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

[shatteredmama]

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?

"overcrowding" is a council concept and not a thing for owners or private renters who pay for what they can afford.

The obvious thing to do is inform the landlord given they have admitted they’ve already lied to the landlord anyway I’m sure the landlord will want to know.

Tell your LL. They are in breach of their tenancy agreement. End of. Why should you move?

Another one saying you should tell the landlord. Having six people there when you thought there'd only be two is going to mean a hell of a lot more wear and tear anyway.

I don’t care that they lied to get the property- that’s between them and the landlord.

I hate inconsiderate people though. Take the kids to the park and let them wear themselves out. I expect some play will happen inside, but jumping off furniture and constantly banging shit, would be too much.

Tell them to sort the noise out, or we will have to speak to the landlord. That gives them a chance to get the children under control.

I went through this and almost ended my life. I was psychologically broken.
Tell the landlord.

I wouldn’t care less what circumstances they’d been through if they were making my life a misery in such a cavalier and inconsiderate way. They’re just selfish piss takers. You bet I’d report them to the landlord. Tough shit. You tried the nice approach and it didn’t work. Time to escalate your action.

Dweetfidilove

You’ve pretty much summed up how I’m feeling, thank you. Those poor boys only ever seem to leave the flat to go to school, and that’s the ones old enough to go. I actually feel really sorry for them. They never get taken to the park or anywhere to let off steam.

Not good, despite over crowding they could be less noisy
i own a 1 bed terrace, as did my neighbours a couple, banged about, I complained too, cat and I deserved more, luckily they moved

It is actually a thing for private landlords, their agents and owners as it's been in various regulations since 1936 and is still part of the housing act

Due to the shortage in properties local authorities now do absolutely nothing about owners, but depending on who lives in a rental property may do something about private landlords and their agents.

I reckon the best place for them is to move into your gaff.

Sounds awful OP and you should 100% report it to the landlord. I wouldn't want a family of 6 living in my 2 bedroom flat if I were them, they will cause far more wear and tear than a couple will.

Do they right to public resources based on their nationality? If they do, I would report them to landlord and council for overcrowding, as it would help them get on the list for a three bedroom. If not, I would move, or keep reporting to noise control.

They lied, their problem. Report them

I get that it's very annoying but I also think that it's highly unlikely this was their ideal choice - maybe they cannot afford or even find somewhere else.

Tough shit. The OP pays good money to rent her flat as well

That's not OP's problem.

It's really easy to make statements like that from behind a screen.

What a depressive world we live in.

Where did you see me suggest it was her problem?
Having some understanding doesn't equate to making it your problem.

You tell the landlord and get the local council environmental health involved because of the noise

So what are you suggesting then?

If they have only recently come to the country they may be here on a visa which does not allow access to benefits including council housing.

Unfortunately the housing situation has worsened since then so I doubt anything will change soon, sorry.

Having some understanding, what I said originally.

We don't all have the same choices or the same options.

I was going to say they need somewhere to live and might be all they can afford. But they've lied to the landlord and clearly don't care how its impacting you, so complain to the landlord