dont even have it set up right anyway you aint even got it spiked and your speakers are bolted to the wall.....tells me wht you think of neighbours.

I think your nighbours were being polite waiting on it to lessen but its mostl liekly got worse.Buy a damn ipod and 5.1 headphones......home cinema is for when you have a home not renting a flat.

MercilessKiller

The sub is also the central control unit. Can't be disconnected as that is the sound system really...

Once again though, its on for a few hours a week at reasonable times. I'd rather take away the noise through the walls and that solves the problem where everyones happy right?