Who else has problems with their upstairs neighbours?

[slimmingworldnewbie]

I live in a block of flats, relatively new, built in 2017.

Anyway my upstairs neighbours just drive me effin crazy.

Most of the flat is hard floor - no carpet - and they are like baby elephants when they walk.

I know that living in a flat there’s a bit of give and take but honestly I think I’ve given all I can give.

Sometimes they walk around so hard or do something that actually makes my ceiling vibrate. It’s quite incredible the noise they make.

When they are out it’s like peace on earth. I’ve tried putting in my AirPod pros but sometimes they’re so loud I can still hear them through it.

I have spoken to other flats in the building and nobody seems to have the same issue.

It’s making my life an absolute misery.

I want to learn to play the piano anyway but I think I’m going to get a keyboard just to drown out the noise.

Bump!!

Just me then

Same problem, OP.
I live in an old solid block but the vulgarians above me are utter hell.
The woman wears hard shoes on parquet floors from the minute she's out of bed, endless crossing between rooms, the kid screams and the father shouts "bravo, bravo" over and over.
A few years ago I mentioned the noise, very politely, and suggested they may not realise how it travels.
The woman said they'd get rugs etc...but it hasn't happened.
Stomp stomp scream scream bravo bravo...the soundtrack.

Have you checked the terms of the lease such as what flooring they are permitted and found out if they are complying with it?

I am sorry to hear that, I have lived in flats before and know how bad sound travels, especially with hard floors.

Have you spoken to the neighbours?

Are they loud during the day or at night? There probably isn’t a lot you can do with them walking in their flats, it is just bad sound proofing.

Is it just footsteps or can you hear other sounds as well?

Know the feeling!!! Mine seem to spend most of the time loudly running about, banging doors, hammering at 2/3 in the morning, banging/slamming doors all the time and seem to be unable to walk quietly, and having loud conversations during the night.

My building has bad noise transference too. The upstairs neighbour is usually fine but has bursts of moving furniture (?), tap dancing etc into the night. Is it rented? Can they get rugs/carpet?

It could just be a sensitivity to noise, coupled with terrible soundproofing. I’m upstairs but I can hear everything (and I do mean everything) going on downstairs, and vice versa. I’m regularly woken up in the early hours by her raising her roller blind and opening her window to let the cat out. It’s almost white noise now.

We saved up and bought the thickest underlay and the thickest carpet we could find. We don’t stomp about and we’re careful not to have the tv or music on loudly. Sometimes it’s still like being in the same room with her though 😕

I’d move to a top floor flat if possible, the best advice I can give is probably move, having lived in flats for over 10 years, flat is always going to be noisy.

Sure they're nice enough though

Is there anything in the lease about floor
Covering ? They may have to put rugs or carpets down, if not sound insulation.
My old neighbours used to come in and slam the front door, talk really loudly (on the other side of my living room) then stomp all the way up the stairs which ran above my bedroom. It's very difficult isn't it.

I hear you OP. It definitely is give and take living in a flat.
I'm in a purpose built maisonette. Upstairs neighbours have one DC who has hours of crying and wailing morning and night. Sometimes it has got so bad I've wondered whether the child is being neglected to cry it out. When not crying and screaming, she is stomping around and the dad seems to be roaring and chasing her around the flat and jumping off the furniture. Once my living room light actually flashed. It happened again this afternoon. It appears they have mistaken their living room and my ceiling as a recreation ground. I keep myself to myself as a neighbour but sometimes it's too much.

My upstairs neighbour is a pain, not so much with the banging around, but I think he's an alcoholic, and often forget his keys. My flat is directly below his ans although i am on the ground floor for some reason I still have a balcony. This guy literally climbs up my balcony (or attempts to on his more drunk days) and onto his, at any time of day. The first time that happened at 3 in the morning I was terrified lol, live on my own, and all I could hear was a man saying I don't give a f**k repeatedly whilst drunkenly trying to get onto my balcony. I literally sat inside in silence. Then it happened again a few days later but in the day and I realised what had happened the first time. Last week he was out there with a kids slide trying to get up on to the top railing of my balcony. Then for some strange reason although there is an intercom system all his "mates" call him from the grass in front of the flat , again no matter the time of day, 4 in the morning ans they'll shout him until he wakes up or the dog barks and wake him up. He's not a bad bloke and will say hello on a good day but cam be scary at silly times at night.

No not remotely unfortunately. We have the heavy footed hefers too as well as door slammers. The noise and vibration comes through the joists.

On the plus side they don't appear to be having parties ( touch wood). They're better than their predecessors and as they rent I'm careful about what I wish for🙄

Could be worse... sounds like it's just adults? I had a family of 5 living above me (couple and 3 kids) in a one bed flat!! Laminate floor throughout, they use to let their kids ride scooters up and down! The jumping, running, stomping, it was horrific, they lived here for 3 years. I celebrated when they moved.

I want to know why they call some flats ‘purpose built! as if to suggest they are nicely set up for people to live in peace. Also, if you are a noisy flat dweller who bangs doors and talks loudly on your phone for hours etc knowing others are bothered by you, why do you still do it?

Ah the heffalumps. My partner has those. They make so much noise all the bloody time- thundering up and down the communal stairs, slamming the front door, clodding about their tiny flat - what the fuck are they doing up there?
It sounds at times like they've got some kind of home industry going because they're constantly putting down heavy things, scraping and shuffling stuff about, rolling things over the floor, getting up at 5am to pee like elephants before noisily leaving the house 😫

For many reasons moving isn't a realistic option for him and it is driving him insane.

I am glad to hear I am not alone. They are making my life a misery. To whoever said they are just walking around like normal adults. Trust me, they’re not. They cause the ceiling to vibrate.

I think foam earplugs do help a bit. But is it bad to wear earplugs every night?

Can you talk to them about it? Tell them that they are v loud. Maybe they moved from a house or a ground floor situation and aren't aware how loud they are being?

Do they rent the unit? Can you talk to the landlord?

Agree re checking the lease for clauses re hard floors etc.

Both them and I own our flats. Moved into the building at the same time when it was newly built. So I have no one to complain to..

earplugs do hurt after a while and probably arent good long term.I do use foam ones sometimes as they are the least irritating plus white noise but it isn’t sustainable.

Yes earplugs are bad to wear for long periods/every night. Your ears need air circulation.

Do you know who they are and would you consider speaking to them or writing a note?

you have my sympathy - it ruins your life - i have this noise for 3 years
late into the night arguments and shouting most nights. try and move if you can - i tried ear plugs - white noise but you are on tender hooks waiting for,it to kick off.;l