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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bought a flat from hell. What now?

388 replies

LeonieLondon · 11/01/2022 16:57

I changed name and posting here to get more advice. Sorry long post
I recently bought what I thought was my dream flat in Kensington. For the past 14 years i have worked hard and saved most of my money. finally got on a property ladder with my dp (soon to be dh). We were renting a very similar type of place for the past 3 years (a flat in a mansion block) and had a very good experience- no noise from neighbours, no disasters in the flat, no leaks, generally no problems.
Turns out my new dream flat in a ‘sought after and prestigious mansion block’ has got zero sound insulation, there are not only every day neighbour noises (tv, chatter, laughing) coming from right, left and below (we are top floor, i insisted on a top floor flat because i thought i wouldn’t hear the neighbours…)

  • I can hear my neighbours boilers from every direction, imagine constant very loud amplified humming in your ear
  • below neighbours are fans what seems to be drum and bass and i hear bass noise coming from their place every day
  • said neighbours make my floor and walls shake when they walk- is this a structural fault? I can be sitting in my bed or on a sofa and it literally shakes
  • i am pretty sure they can also hear us stomp even though we are quiet
-there is a gas meter in a cupboard of one of the bedrooms which makes a very loud ticking/clicking sound every 2 seconds, again so loud and amplified. It would be impossible to sleep there or work while heating is on or someone turns hot water on (never even noticed this when viewing, but having lived in a bedroom with a boiler cupboard in it i wouldn’t even suspect that would be a problem) I am not even THAT sensitive to noise but i feel i am spiralling into paranoia.
  • the fucking helicopters?!?! There is a heliport in battersea over the other side of the river…

We are meant to be putting new floor with sound proofing but given that neighbours play drum and bass i think the sound will travel through walls and chimneys anyway?
I don’t want to be here, it’s a complete disaster. I am now paranoid about every sound and movement
Any advice please? Move? Wait? Do i even bother changing the floors, spending £15k+ on new floors only to discover no noise change?
I feel like this mansion block compared with the one i lived is so flimsy.
I feel no joy from buying anything new for the house- it shouldn’t be like this :(

OP posts:
Cakeofdoom · 12/01/2022 21:15

Your flat sounds absolutely stunning, but to be driven mad by noise that's out of your control is awful. Your mental wellbeing is not worth compromising. I had similar issues in a terraced property many years ago, I'm now in a detached bungalow (albeit not Kensington) and I'd never sacrifice the tranquility I have for anything. I hope you find a solution x

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 12/01/2022 21:17

@Emmasonej3791

Why are you on mumsnet if you don’t have or want kids?
Everyone is welcome here.
Exasperatedhousehunter · 12/01/2022 21:19

@Emmasonej3791

Why are you on mumsnet if you don’t have or want kids?
Did you miss the part where loads of posters on here don't have or want kids???
Emerald5hamrock · 12/01/2022 21:21

Why are you on mumsnet if you don’t have or want kids
It is a interesting platform which has many different topics.
There is no exclusive club. Very rude,the thread isn't about DC.

Emerald5hamrock · 12/01/2022 21:31

why not pass the misery to someone else as long as you’re ok.... ugh
Some people don't mind noise, it isn't antisocial behaviour I'd agree if OP's reasons for selling was antisocial behaviour.
I lived in a noisy apartment block for years, didn't bother me.

Samara26 · 12/01/2022 21:51

@Meadowblossom

Just make sure you tell any buyers about the neighbour/sound problem - it’s unfair to then otherwise.
No one would do that, as it would never sell. Pretty sure no Eatate agent would ever mention it. Plus you could argue that sound is subjective- no everyone hears it or thinks it's a problem. What's considered ok or too loud? Compare to what? I think they'd have a hard job proving anything
BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 12/01/2022 21:52

@Emmasonej3791

Why are you on mumsnet if you don’t have or want kids?
That old chestnut. There are loads of topics on here where parenthood (current or planned) is irrelevant.
Happinessislife · 12/01/2022 21:55

I know it sounds impossible right now, but maybe you will get used to the noise after a while. It does sometimes get easier. I'm really noise sensitive and when we moved a few years ago our new home drove me crazy at first. Like you I felt overwhelmed by it but somehow, gradually, became less aware of the sounds. Fingers crossed that happens

Samara26 · 12/01/2022 21:58

@Emmasonej3791

Why are you on mumsnet if you don’t have or want kids?
Rude!
Brennanlady1888 · 12/01/2022 21:58

Flat conversions are notorious for no sound proofing. . I think you should just sell and cut your losses. You cant make a silk purse out of a pigs ear. GET your ears checked that you dont have tinnitus. The problem is when stressed you hear everything and it sounds worse than it really is. Can you wear ear mufflers

nannykatherine · 12/01/2022 22:00

@LeonieLondon

I changed name and posting here to get more advice. Sorry long post I recently bought what I thought was my dream flat in Kensington. For the past 14 years i have worked hard and saved most of my money. finally got on a property ladder with my dp (soon to be dh). We were renting a very similar type of place for the past 3 years (a flat in a mansion block) and had a very good experience- no noise from neighbours, no disasters in the flat, no leaks, generally no problems. Turns out my new dream flat in a ‘sought after and prestigious mansion block’ has got zero sound insulation, there are not only every day neighbour noises (tv, chatter, laughing) coming from right, left and below (we are top floor, i insisted on a top floor flat because i thought i wouldn’t hear the neighbours…)
  • I can hear my neighbours boilers from every direction, imagine constant very loud amplified humming in your ear
  • below neighbours are fans what seems to be drum and bass and i hear bass noise coming from their place every day
  • said neighbours make my floor and walls shake when they walk- is this a structural fault? I can be sitting in my bed or on a sofa and it literally shakes
  • i am pretty sure they can also hear us stomp even though we are quiet
-there is a gas meter in a cupboard of one of the bedrooms which makes a very loud ticking/clicking sound every 2 seconds, again so loud and amplified. It would be impossible to sleep there or work while heating is on or someone turns hot water on (never even noticed this when viewing, but having lived in a bedroom with a boiler cupboard in it i wouldn’t even suspect that would be a problem) I am not even THAT sensitive to noise but i feel i am spiralling into paranoia.
  • the fucking helicopters?!?! There is a heliport in battersea over the other side of the river…

We are meant to be putting new floor with sound proofing but given that neighbours play drum and bass i think the sound will travel through walls and chimneys anyway?
I don’t want to be here, it’s a complete disaster. I am now paranoid about every sound and movement
Any advice please? Move? Wait? Do i even bother changing the floors, spending £15k+ on new floors only to discover no noise change?
I feel like this mansion block compared with the one i lived is so flimsy.
I feel no joy from buying anything new for the house- it shouldn’t be like this :(

I want to know where you live because I live in Kensington . It’s noise at place on earth All the construction for one thing !!!! The helicopters are because of the embassies where somethings always kicking off Israel Or somewhere !! Or then the royal helicopter to the palace Or the police trying to avert crime It goes on !!!!!!!!!
Ohmycron · 12/01/2022 22:17

While I agree that it is rude to ask why she is on mumsnet, I am quite interested why. If I didn’t have kids I’d run a mile Smile

Ziegfeld · 12/01/2022 22:34

I used to live above an internet cafe which played loud music until late at night. This was in Westminster, so we called the Westminster noise police and got them to measure how loud it was. Turned out to be too loud, so the cafe owner was served a notice to desist or be taken to court
Didn’t desist so was taken to court.

Westminster and K&C share a lot of services now so I wouldn’t be surprised if you have noise police too. Call them and see if they will come to measure the noise.

Yourcatisnotsorry · 12/01/2022 22:35

I live at the end of a cul-de-sac in an old detached house on a large plot. Our walls are far from next door but I still hear their boiler. No doubt they hear me shouting at the dog and kids playing in the garden. You can’t eradicate all noise unless u live in true isolation. Is it through the day? Just put the radio on? Or wear noise cancelling headphones. At nighttime ask them politely to turn tv down, use earplugs, get secondary glazing etc. you will get used to it as people do who live near train lines etc.

Neverforgetwhothisisfor · 12/01/2022 22:39

@Mumof3confused

I used to live in a flat like this, it was a nightmare. Be careful with how you approach this because any issues like this do have to be declared when you sell up. If there are no records of you complaining etc, you’re fine. I’d plan your course of action.

Also, if you have paid additional stamp duty because your partner already owns another property, I believe he would be able to reclaim this if you sell within a certain time period.

No they don’t have to be declared. You are only obliged to answer the specific questions put to you by the buyer when you sell a property. If they don’t ask about noise you don’t have to tell them. Clearly lots of people don’t ask - just like you.
Nicola101177 · 12/01/2022 23:07

People are living in deprivation. Some parents can’t afford to feed their children. Some children don’t even have beds. Grow up, sell up and move somewhere else.

Samara26 · 12/01/2022 23:08

@Ohmycron

While I agree that it is rude to ask why she is on mumsnet, I am quite interested why. If I didn’t have kids I’d run a mile Smile
Because a lot of the topics discussed such as this one, have nothing to do with kids and it's a great source of information! It probably was for mums originally but I think it's evolved beyond that now. Apart from Reddit and Quora (worldwide) I don't know if any others.
onlychildhamster · 12/01/2022 23:17

@Nicola101177 those are really big problems, but it doesn't mean OP doesn't have her own problems. Mumsnet is more suited to giving advice on how to solve OP's dilemma on whether to sell her flat and swallow the 68k loss in stamp duty she paid.

The problem of poverty is one that we can only begin to solve when we get the Tories out.
That wouldn't be for a while. We can discuss OP's problem in the mean time. If we really do care about the children though, we should look into joining the conservative party so that we can vote in a 'suitable' candidate during their leadership elections. Should look into whether this is possible..

Deminism · 12/01/2022 23:44

I would put give it six months and then put it on the market.

Mepop · 13/01/2022 00:00

We discovered our gas meter made a horrible loud clicking noise when we moved in, we could hear it from other rooms in our house. We could hear it whilst we slept. We switched energy company and the new one fitted a smart meter. The new meter is extremely quiet. We can barely hear it.

D0lphine · 13/01/2022 00:11

@Ohmycron

While I agree that it is rude to ask why she is on mumsnet, I am quite interested why. If I didn’t have kids I’d run a mile Smile
I think it's a forum full of women.

Lots of other forums are extremely male dominated (I'm thinking Reddit) and people just don't quite get your perspective in the same way on there.

Just nice to discuss issues with women I think.

YDBear · 13/01/2022 00:55

It sure why anyone would be wedded to Kensington, it’s as pricey as the West End with none of the convenience. Move to Marylebone or Fitzrovia quick. Anyhow, have you contacted the block’s managers (whoever you pay your service charge to). Usually there’s a provision in the lease about not causing a nuisance to others. And anyone who rents out, as the leaseholder if the flat downstairs is doing , is also responsible for making sure their tenants don’t cause a nuisance. So basically you complain to the managers who get shirty with the downstairs leaseholder who should rein in the tenants. Of course this depends how activist the management is. But it’s worth trying. We had a problem with our neighbours who were hate Krishna’s and kept having big meetings in their flat with lots of awful drumming and chanting and shouting. They were renting from one of the leaseholders. Got on to the management who gave them a very dusty talking to and never had any problem again.

mamabear715 · 13/01/2022 04:08

Bit of jealousy on here, isn't there?
OP is asking for advice on noise problems, doesn't need 'why did you move there, why didn't you notice this, that & the other' and does NOT need to tell everyone exactly where she lives.
It's a lovely area, OP, I love Kensington. I hope you can get used to the noise in time & don't have to leave. Hugs..

Ohmycron · 13/01/2022 04:35

@YDBear

It sure why anyone would be wedded to Kensington, it’s as pricey as the West End with none of the convenience. Move to Marylebone or Fitzrovia quick. Anyhow, have you contacted the block’s managers (whoever you pay your service charge to). Usually there’s a provision in the lease about not causing a nuisance to others. And anyone who rents out, as the leaseholder if the flat downstairs is doing , is also responsible for making sure their tenants don’t cause a nuisance. So basically you complain to the managers who get shirty with the downstairs leaseholder who should rein in the tenants. Of course this depends how activist the management is. But it’s worth trying. We had a problem with our neighbours who were hate Krishna’s and kept having big meetings in their flat with lots of awful drumming and chanting and shouting. They were renting from one of the leaseholders. Got on to the management who gave them a very dusty talking to and never had any problem again.
Great advice
penni00 · 13/01/2022 06:01

Be careful about complaints in case of selling in the future. Neighbours disputes and complaints to Management Companies I believe have to be disclosed when selling. What do the leases say about hard flooring - many don’t allow due to noise issues. I love it when it’s mine but not if it is the neighbours! If I were you, I wouldn’t sell immediately, I would put my radio/TV on as a distraction from the noise. Also, I would write a list of things that you like about the flat, so as to get a more balanced feeling of the property. You could have noise issues with another flat (you were lucky before). How would you check this out if you were looking at another flat? It is a bit trial and error. I am sorry you are disappointed. Look over your lease very carefully, assuming the neighbours have the same - you need to scrutinise the clauses. Also if there is a Residents’Association , it might pay to attend meetings to get to hear other neighbours thoughts regarding noise - it is likely to be brought up by them. If you haven’t already looked at the clauses closely in the lease, you really should. There may things in there that you really don’t like, this might help you decide whether to stay or run.