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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Noisy neighbours

30 replies

Spudthecat · 14/08/2016 10:09

A year ago I moved into a downstairs flat, for the first year there was a couple that lived above me and I never heard anything other than the occasional noise, anyway last month a family of 5 moved in (it's a one bed flat) and they are so noisy! I can hear them talking, the kids screaming and shouting, they wake me up every morning, I can hear banging, riding what sounds like scooters, I'm sure the place must have laminate floor throughout, but anyway I can hear every word they say, I'm just wondering if this is normal as I've never lived in a downstairs flat but the noise seems so excessive but I'm not sure on where I stand with a complaint?

OP posts:
Original poster
Spudthecat · 14/08/2016 11:51

No advice at all?

OP posts:
SoleBizzz · 14/08/2016 11:58

Move out. There is nothing you can do. Unless they're being other than ever day life noises such as late night loud music and parties etv. This will ruin your mental health the longer you stay. Sound proof g won't really help and of they're asked to put carpet down it won't make any difference really either. My flat was built in 1830. Made no difference.

Original poster
Spudthecat · 14/08/2016 12:14

I'm considering moving it is that bad, but it is council and it's very difficult to get a mutual exchange

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SoleBizzz · 14/08/2016 12:22

Yes it is very difficult to get an exchange we like also so many time wasters out there. What about soundproofing your ceiling? Get advice and a quote.

BendydickCuminsnatch · 14/08/2016 12:29

We had exactly this, 3 young guys above who were quiet as anything, then they moved out and a guy and his girlfriend moved in and we heard EVERYTHING, it was like they'd taken the carpets up or something but they hadn't. He was very tall so maybe that made his footsteps louder, and his voice was booming, he also was always home as was I and played music constantly :( we were selling at the time, thank god, but that meant we had to put up with it instead of cause a fallout!

Original poster
Spudthecat · 14/08/2016 12:34

They are home the time aswell, it's private rented aswell, I'm surprised they've had a one bed flat rented out to them as a family of 5, the kids don't seem to be in school either as they moved in just before the school holidays but are always indoors, I'm sure it is all laminate as I constantly hear them dropping (or throwing?) things which I'm sure wouldn't be heard on carpet

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challengedvertically · 14/08/2016 12:35

Couldn't you politely speak to them about it? If they're reasonable people they would probably be embarrassed/sorry about the noise and at least get the kids to keep it down in the mornings so as not to wake you. Seems a more logical first step than moving out? Confused

ProudAS · 14/08/2016 12:38

I can't believe how councils/housing associations etc can be so blasé about the effects of noise on mental health. Surely it's cheaper to soundproof the flats than to treat mental illness (not to mention the human cost).

SoleBizzz · 14/08/2016 12:42

challenged politely speak to them about what?

Original poster
Spudthecat · 14/08/2016 12:43

The ceilings are very low aswell which doesn't help, I don't think their is much sound proofing as it's only a one bed flat so I guess wasn't built expecting a family of 5 to move in, they constantly shout at the kids and the kids constantly scream obviously I know kids are noisy but I don't think I should be able to hear their conversations, I'm worried about saying anything to them as I'm sure it won't go down well, I've only seen them once

OP posts:
SoleBizzz · 14/08/2016 12:46

Speak to your landlord. Might be temporary accommodation for them!. I has sound proofing in my flat and flat upstairs was carpeted.

Nothing you can do about it really. Put up with it or move out.

MargaretCavendish · 14/08/2016 12:55

I think you should say something, but think carefully about it beforehand. There's no point complaining about noise they can't change (kids screaming, for instance), but you can ask them to try and limit noise before/after certain times, or there may be things that can really easily be rectified. To give an example: when I lived in an upstairs flat I sometimes used to charge my phone on the floor - turned out the vibrations if I got a text etc. were almost silent to us but incredibly loud to the guy downstairs. So I was incredibly apologetic and started always putting the phone on a pillow. Problem solved, and I think it made him more willing to live with the noise that couldn't be changed (he wanted me to stop showering at 5.30, I said that I wasn't willing to stop showering before work!). Don't ask for silence, as it won't happen and will just annoy them: ask for concrete and achievable changes.

Original poster
Spudthecat · 14/08/2016 12:57

Well out of everything I wish they would stop riding scooters around! The sound is horrendous

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Palomb · 14/08/2016 13:00

Even if it's private rental the landlord will only be the leaseholder - the owner will most likely still be the council. It'll be worth trying them to see where that gets you. Their lease will have conditions built in to it and hey may prohibit overcrowding etc. Does your council have an anti social behaviour team?

WorraLiberty · 14/08/2016 13:03

I can't imagine any council putting a family of 5 in a one bedroom flat, unless it's emergency accommodation, but even then it's pretty unlikely.

Some families around here have been stuck in hostels for years, because the council refuse to under accommodate them.

expatinscotland · 14/08/2016 13:07

I'm confused, you say it's council but then say it's private rented. Which is it? It may well be temporary accommodation. There's not much you can do about the flooring in there.

If it's temporary accommodation, they won't be there long, but you're lucky it's the first time you've experienced noise. We have two temp flats near us and everyone in there has been noisy as hell.

Original poster
Spudthecat · 14/08/2016 13:08

The flat was bought, the woman who bought it a year ago came and knocked to say hello and to tell me she bought it but would be renting it out, I might try the council I just wasn't sure if I had a right to say anything about it or not

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expatinscotland · 14/08/2016 13:09

'I can't imagine any council putting a family of 5 in a one bedroom flat, unless it's emergency accommodation, but even then it's pretty unlikely. '

It's quite common in some councils.

Original poster
Spudthecat · 14/08/2016 13:10

I am council they are not I've never said they are council I said I am but they are private renting

OP posts:
Original poster
Spudthecat · 14/08/2016 13:11

Sorry it seems people are getting it mixed up I am council they are private

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expatinscotland · 14/08/2016 13:17

It's likely the private LL has agreed to take in homeless with the council and that's why there is a family in a one-bed flat. I'd guess it's being used as temp accommodation. You can ring the council and find out if this is the case. The scooter riding is not a 'normal living' noise but the rest of it can considered just that if it's between the hours of 7am and 11pm.

WorraLiberty · 14/08/2016 13:44

Yes sorry. My reply regarding the council was to Palomb.

When the owner told you she would be renting it out, I don't suppose she left any contact details, or told you what agency (if any) she'll be using?

MargaretCavendish · 14/08/2016 13:44

I really, really think you should speak to them directly rather than going to the landlord. They'll still know it's you and I actually think they could quite reasonably be upset that you immediately 'escalated' like that. I also think they may genuinely not know how loud the scooter is, as it's probably much louder to you than them. Talk to them politely and nicely, say how loud it is. I think they're more likely to agree to 'not before 9am' or something like that than 'never' so think beforehand about what you would consider to be a reasonable compromise.

MargaretCavendish · 14/08/2016 13:46

We once had a neighbour who contacted our landlord to say we didn't mow our grass often enough rather than just saying something to us. It did not endear him to us.

MrsGsnow18 · 14/08/2016 13:50

It seems strange that such a large family would rent a one bed? No wonder they are making so much noise though if all cooped up together.
Sorry you have to live with so much noise OP, not really sure what you can do, they prob aren't aware that you hear so much noise.

I know I always worry that my neighbours will complain about noise form my house Blush I would be mortified if they did.