to think, but it's not your bedroom is it ?

[AchyFox]

I am a bit of a night owl and can be up til 1,2 or even 3.
I live in a 1-bed flat and obviously after 12, I am really quiet; no TV, radio or keyboard bashing.

However it has become increasingly clear that one of the couple in the upstairs flat is using the living room to sleep in

Whenever I do anything (and I mean anything) less quiet than sitting and reading, like scribbling notes, have a bowl of cereal, typing really quietly, they start rubbing the carpet, repeatedly twisting one way then the other the world's squeakiest radiator knob and then generally stomping about, in a kind of I am here you know!! Trying to get some sleep if you don't mind way.

So AIBU to think if you choose to sleep in the living room of a 1 bed flat you can't expect the same level of absolute quiet in the early hours that you would in a bedroom ?

They can hear you scribbling notes, eating cereal or typing quietly? From a separate flat? Really?

Unless they actually come and say something I wouldn't assume that it's deliberate.. Maybe just ignore it? You are allowed to eat cereal in your own home at any time!

I'd put some music on so you can't hear them, and in some ways, music may be easier for them to listen to than random scratchings.

"they start rubbing the carpet, repeatedly twisting one way then the other the world's squeakiest radiator knob and then generally stomping about, in a kind of I am here you know!! Trying to get some sleep if you don't mind way"

Are you sure that they're not just making a normal level of noise, just as you are? Maybe, they're not trying to sleep either.

If they can hear you eating a bowl of cereal then your sound insulation must be ludicrous. Is there anything that you, or they, can do about that.

For my own part, I don't understand why people are so anal about noise in flats. I've often heard a bit of music, or tv or whatever from flats around me. As long as it isn't very loud or prolonged I don't see why anyone complains.

Unfortunately very thin walls and floors littlemiss.

I have lived in flats where I could hear the tenants above going to the toilet, but your soundproofing is something else entirely.
For them to hear you typing quietly on your pc, you must be able to hear each others every sigh and conversation word for word.

I would move. I don't think I could bear to have no privacy at all.

If I sit reading there is no reaction HeadsDown.

The squeaky radiator knob routine, just goes on and on and on ... not normal.

I was wondering if they have hyperacusia.

they start rubbing the carpet, repeatedly twisting one way then the other the world's squeakiest radiator knob and then generally stomping about

I'd let them carry on.

Ignore them.

Oh yes you can easily tell when people are talking at normal levels!

It would not take much eavesdropping to tell what they were saying.

I think I'd move, that is ridiculous. How can you ever relax at home if you are having to creep around the whole time!

Ignore them, they live in a flat, some noise is to be expected.

I very much doubt people in another flat can hear you scribbling or eating.

AchyFox, do you live in a flat converted from a house?

Are you concerned that you are disturbing them; or is your concern that their disgruntled faffing (as you interpret it*) is disturbing you?

*I do not dispute it. but if they aren't actually coming down and complaining you have very good grounds for not knowing there is a problem