Help, just moved, major problems here

[TopazQuartz]

Hi everyone

I posted recently asking if anyone else was sensitive to base sound, subwoofers, etc. I've just moved and the last 5 weeks have been horrendous. I've given it enough time to settle and see if it's constant. Unfortunately it is.

The last straw was this morning at 5am when both me and my son woke to a neighbour playing guitar. My son has slept through a lot of the vibration that affects me, but twice he's said the 'bed is shaking.'

We were moved here partly due to my chronic health problems, one of which is a condition which causes muscle weakness and fatigue. But the problem is that where we were before was better. There is almost constant noise and vibration here and every morning when I wake I can tell my body was trying to go into a deep sleep but failed.

I know moving into a housing association house is a good thing, we were private rent before, but it's honestly worse here. I will have to see what I can do about this next week but I wondered if anyone had any advice. Environmental health won't do very much, I know that from previous experience. I would have to pay for a private assessment for the vibration as EH equipment only pick up sound, not vibration. I've spoken to some companies and they've told me they can record the problem for proof, it'll cost me around £500.

What I'm scared of (and I don't want to sound any way ungrateful for the property I've been given which is lovely otherwise) is that now I'm in housing association, I'm trapped. I'm no longer on the council housing register (am I right? as I'm suitably housed?). Can I talk to the council and explain the problems? Can I ask if there were problems here before and that's why the previous people moved?

I know it's easy to feel sceptical about this but please can anyone reading give me the benefit of the doubt. This is really happening, I don't really feel life is worth living now as I can't see anyway out of this (I am not suicidal and would not leave my son or family but I feel there's no point), I also know that environmental health can't or won't do a lot and I'll lose loads more of my life to this problem.

My ex partner is coming to stay soon but sadly he's not looking forward to it. I need him to come and verify (be a witness) that it's all going on.

Does anyone know what my options are with the council? Or is it move out, lose my place on social housing, etc.

Thanks for listening :-(

I don't see how it's a 'major' problem. No need for the drama

House swaps take a long time to find the right one. You can state on your advert when the swap can take place, ie in ten months time. I didn’t find it quick at all.

I can only make one suggestion and it really depends on your finances and how much hassle you're willing to get into. Cork is excellent at minimising vibrations and sound. There's parquet with a cork layer underneath or (probably cheaper and better) you can put down a layer of cork of cork all over the floor (in the bedrooms at least) and then regular parquet goes over that. This way you can pick and choose the width of the cork and obviously the thicker the better.
Depending on finances you can put down the cork yourself and then paint over it. In the future or when finances permit you can put wood over the cork and nobody will know there's cork underneath.
Cork is also a very green product. It's environmentally friendly and it doesn't emit anything bad. It'd an inert product )if memory serves me right), so you don't have to worry about damaging your health.
Where I am there are cork tiles and there are big rolls but I'm not sure how available it is in the UK. I've tried the tiles, for a different purpose tbh, and they were very easy to work with. Cork is quite maleable and easy to cut.
Good luck OP!

Most people who are in social houses are either very very lucky or very very trapped. I suggest you pray to God, I have seen Him helping in such situations much better than humans

Whereabouts are you, broadly speaking? If you're in London for example isn't it definitely neighbour noise related vibration and not a nearby tube line? The suggestions for vibration damping are good ones. These kinds of things can make a considerable difference.

*is it definitely

I work in Housing for my LA. You can do a house swap at any time during your tenancy you just cannot access the housing register for 12 months unless there has been a significant change of circumstances or a management transfer for safety.

1st step should be to speak to your housing officer, they should know if any previous concerns and they may be able to visit and witness themselves the disturbance. They can they make recommendations to the maintenance team if there is any work they can do to improve the situation. Additionally they can speak with the neighbours and advise acceptable times/noise levels

A few ideas regarding my pp about cork. https://www.amorimwise.com/products/wood-67 I didn't know but apparently you can even get cork that looks like stone now.

So it’s not noise, only vibrations? Could be be a washing machine programmed to operate when power is cheap?

It could be nearby buses, trains, underground trains etc.
I once lived in a house over a service line that vibrated.