Neighbour's from hell.

[StrapOnSallyChasedMeDownTheAli]

I live in a block of 3 flats, I'm in the middle. It's a council block but I own my flat. The neighbour's above from the day they moved in are noisy as hell. I'm at the end of my rope with it. They had small children when they moved in so I ignored it as kids make noise etc and it can't be helped, right? They are now all adults but it's gotten worse and over the last few months I've started to complain but every time I do say anything they retaliate with more noise.

They have house parties all the time that goes on until the early morning. 3 years ago they put wooden floors throughout their house (why do people do this when they live in a flat?) The noise from the floors is awful.

I've involved the police and council but so far nothing has been done. I know when the council have been in touch with them as they ramp up their shit, deliberately banging stuff or stomping on the floor and blasting loud music etc.

I really don't know what else to do. I can't cope with it much longer. Unfortunately I'm not in a position to leave anytime soon and why should I, I love my home.

Can you involve your local MP?

What do the other neighbours think? Maybe if others complained too something would change? Really don’t have much advice but know that councils can be slow and nothing could change. Such a shame that some people are just arseholes who are so inconsiderate and selfish!

Can you go round and explain that you'd like to go through a few bullet points and have a sensible discussion before you escalate to council/MP etc? Do they own? If not you can push for eviction?

Tell them that you will be getting noise recording equipment in and explain clearly that is is not very neighbourly to ... have Music on after 11pm, to have constant parties etc and see how they react?

Then follow through with every threat? Bombard the council with anti social reports daily, e mail and phone MP?

Yeah, I think my MP might be the next step thanks @Justmuddlingalong.

@DomPom47The neighbour's below me can't hear them banging about, it's the wooden floors above my ceiling driving me mad more than anything else. They don't care either, I'm sure they think it's funny as they often throw things or bang on the floor deliberately.

@Chosennone I've tried having discussions with them but they just go on the defensive and then start banging about which tends to go on for weeks after every time I say anything or when they remember. So, I just don't speak to them now, there's no point. They rent their flat from the council, I and the neighbours below own our flats.

I'm at my wits end with it. I don't know why some people think it's ok to behave like that.

Op I feel for you I have experienced this too. We owned the middle flat and council tenants above. The noise was horrific, stomping about the flat with heels on, kids screaming all hours of the day and night, jumping off furniture etc etc. Things started to get violent with folk at our door in the middle of the night threatening to stab us. They were scum. Council, MP and police were useless although we did end up going to court twice and 2 of them got charged...not the tenant of the property though. It was a living hell. We had no option but to sell and move into rented for a period of time until we could afford what we wanted. We put flat up for sale but didn't put any for sale signs up as we were worried they would cause havoc if they knew we had viewings etc. In the end we reached breaking point and cracked, we took to banging the upstairs ceiling with a mop for hours on end every time she deliberately made noise. We left music blaring and went out for a couple of hours at a time. None of the other neighbours could hear it thankfully. After about 3 months we had a buyer and a moving date and that same week we found out she was moving! You couldn't make it up. We promptly put sold signs up the day she was moving out just to rub it in. Made our lives a living hell and we were traumatised for a long time, I will never ever live in a flat again. I know you say you can't move but could you rent something else and rent your property out until you can sell?

You can take action yourself through the Magistrates Court. You don’t need the council.

@PorthbeanCove

You can take action yourself through the Magistrates Court. You don’t need the council.

Thanks, I will look into it.

@Lillipops I wouldn't be able to afford renting and would imagine no one would be happy to pay rent to live next to neighbours like mine. Plus, I really like my home, it's perfect for me and within walking distance to friends, work, train station etc. I think moving will be my last resort after I've tried everything else.

How tall are ypur ceilings? Can you afford to lose some height and install sound proofing, yes you shouldnt have too and yes long term you probably need more than this but it might cut down a bit on the constant noise and help you cope more in order to have the energy to pursue the more long term solutions

Who is the freeholder? Do you own it between you?

Sorry - just reread - so you own your lease but the council are the LL? Is there not a provision in the leases about floor covering?

Knew someone who had this identical experience. They got evicted, but it took years!
What the people I know did was to put all communication to Council/MP etc in writing, e mail is good enough, not just phone. They got the council to put in sound monitoring equipment. They got the local MP involved. They got the police involved. They kept a daily record of everything.
My friends owned their flat too and couldn't sell if they involved all these agencies without declaring it - but life became unbearable, so they had to. Turned out this pair of imbeciles had done exactly the same in their previous council owned property, yet got rehoused to this one. These were two employed grown men - not vulnerable - no idea how they even got a council property in the first place when more vulnerable needy people couldn't.
Anyway - they ended up evicted again and up in court.

Good luck OP.

I would look into the following:

1. Check the tenancy agreements for your council, they might not allow wooden flooring and so they would be in breach (some councils have that provision).

1. Check your lease. The council shouldn’t allow any nuisances.

Then contact the council if any of those provisions are in your favour.

Small update...My local council have decided to react in my favour, at last, after many complaints. My neighbour's have been given a month to rip up the wooden floors in their house and to replace them with soft coverings. I can't tell you what a relief it is to finally have someone on your side. However, I'm now public enemy number one 🤷‍♀️ if looks could kill, lol.

Just thought I'd update just incase others are in similar situation, it's worth persevering sometimes.

Good for you op, that's progress, as for the dirty looks, who cares?

Good for you OP. Nothing worse than council tenants who behave this way. Some people wait years for a council property you think they'd be grateful and would want to stay and get on with their neighbours.