Coach house gym

[penni00]

I bought a detached coach house. Two out of the three garages underneath belong to other people. The two garages other than mine garages have no light or elec and up until recently have been used for storage/parking. However recently the new owner of the flat in a block who has one of the garages below me has set up a gym for himself and family to use. It is sending noise up into my accommodation that runs above, and feels intrusive. I no longer feel I have privacy because they must be able to hear me if I can hear them. The garages are not built with sound insulation like that in between flats in a block. I cannot open my window above this garage because of noise/my privacy/and possibly the use of garage as a gym is a covid risk. What do you think please?

The gym isn't a Covid risk. You might not be able to be heard, because noise travels upwards, plus, there's nothing stopping it, unlike in a house with soft furnishings. It depends on how long and how often it's used, as well as how noisy.

YNBU re change in noise level however I don't think you need be worried re covid risk or them hearing you. I wouldn't let it stop me opening windows either. Is it clinking and dropping of weights and treadmill type of noises or shouting/talking/music?

It's a hard one, they would be there if they spent time tinkering with motorbikes or doing woodwork. I'm not sure it's unreasonable to use their property as long as it's at fairly sociable hours.

It is gym equipment noises, really irritating to be so aware of someone just below when having a lay in, or when in bathroom. They feel really close because there is not much between my floor and the garage ceiling. The noise can be heard in every room though., even when TV on. It is not like being in a flat above another flat where you feel separated properly by the properly insulated floors between each storey. I have never felt like this in flats because you expect people to be living under you and any noise has always been fainter. Normally a lease in a coach house dictates other peoples garages under you to only be used for parking or storage. One of the people using it works where they are having a big problem with Covid which is why I feel I cannot open the window. - the heavy breathing with exercising is meant to really emit the virus if someone has it. All different people seem to be using it.

Speak to the freeholder or residents association for clarification on the rules. Make sure the gym people are on their own electric meter and not running up a big bill to be split between all garage users or be added to communal charges.

This would piss me off too but you should do the above and find out if you can put a stop to it. I really wouldn't tackle them directly.

Thank you. They have no electric in their garage, no light even. My garage is the only one out of the three that has electric/light. This makes it seem that the other garages were not built/designed to be used for anything other than parking or storage. I have got hold of the lease that belongs to the flat in the other block who has garage under me with the gym set up, and the lease does not mention anything about how the garage can be used at all. So frustrating that the lease does not have the usual use restrictions. I will get onto the freeholder I think. I am hoping that I do not end up with the other garage also being turned into a gym!