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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that you shouldn’t choose to rent an upstairs 2 bed flat if you have 4 noisy kids

405 replies

shatteredmama · 25/11/2023 14:51

Just after your thoughts. We rent a ground floor flat, we expect to hear some of the usual sounds of upstairs neighbours such as footsteps, doors closing, washing machine, Hoover, the odd thud. Am absolutely fine with that.

A new couple moved into the flat upstairs, normal neighbour noises could be heard. No problem with that. Soon after they told me they had lied to our landlord and that it won’t just be the two of them, their 4 boys from the ages of 2 -11 would be coming over from their home country and living in that flat with them. Theirs is a 2 bedroom flat, no outside space, our flats are converted from 1 house. As she told me this she laughed and her exact words were oh you’ll know when they’ve arrived. Things are going to get very noisy!

Since the kids moved in the noise levels are ridiculous. Constant loud bangs, thuds, shouting, squealing, we can hear them running up and down their flat. It isn’t occasional. It’s all day every day as not all of them attend school.

I know kids make noise. On a couple of occasions I’ve knocked on and as nicely and politely as possible explained how it’s impacting us. For example when my child was crying and couldn’t go to sleep at bedtime because all the kids in the room above were jumping off the sofa onto the floor, our lampshade was swinging from the impact. At other times they’ve all been running and screeching so loud it sounds as though they are actually in our flat with us. The neighbours have then shrugged, argued back and said they’d try to keep the noise down but there’s nothing they can do.

I don’t know what we can do other than move out ourselves, but with the housing crisis the way it is, it wouldn’t be easy. I feel angry that they lied to get the tenancy and moved the family in knowing that it would disturb us and make our lives difficult.

Would any of you say I’m justified in feeling this way, any practical advice you’d give?

OP posts:
Caffeinequeen91 · 25/11/2023 14:55

Tell the landlord

WonderLife · 25/11/2023 14:55

They clearly won't have the luxury of choosing a detached 4 bed house somewhere, they need somewhere to live.

Only practical advice is to move.

Ohdearwhatnow4 · 25/11/2023 14:55

If its that bad report to landlord and tell him that unless he sorts it your take further action, and then report to council and they can put monitors in your flat to see if the levels are too loud

35965a · 25/11/2023 14:56

As you said yourself, with the housing crisis it isn’t easy. Can’t blame them to be honest. It’s a battle getting a new place.

GrumpyPanda · 25/11/2023 14:57

Surely you inform the landlord and ask him to take action. Where I'm based this might also veer into withholding part of the rent territory given how much you're impacted, but take advice on your rights in the UK.

Reugny · 25/11/2023 14:57

Report it to the landlord as they are over crowded.

Then sort out finding somewhere to move to as it will take a while for the landlord to evict them.

Maryamlouise · 25/11/2023 14:58

Ring 101 and report the noise every single time.

WonderLife · 25/11/2023 14:59

All these people hoping to make 4 children homeless in the middle of winter Shock

LaurieStrode · 25/11/2023 14:59

Report to the landlord. They are scurvy to lie their way in, at your expense.

Their need for accommodation is not your problem.

Maryamlouise · 25/11/2023 14:59

And evidently as I have just seen that you have the same landlord let them know ASAP

theduchessofspork · 25/11/2023 14:59

Contact the landlord, as she’s told he didn’t agree to it.

If he won’t act you’ll have to move.

It’s not a great choice with 4 kids, but their priority is being housed. I can understand your frustration.

Reugny · 25/11/2023 15:00

Oh and the examples you gave with the boys jumping off the sofa etc isn't statutory noise pollution as kids playing, crying isn't.

TomatoSandwiches · 25/11/2023 15:00

I doubt there was much choice in the matter for them.
Perhaps you can report them for overcrowding and they will be bumped up the social housing priority list.

BertieBotts · 25/11/2023 15:00

They probably didn't have much of a choice. YABU.

Reugny · 25/11/2023 15:01

Maryamlouise · 25/11/2023 14:58

Ring 101 and report the noise every single time.

Noise is a council issue and kids doing normal kid things even if it annoys neighbours isn't statutory noise pollution.

MintGreenPolo · 25/11/2023 15:01

This happened to me. I moved into a gf maisonette I was expecting some noise obviously but as the flat above was a one bed I was only ever expecting a couple or single person to live there. Then one day a family of 5 (3 primary aged kids) moved in! The noise was horrific as they was allowed to play with scooters and skates and the flooring was laminate throughout

theduchessofspork · 25/11/2023 15:01

WonderLife · 25/11/2023 14:59

All these people hoping to make 4 children homeless in the middle of winter Shock

Oh don’t be daft.

You wouldn’t be such a vision of virtue if your lampshade was swinging.

They need to be housed, but this is not the place for them.

BertieBotts · 25/11/2023 15:02

It's not the best thing ever to lie, but perhaps they found that they were being discriminated against, it's illegal for a landlord to advertise no children, but many of them have this as unofficial criteria all the same.

OuiOuiKitty · 25/11/2023 15:02

Nobody with 4 kids wants to live in a 2 bed flat. It's awful for you and them. I don't think there is an answer other than move out unfortunately.

Reugny · 25/11/2023 15:03

WonderLife · 25/11/2023 14:59

All these people hoping to make 4 children homeless in the middle of winter Shock

It takes months to evict tenants so that won't happen.

WonderLife · 25/11/2023 15:03

theduchessofspork · 25/11/2023 15:01

Oh don’t be daft.

You wouldn’t be such a vision of virtue if your lampshade was swinging.

They need to be housed, but this is not the place for them.

As much as noisy neighbours are annoying, I don't thing wishing for them to get evicted is proportionate.

What do you think is the place for them?

Maryamlouise · 25/11/2023 15:03

Council will tell you to ring 101 though before they do anything. Am probably over sensitive to noise after an awful protracted experience with noisy neighbours but everyone has the right to quiet enjoyment of their property.

LaurieStrode · 25/11/2023 15:05

This is a prime example of people choosing to have more kids than they can support, and then expecting everyone else to deal with the downsides. Just reprehensible.

UnremarkableBeasts · 25/11/2023 15:06

I doubt that they’ve really ‘chosen’ the upstairs two bed flat for a family of 6 option. It will have been the best of several not great choices.

They’ll have lied to the LL too because it can be really bloody hard to find LL’s that will rent to you if you have children.

But, if they’ve lied to the LL and the flat is now extremely overcrowded, then all you can do is make a complaint about it to the LL and hope they take action. If the LL doesn’t, then moving is your best option.

KaiserChefs · 25/11/2023 15:06

OuiOuiKitty · 25/11/2023 15:02

Nobody with 4 kids wants to live in a 2 bed flat. It's awful for you and them. I don't think there is an answer other than move out unfortunately.

This. We've got 2 kids in a 2 bed flat. That's awful enough. These people are trying to make a life for their children and need to house them somewhere.
I note OP found a way to point out they were immigrants as well. 🙄

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