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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think i shouldnt be blamed for someone elses health problems?

103 replies

jasminedxx · 18/07/2015 21:09

Hi im really pissed off about this so if i am being unreasonable tell me,
i have just moved to a new property its social housing, i am the middle flat of a 3 storey building
there is no sound proofing in here, i hear the guy upstairs and i know the old man downstairs hears me,
i walk around in slippers, no young children are allowed in my flat, i dont play loud music and i have now started to turn my tv off at 8pm and watch things with headphones on the laptop.

received a letter today from neighbourhood manager stating i must carpet my floor within 10days since the housing association have provided me with 200 pounds towards carpet right.
200 will not carpet my flat
i will have to add my own money
i have also already told them i am allergic to carpet and will get vinyl planks yet they insist carpet since they are giving me 200
also in this letter they have stated the neighbour downstairs has complained about my noise and it is having a "negative impact on the health and wellbeing of your neighbor"

the guy who lives downstairs is an old man so if he drops dead tomorrow it seems like they are blaming me?
maybe im being dramatic?

the guy downstairs also complained about the last woman who lived here, he doesnt get along with my upstairs neighbor because he complained about something about him i don't know but he is just a serial complainer, he expects complete silence

im not trying to be a nuisance but i feel a bit picked on tbh
aibu?

i have lived with noise from upstairs and i understand its stressful but i hear the guy upstairs and he has carpet in his flat.

i work 16 hours so i do not earn that much to be adding the extra money in 10 days, i also have a 4 week old baby and my mother just died in may.

OP posts:
DelphiniumBlue · 18/07/2015 21:16

In most flat leases there is a clause requiring the floors to be carpeted. You have accepted the money for this, so it is only reasonable for the HA to request that you lay the carpet.
You could check whether the vinyl you mention has similar noise reducing qualities to carpet, or try to find a carpet you are not allergic to, Can you identify the substance which causes your allergy - is it possibly the backing? If so, maybe a rug might be better, and you could maybe find a cotton rug.
Noise transmission is a real problem in some flats - it might be worth doing research to check whether the flat was properly soundproofed.
You might want to try layers of newspaper under whatever flooring you put down, to help deaden the sound.

ArtyBat · 18/07/2015 21:18

the guy who lives downstairs is an old man so if he drops dead tomorrow it seems like they are blaming me ?

What a callous comment. Sad

Original poster
jasminedxx · 18/07/2015 21:25

Callous why?

OP posts:
Original poster
jasminedxx · 18/07/2015 21:28

It's the build up that's in carpet of dust ect. No matter how much I Hoover it I still get bad symptoms.
I'm going to lay fiber boards underneath the planks.
In the tenacy agreement it just says do not lay laminate flooring.
I may just give the money back tbh I don't like them thinking they own me because they gavd me vouchers

OP posts:
Bodicea · 18/07/2015 21:29

What do you mean you are allergic to carpet. Do you mean you have allergies and are allergic to dust that gets trapped in the carpet? Maybe say you will get the carpet buy will have to vacuum every day because of this. I am sure this will annoy the neighbour even more but he will have made his bed.

Original poster
jasminedxx · 18/07/2015 21:30

They are telling me that me walking around and doing normal day to day activitys all before 8pm is causing this old man health problems so if he does Die it's like they are applying it would be my fault.
Nothing callous about this.

OP posts:
ghostyslovesheep · 18/07/2015 21:30

maybe talk to the HA... I'm sure that will prove more fruitful in the long run

Original poster
jasminedxx · 18/07/2015 21:32

I do vaccum everyday in my last flat but it doesn't matter I still flare up and get bad headaches. I have a dyson. It's the carpet I cannot have and I don't understand why people think carpet reduces noise because the guy upstairs to me has it and sounds like an elephant.

OP posts:
ghostyslovesheep · 18/07/2015 21:32

They are telling me that me walking around and doing normal day to day activitys all before 8pm is causing this old man health problems so if he does Die it's like they are applying it would be my fault

they REALLY aren't saying that at all - Confused

TRexingInAsda · 18/07/2015 21:35

They are renting you a flat, so you should probably do what they ask regardless of them giving you £200 or not. Or leave.

That flat needs carpeting for the one underneath to be habitable (in the opinion of your landlord - the one who decides who gets to live where, so their opinion matters). So carpet it or be prepared to be served notice. Maybe start looking for another flat, privately rented, or homeswap.

FurtherSupport · 18/07/2015 21:36

Saying something has a "negative impact on the health and wellbeing of your neighbor" isn't the same as saying if he drops dead it will be your fault at all, that's a ridiculous thing to say.

If your noise is bothering it will be affecting him, if you can hear your upstairs neighbour despite him having carpets then imagine how much worse it must be for your downstairs neighbour, if it's condition of the tenancy that the flat is carpeted, then of course you must lay carpets.

Original poster
jasminedxx · 18/07/2015 21:37

There is nothing in the tenancy agreement to say I must carpet the floor it just says no laminate or hard wood.

OP posts:
TRexingInAsda · 18/07/2015 21:37

Also, if the guy upstairs sounds like an elephant and e has carpet, maybe you sound like 2 elephants, so they want you to put carpet in so Mr downstairs can have the same luxury as you do, i.e. only one elephant.

FurtherSupport · 18/07/2015 21:38

Saying something has a "negative impact on the health and wellbeing of your neighbor" isn't the same as saying if he drops dead it will be your fault at all, that's a ridiculous thing to say.

If your noise is bothering it will be affecting him, if you can hear your upstairs neighbour despite him having carpets then imagine how much worse it must be for your downstairs neighbour, if it's condition of the tenancy that the flat is carpeted, then of course you must lay carpets.

Original poster
jasminedxx · 18/07/2015 21:41

I do not walk around in shoes,
I wear soft sole slippers,
I'm in bed by 8pm,
I do not flush the toilet after 8pm
My two year old nephew and 1yr old God child are not allowed in my flat because they jump around,
I do not even have vistors unless they are builders fixing something,
My tv is off by 8pm
I do not play loud music
I do not do anything but sit in bed on my laptop by 8pm

How is it my fault the flat is not sound proofed?
Should I tip toe around?

OP posts:
CrohnicallyAspie · 18/07/2015 21:45

If you don't have carpets now, what is laid down? You have agreed to no laminate or hard wood, if it's bare floor then surely that's hard wood? I would ask if underlay and vinyl would be a suitable alternative, but you do need to get something laid.

The5DayChicken · 18/07/2015 21:46

Why did you accept £200 for carpet if you had no intention of getting carpet? Confused

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 18/07/2015 21:47

There is nothing in the tenancy agreement to say I must carpet the floor it just says no laminate or hard wood.

Has it got to be a non-permanent covering?

ghostyslovesheep · 18/07/2015 21:47

well it's an interesting attempt first post but you are being a bit to argumentative for a Sat night

they have given you £200 - buy some carpet or move :)

Momzilla82 · 18/07/2015 21:50

I'm not sure I understand. No young children allowed in the flat but you have a 4 week old baby. And he's complaining about the sound of feet?!? Surely the baby would be the more noisy disturbance regardless of whether you're using headphones after 8pm?!? Hmm

Jasminedxx · 18/07/2015 21:53

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

ilovesooty · 18/07/2015 21:53

You presumably accepted the £200 knowing you were expected to lay carpets. If you're not prepared to comply with that condition, expect to have to leave.

And of course they're not saying that if he dies it's you're fault - you're being utterly ridiculous.

Original poster
Jasminedxx · 18/07/2015 21:54

Momzilla I was told it was about my walking, maybe he did complain about my baby but they said I cannot stop a baby crying I don't know to be honest.

OP posts:
itsmeitscathy · 18/07/2015 21:54

what on earth have you got at the moment? sounds like you need ti chat with HA to find a compromise.

what do you do after 8pm out of interest?

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 18/07/2015 21:56

OP i think you are having to be unnaturally quiet.... You should be able to have quiet enjoyment of your property... Having to ban visitors and not having tv on after 8 is completely unreasonable imho... Has he bullied you into this??

Serial complainers + bad insulation are the pits!!