Stamping from upstairs neighbours, including a jumping child, at 11.30pm?

0nthe3dge · 2024-12-21T23:42:09+00:00

I am mostly just venting but also wondering if my frustrations are unreasonable or not. I live in a flat and have struggled with particularly active and noisy upstairs neighbours for about 2 years now. The main issue generally is that they are very heavy footed and never seem to stop moving- 24/7. It is generally annoying but I try to be patient as I am super sensitive after 2 years of this and when I have gone up to speak to them (in the days of ridiculously noisy DIY) they just don’t care. This evening they have quite a few guests round. They have had their son staying for about a week (I know this as the footsteps are louder when they are here) and they have some other guests over this evening, including a very rambunctious child. This child lived with them for a while and still visits occasionally and it is no exaggeration to say that when the child is here it runs around their flat constantly. Full pelt, loud running across the entire flat. It is now 11.40pm and the child is still running around. Am I being unreasonable to think this is incredibly selfish behaviour in a flat?

RogueFemale · 21/12/2024 23:44

Do you have a separate freeholder/landlord or is it share of freehold?

If the former, complain to the freeholder, as almost all leases contain a clause about not causing nuisance. Some even specify that the flat's floors must be carpeted.

Original poster

0nthe3dge · 21/12/2024 23:49

Yes- we have a management company. I was in contact with them at the beginning (once I realised knocking on the door wasn’t making a difference) as I am certain they don’t have carpets. But the management company said the couple have said they do have carpets and there is no way it can be proven. It is just about manageable when it is just them being noisy but honestly the noise of the child running back and forth is immense!

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ABunchOfBadBitches · 21/12/2024 23:54

Honestly we could all say YANBU but that won’t step them from being inconsiderate. Sorry, it sounds extremely annoying

SavageTomato · 21/12/2024 23:57

I really feel for you, it's such a shit situation and clearly the management company are useless, they usually are. Best thing you can do is move out. Get a top floor flat and never deal with dickhead upstairs neighbours again.

niadainud · 22/12/2024 00:12

0nthe3dge · 21/12/2024 23:49

Yes- we have a management company. I was in contact with them at the beginning (once I realised knocking on the door wasn’t making a difference) as I am certain they don’t have carpets. But the management company said the couple have said they do have carpets and there is no way it can be proven. It is just about manageable when it is just them being noisy but honestly the noise of the child running back and forth is immense!

I can think of a fairly straightforward way of proving whether or not they have carpets...

Original poster

0nthe3dge · 22/12/2024 00:16

Unfortunately we have had 2 sales fall through due to the high ground rent charge so we feel a bit stuck, which doesn’t make the noise any less annoying, that’s for sure!
I went up and knocked on the door and the lady was very apologetic. Sadly that won’t stop them from stamping around as I can still hear them! The last time I complained when their son was here I got a lecture the next day about the realities of apartment living…after they had decided to build a bed at midnight!
Luckily the child has finally gone home.

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Original poster

0nthe3dge · 22/12/2024 00:17

niadainud · 22/12/2024 00:12

I can think of a fairly straightforward way of proving whether or not they have carpets...

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Paying them a visit? I did look over her shoulder when I went up to say how loud they were being and it was definitely laminate in the hallway.

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Stormyweatheroutthere · 22/12/2024 00:19

Broom handle and bang on the ceiling.. Selfish cunts. Get vacuuming at 6am.....and sing every Christmas song you know... Loudly and badly.

niadainud · 22/12/2024 00:23

0nthe3dge · 22/12/2024 00:17

Paying them a visit? I did look over her shoulder when I went up to say how loud they were being and it was definitely laminate in the hallway.

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Yes, or the managing agents paying a visit or asking them to send photos. I assume they own rather than rent?

Sympathies. I also have noisy and inconsiderate upstairs neighbours and it's very wearing.

Original poster

0nthe3dge · 22/12/2024 00:28

Stormyweatheroutthere · 22/12/2024 00:19

Broom handle and bang on the ceiling.. Selfish cunts. Get vacuuming at 6am.....and sing every Christmas song you know... Loudly and badly.

The annoying thing is that they seem to be up and about then too! I swear they don’t sleep.

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Babycatsmummy · 22/12/2024 00:29

0nthe3dge · 21/12/2024 23:49

Yes- we have a management company. I was in contact with them at the beginning (once I realised knocking on the door wasn’t making a difference) as I am certain they don’t have carpets. But the management company said the couple have said they do have carpets and there is no way it can be proven. It is just about manageable when it is just them being noisy but honestly the noise of the child running back and forth is immense!

I really feel for you OP.

We had this at a flat we left two months ago. It genuinely got so bad I thought the husband must've been doing DIY during the night. The toddler noise would expand into the hallways where they would let him run up and down the stairs screaming in the mornings. I opened my door one morning around 8am and politely asked him to keep the noise down as my partner works nights and had come home, straight to bed but couldn't sleep. The noise seemed to get worse.
We said a little prayer when they moved out but the peace lasted a week and the new tenant liked to have very loud arguments with her boyfriend, have friends over at all hours ( could hear her buzzer going all the time), would stomp around, play music... her friend was caught shoving something in the drains by the communal entrance which caused a huge blockage and we had sewage leaking under our door.

We moved after this incident. Our letting agents were lovely and really tried to help us but it just got too much

LostPups · 22/12/2024 00:31

and this is why we have no neighbours

Original poster

0nthe3dge · 22/12/2024 00:35

Babycatsmummy · 22/12/2024 00:29

I really feel for you OP.

We had this at a flat we left two months ago. It genuinely got so bad I thought the husband must've been doing DIY during the night. The toddler noise would expand into the hallways where they would let him run up and down the stairs screaming in the mornings. I opened my door one morning around 8am and politely asked him to keep the noise down as my partner works nights and had come home, straight to bed but couldn't sleep. The noise seemed to get worse.
We said a little prayer when they moved out but the peace lasted a week and the new tenant liked to have very loud arguments with her boyfriend, have friends over at all hours ( could hear her buzzer going all the time), would stomp around, play music... her friend was caught shoving something in the drains by the communal entrance which caused a huge blockage and we had sewage leaking under our door.

We moved after this incident. Our letting agents were lovely and really tried to help us but it just got too much

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I am so sorry. This sounds awful. Glad you have managed to get out and hopefully to somewhere a lot more peaceful!

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Original poster

0nthe3dge · 22/12/2024 00:35

LostPups · 22/12/2024 00:31

and this is why we have no neighbours

I envy you!

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Copperoliverbear · 22/12/2024 00:41

Just keep trying to move, hopefully someone will buy it soon.

lionloaf · 22/12/2024 00:46

Your neighbours aren’t “heavy footed” the insulation between the flats is just crap. If you don’t like it, either pay to install more sound insulation or move. You can’t expect them not to live their lives to accommodate you.

EmmaSmiff · 22/12/2024 01:32

There was a flat on the market for ages here with ground rent that was high. They changed it to say on completion the buyer would get 2 years ground rent paid, and it sold within a week.

My husband is heavy footed. It drives me mad when he walks about upstairs.

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 22/12/2024 01:35

Yanbu

purpleblue2 · 22/12/2024 01:36

Stormyweatheroutthere · 22/12/2024 00:19

Broom handle and bang on the ceiling.. Selfish cunts. Get vacuuming at 6am.....and sing every Christmas song you know... Loudly and badly.

I have the same issue and I’ve done this, I then had 5 men forgien at my door as a young single mother of one.. I’d do it again though no one’s scaring me.. I just shouted and knocked on the young man living opposite me who soon came out and they all went walking back in.

Guest100 · 22/12/2024 01:36

Go out for the day and leave a really annoying alarm ringing

Tooes · 22/12/2024 09:06

Nothing you can do unfortunately, apart from moving out or putting up with it.

Lovelycupofcoffee · 22/12/2024 16:31

YANBU we moved into a new build in June . The soundproofing is non existent and the neighbours one side are really loud . Screaming children and stomping around like a herd of elephants. Also door slamming . I feel we may be looking to move again soon .

Justice1981 · 22/12/2024 18:50

Just reading this thread and i am going through the same thing with my neighbours above me. Its so sad because I have tried mediation with her and nothings changed. She even said her son thinks he is Sonic the hedgehog and doesn't listen to her and then had more children. She moved to the flat through DV and that same perpetrator is still living with her. Conflict has already happened where our partners and had a fight and yet the housing still didnt help. Its just disgusting i live like this and my landlord dont seem to care. Even the fact She has 4 children above me and most days from 6am in the morning the children is running in and out of rooms and where he is not school age will do this most of the day until the other kids get home and they all have ago at it. I have to work from home 3 times a week and the impact is just horrible. I am going through a current complaint process with my landlord but I don't feel they are taking me serious enough and even my son who is only 11 is stressed with it all. We actually get no peace at all. The school holidays are so bad that i actually dread it for the simple fact they will all be home and the noise continues.

Original poster

0nthe3dge · 22/12/2024 21:53

Lovelycupofcoffee · 22/12/2024 16:31

YANBU we moved into a new build in June . The soundproofing is non existent and the neighbours one side are really loud . Screaming children and stomping around like a herd of elephants. Also door slamming . I feel we may be looking to move again soon .

I am so sorry to hear you are suffering too. I always feel it is difficult to explain how much it wears you down. Even though it is arguably normal sounds of living, when it is constant and at all hours it is so upsetting.

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Original poster

0nthe3dge · 22/12/2024 21:57

Justice1981 · 22/12/2024 18:50

Just reading this thread and i am going through the same thing with my neighbours above me. Its so sad because I have tried mediation with her and nothings changed. She even said her son thinks he is Sonic the hedgehog and doesn't listen to her and then had more children. She moved to the flat through DV and that same perpetrator is still living with her. Conflict has already happened where our partners and had a fight and yet the housing still didnt help. Its just disgusting i live like this and my landlord dont seem to care. Even the fact She has 4 children above me and most days from 6am in the morning the children is running in and out of rooms and where he is not school age will do this most of the day until the other kids get home and they all have ago at it. I have to work from home 3 times a week and the impact is just horrible. I am going through a current complaint process with my landlord but I don't feel they are taking me serious enough and even my son who is only 11 is stressed with it all. We actually get no peace at all. The school holidays are so bad that i actually dread it for the simple fact they will all be home and the noise continues.

Edited

I am so sorry- that sounds awful. I know what you mean about dreading certain times. It is always worse with ours over the Christmas period- maybe it feels worse as we are wanting to relax more? I was feeling really annoyed today thinking about how I now just want Christmas to be over and be back at work (though the Christmas period has barely begun) in the hope that they might then have fewer visitors.
I hope your current complaint results in a positive outcome for you. And I hope your neighbour is able to get rid of her awful partner too.

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