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Please help - noisy neighbours

38 replies

Charliechoco · 16/07/2024 12:26

So me and my partner recently purchased a ground floor flat, we were told there were a young professional couple living upstairs and was not aware they had two children. They have been totally fine and we do not hear much sound, only in the evenings and weekends when the children are back from school. Which again is completely fine, the neighbours are very respectful.

However, one month after moving into the property, the neighbours have moved out and their family is now living upstairs for summer. It has honestly been a nightmare. I assume they are on vacation for two or three months. But there are at least four children and four adults. They make an insane amount of noise. We can hear everything downstairs. They put the washing machine on at 10 pm which is directly above our bedroom. They shout in the hallway next to the room I work. I can hear every footstep every sound, and they are home most of the the time.

Had we of known this before buying this place, we would likely of decided against the purchase.

I really need some advice as to what to do. It is incredibly disruptive and causing me a lot of stress as I work from home.

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biedrona · 05/03/2025 18:42

MalePoster9000 · 24/07/2024 23:54

Electricity consumer units for flats are often in the communal hallway.

So it’d be very easy to cut off their electricity if they ever use their washing machine after 10pm 🙄

stupid advice

MalePoster9000 · 24/07/2024 23:54

Electricity consumer units for flats are often in the communal hallway.

So it’d be very easy to cut off their electricity if they ever use their washing machine after 10pm 🙄

Percivaleverett · 24/07/2024 15:22

Did you talk to them in the end OP?

Crispsarethebestfood · 24/07/2024 14:56

If they usually live in a house, it is likely they are not thinking about noise at all. Plus if they are on holiday. People are often noisy in holiday resorts and hotels in a way I can’t imagine they are at home (I know you are not in a holiday resort but you know what I mean). They stay out later, let kids stay up later etc.
I would maybe try to speak to them again, start with the washing machine thing if that is the biggest bugbear; if you don’t get anywhere and you get on with the neighbours then contact them? Worst worst case you see the summer out and are then honest with your neighbours when they return.
Sympathy to you, must be horrible.

Julieju1 · 20/07/2024 17:08

This sounds really tough for you. Hopefully things will improve soon.
Definitely speak to them about thecwashing machine, ask them to not use it after 10pm, if that's not possible ask them to put pads under it and check it's balanced. Moving the machine slightlt may help too. Try moving your bed within the room too.
The other noise is difficult. Maybe they don't realise, speak to them, or put a radio on really loud so they can see how much noise travels. Maybe move the furniture around in the room you are working in, putting bookshelves along the walls between the 2 flats will make it quieter.
Noise cancelling headphones could help, try playing music or white noise while working.

Vonesk · 20/07/2024 12:50

This noise aint going away. Its obviously not a purpose built flat with solid floors - rather a flat fashioned from a family house. Nightmare.....Dont make the mistake of getting into a dispute. Or involving the Council as it will end up on house records then be impossible to sell onwards....... I was once in a similar situation ; I had a Large Kareoke machine and a music system; I put the kareoke microphone near the music system then played VERY LOUD MUSIC WHICH WAS PAINFULLY DEFENING FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS....... seriously: after I did that I did not hear one more peep from upstairs. SORTED!!!!!!

Maddy70 · 20/07/2024 12:14

Have a conversation with them

Please can you not put the machine on at night its keeping me awake .. and be thoughtful of noise in the communal areas aa the walls are super thin.

amigafan2003 · 20/07/2024 12:04

Move.

Every other solution is just temporary.

Charliechoco · 16/07/2024 17:57

OhHelloMiss · 16/07/2024 17:56

Did you speak to them op?

Going to wait till my partner is home and do it together! A little bit nervous, hopefully they are receptive

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OhHelloMiss · 16/07/2024 17:56

Did you speak to them op?

Bluebirdover · 16/07/2024 13:59

Honestly? They may not even realise or think. Just knock on the door and ask politely?

Charliechoco · 16/07/2024 13:38

30yearsuntilretirement · 16/07/2024 13:25

I’ve had noisy neighbours and I know first hand how soul destroying it can be. My last neighbours made me very sick and I had to sell within 6 months!!

It's really distressing!

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30yearsuntilretirement · 16/07/2024 13:25

I’ve had noisy neighbours and I know first hand how soul destroying it can be. My last neighbours made me very sick and I had to sell within 6 months!!

30yearsuntilretirement · 16/07/2024 13:24

@Charliechoco check your leasehold agreement and see what is says about washing machines and carpet. The last time I lived in a flat we had rules to follow and no hard floors was one of them! So was no washing machines or tumble drying after a certain time!

Charliechoco · 16/07/2024 13:23

Epicaricacy · 16/07/2024 13:07

Good luck, try to speak with them.

Unfortunately, it's likely that people rude enough to make so much noise will care. It's obvious when you live in a flat that you have to be a lot quieter than living in a detached house. People know. Some just don't care and are antisocial wankers.

There's no excuse to make ridiculous noise, even with young children, if you want to, you can be civilised.

It's so distressing, I really am regretting buying a flat. Lesson maybe learned here.

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Newbutoldfather · 16/07/2024 13:23

I think prioritise them keeping quiet at night and not putting the machine on late. Ask them if they can do that.

As for the day, if the noise is just normal conversation, then you have to live with it. If it is more, record it and, potentially, complain to the council about noise nuisance.

To reduce the stress, if there is one of those work places near you, why not rent a desk for a couple of months and work from there.

MissUltraViolet · 16/07/2024 13:23

Ignoring the 10pm washing machine what times are they shouting and being noisy? If it's during the day then there isn't much you can do. At least you know that it's only temporary...and there's no thudding bass music involved!

I live in a terrace and have had shitty neighbour after shitty neighbour but the walls are so ridiculous that even just 'normal' day to day household noise sounds awful.

OhHelloMiss · 16/07/2024 13:22

What times?

Charliechoco · 16/07/2024 13:21

ButterCrackers · 16/07/2024 13:15

It’s just for the summer? If so contact your actual neighbours and ask for no washing machine to be put on or to be running after 10pm. Ask for their summer guests to be quiet from 10pm to 6am or something like that so that you can sleep.

Good advice, maybe asking if they can be more wary of sound travelling between x & x time

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Charliechoco · 16/07/2024 13:21

30yearsuntilretirement · 16/07/2024 13:15

But it’s a flat and this is the risk you have when buying a flat :( same goes for a terrace.

all you can really do is contact the owners and tell them their family noise is horrendous. How do the children cope with sleeping with a washing machine going on at 10pm?

Are there no carpets anywhere?

I guess at least it’s temporary :(

Yes at least it's temporary. By the sounds, it's very unlikely they have carpet. But maybe some rugs temporarily could be a good option... I would be happy to pay for that myself at this point

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ButterCrackers · 16/07/2024 13:15

It’s just for the summer? If so contact your actual neighbours and ask for no washing machine to be put on or to be running after 10pm. Ask for their summer guests to be quiet from 10pm to 6am or something like that so that you can sleep.

30yearsuntilretirement · 16/07/2024 13:15

But it’s a flat and this is the risk you have when buying a flat :( same goes for a terrace.

all you can really do is contact the owners and tell them their family noise is horrendous. How do the children cope with sleeping with a washing machine going on at 10pm?

Are there no carpets anywhere?

I guess at least it’s temporary :(

Charliechoco · 16/07/2024 13:15

Epicaricacy · 16/07/2024 13:07

Good luck, try to speak with them.

Unfortunately, it's likely that people rude enough to make so much noise will care. It's obvious when you live in a flat that you have to be a lot quieter than living in a detached house. People know. Some just don't care and are antisocial wankers.

There's no excuse to make ridiculous noise, even with young children, if you want to, you can be civilised.

When they are shouting in the hallway, I have asked once to twice if they could stop because it echoes through my flat. All I got was a nod and then ignored...

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OhHelloMiss · 16/07/2024 13:13

serialcatbuyer · 16/07/2024 13:08

I think the only solution to this is to have concrete poured over the upstairs floor

Or go back to the office!

WaltzingWaters · 16/07/2024 13:11

You WFH bit is a quite irrelevant here. They can make noise during the day. Obviously it’s nice if they attempted to not be super noisy all day, but that’s part of living in a flat and more your problem to solve with headphones, working in office etc. The noise at night, like a 10pm washing machine cycle is really antisocial when living in flats. Absolutely ask them to stop that.

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