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Selfish upstairs neighbours - help!

15 replies

IWantToTearMyEarsOff · 06/06/2020 14:56

I moved into my flat a few months ago (bought on shared ownership) and since day 1 all I have heard from upstairs is constant banging, kids screaming, feet running up and down and even phones vibrating at 5 in the morning! It's horrendous. As part of our leasehold, we're not allowed to have wooden floors, they definitely do not have carpets that's absolutely apparent.
The people that live upstairs are a family of 4. The first time I spoke to them about it I bumped into the husband and mentioned it to him (I'd been there 2 weeks by that point) he said 'ah I knew you were going to mention that', insinuating that the previous owners had also complained. He was very polite and apologised saying that they would keep it down. As time has gone on it has gotten worse. He also accidentally let it slip that they had wooden floors. There are moments when the ceiling shakes and the banging is unbearable, I go upstairs to speak to them but they pretend that they're not home.
I wrote them a note and asked if they could consider carpet, the wife then wrote back saying it's her property and she can do whatever she wants (she can't) and that the kids are small so they make noise etc. She also lied and said that they have carpet with an underlay.
A few people in the building have wooden floors but from what I know they're not receiving complaints as they're decent human beings that don't move around the place like bulldozers. I've reported this to the housing association but nothing is being done. Advice please!!! Sad

OP posts:
IzzyGee · 06/06/2020 15:02

They might just have bare floorboards because........carpets cost money

JeanSlatersSausageSurprise · 06/06/2020 15:08

It's difficult.
We live in a bottom flat, we do hear the boy and his mother in the flat above (her phone vibrates at some funny times in the early hours too) but it's barely anything.
Yet the couple who lived there before them, were noisy elephants. You heard everything.
I think your have to go through whoever owns the leasehold/ whichever company looks after them.

DomDoesWotHeWants · 06/06/2020 15:11

If they aren't allowed wooden floors then report them to whoever makes the rules.

IWantToTearMyEarsOff · 06/06/2020 16:22

The HA have to go to their flat and check the flooring. They have been unhelpful and tried to palm me off onto the council.

OP posts:
Elieza · 06/06/2020 16:44

The council do have the noise police but I don’t think they can be if much use when it’s domestic noise rather than banging tunes at 3am.

HA need to investigate lack of carpeting. I know someone this happened to and they made them get carpets or leave. Then they were mysteriously offered another (Same) HA Property so they moved to that instead. Job done.

IWantToTearMyEarsOff · 06/06/2020 17:31

Our HA are just plain useless, they do that to everyone that lives here if they have a complaint.
When I spoke to the council they said it was HA responsibility as it was to do with them (neighbours) breaking the lease. Which is what I said when I spoke to HA!
Tbh I hate the idea of the kids tiptoeing around, they have the right to play in their own home but when it's on wooden flooring it's like hearing elephants doing the tango

OP posts:
YouDirtyMare · 06/06/2020 18:35

Make yourself a pest to the HA. Those are the rules and condition they were given the flat
You too have a right to enjoy your home

Elieza · 07/06/2020 11:43

It’s totally like elephants! My neighbours (bought houses) are the same. It’s horrific. My pictures shake on the walls. My ornaments rattle. Just from their child thundering around. There’s nothing I can do though as far as I know. If it was music then they could get an asbo but it’s elephants so there’s nothing to be done and no ha to contact Sad

lifestooshort123 · 07/06/2020 13:05

The flat above us (uncarpetted by choice) has a herd of pit ponies gallumphing up and down all day and every day. If it's before 8am I've been up and knocked only to find father at work and mother in bed. It's when the youngest pit pony plays the electric piano at that time that I reach my limit.

IWantToTearMyEarsOff · 07/06/2020 18:10

Yes, come Monday it's all systems go. Tired of being walked all over and treated like this, it doesn't even sound like they're trying to keep the noise down.

@Elieza Have you spoken to them (neighbours)? I would reach out to the council anyway and invite them to your home so they can determine. I briefly dated a sound engineer and he said there's a legal limit to the decibels produced by neighbours, if it's above that then you have a right to have something done about it.

@lifestooshort123 what a nightmare, are they aware that they're that loud?

OP posts:
Elieza · 07/06/2020 21:20

Thanks OP. I’ve spoken to the before because they keep their kids up to adult bedtimes so the family gets a long lie in the mornings. This means the noise is on well after 8pm. Sometimes later than my bedtime. They basically don’t care about my feelings. It’s really irritating but one day I will get my revenge (maniacal laugh).

lifestooshort123 · 08/06/2020 08:29

Yes they are aware because we've told them. Their excuse is that's how people behave in flats in their country...

IWantToTearMyEarsOff · 09/06/2020 09:28

I'll be mwhahahing with you in spirit @Elieza

@lifestooshort123 what crap, definitely try and see if someone can sort the problem out

Update: I called the HA yesterday and had a massive go, said I want a resolution this week. It's now been escalated to the head of the department. Fingers crossed

OP posts:
Weenurse · 09/06/2020 09:36

Good luck 💐

lifestooshort123 · 09/06/2020 11:17

Good luck from me too! 🤞🤞🤞

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