Upstairs Neighbours - advice please

[Nickerbockers]

Further to the post about the rail noise, which seems to have died down now, I just wondered if anyone living in flat in a purpose-built block that's not on the top floor finds they have problems with noise from the upstairs flat? I'm having such a hard adjustment period since moving in, every night I can hear them upstairs talking, walking in heels on stripped floors, and a lot of nights they 'entertain' so I hear loads of loud, excitable voices, and it always seems liek they're dragging furniture or dropping things every five minutes. I'm a VERY light sleeper, yet everywhere I've lived so far (and that's a lot of places, though not in a purpose-build for ages, and only once on the top floor) I've been able to block out noise at night with my ear plugs - but not here! I'm at my whitts end and already thinking I can't stand living there, I work an early shift and have to get up early so go to bed early!

Is this just a peril of being in a purpose built block? Or does it depend on on who lives upstairs? I can't address them about it, coz they won't feel they're doing anything wrong, they're just living their everyday lives, but I just don't know what to do other than grin and bear it for 6 months and then move AGAIN!??

[dickp]

under the terms of their lease, they may not be allowed to have wooden floors. the block's landlord may be able to deal with this problem.

that won't stop the noise of their voices, though. You MAY be able to pursaud your landlord to retro-fit noise dampeners in the ceiling, but that would probably be quite expensive.

[sydenhamboy]

Nickerbockers it's a nighmare isn't it - I think it's worse in a Victorian converted flat. I know which room my upstairs neighbours are in and generally what they are doing. I won't say anymore, other than whatever they were 'doing' the other night didn't take very long.
Good for me, I guess.
Maybe not so much for ...

Ahem .. anyway - any advice re: sound insulation from upstairs neighbours???

[Nickerbockers]

I wish, Sydenhamboy, but I'm renting the flat and I can't see my Landlord taking too kindly to me requesting she spend out all that money on getting the ceiling insulated or something!

I think my only answer is approach them, and if that doesn't work, I need to sit tight and wait til I can move and really research the noise issue in my next place. Meantime, I become a zombie from lack of sleep!

[poppy]

Very sorry to hear about your noise problems. I am surprised you are having so much trouble in a purpose built place I thought only conversions were a problem. I can really sympathise. We used to own a Victorian conversion flat and had to leave because of the nightmare noise issues (sold to a neighbour who knew about it and was willing to take it off our hands!). But we lost a lot of money because of it. Our daughter was only a few months old and the last lot of tenants at the time used to come piling in with their mates at all hours, usually when we had just managed to get to sleep. They weren't particularly noisey (no loud music or anything) but they still disturbed us. Don't know what to suggest apart from the carpet advice, I think that would reduce the noise considerably. We were not allowed wooden floors in our first floor flat under the lease for this very reason. I am sure lots of people are suffering out there...

[mosy]

Difficult. Perhaps try speaking to your neighbours as they may not realise that the noise carries, or that you need to sleep earlier than they do?

More soft furnishings (cushions etc) in your flat might help, or perhaps your own background music so the neighbours' noise is not so prevalent? Sleep in the other room? Buy them a carpet square?

There are possibilities for soundproofing ceilings for impact sounds, but none are particularly cheap.

Could mention it to your landlord anyway and ask for a reduction in rent cos it wasn't on the cards when she described the flat. She might mention it to your neighbours, as I guess it's not in her interest that the noise is making her place unrentable...

[Big Ben]

Poppy - architect friends tell me that issues of noise can be a real problem in modern blocks, particularly where there are adjoining party walls. Prospective buyers / tenants should beware of this - and really try to check out what the living conditions will be like, particularly where there are a number of party walls. Of course, this isn't helped by today's love of wooden floors!

[Nickerbockers]

Thank you for all your comments. I have industrial strength earplugs now so I'm hoping I'll sleep better, but I really cannot see myself living there any longer than the 6 months I'm bound by contract to do so! Unfortunately London is so overcrowded that people are often crammed into boxes within boxes, and however nice the property, however thick the walls, it's just too close in proximity to be able to live a peaceful life.

If we're destined to know exactly what time our neighbours get up, when they have visitors, when they're arguing, when they eat and when they're walking around all we can do is pick properties we've researched - and believe me next time I will - and the noise found to be minimal! I've been lucky in my previous flats, and I guess I just thought this one was so well built and insulated that there wouldn't be a problem. I actually thought it'd be too quiet... goes to show what I know eh?!

Until next April (when 6 months is up) at least I know I'm not alone going through this...

[Savvy]

I would check your contract. I think you will find that if you give one months notice you can leave whenever you like. From what I understand the six months contract means that your landlord can't give YOU notice until the six months is up - but not the other way round.
Incidentally I have a friend who will be renting out her tiny 1 bed house just off Anerley Hill (opp CP Park)sometime within the next couple of months (Sadly it depends on how long her Dad has to live - she's leaving to go live with her mum). She says its very quite there. No upstairs neighbours and a very friendly street. Its just had a new kitchen and bathroom. PM me if you'd be interested in me contacting you nearer the time.