To want neighbours to please quieten down

[Pleaseshutthefuckup]

I can't blame my relatively young neighbours ( with family) for leading their lives. But the noise I have to deal with from them every waking second is absolutely unbearable now.

I can't get out much as have significant health issues. I live in a housing association house as a result, converted into two properties. I'm above. I have extra underlay and thick carpets.

The noise problem is because of the property. It was originally a house. Now they've made it 2 homes, I'm at the top. I have lived here for years but my last neighbour was dreamlike, even with a child. I hardly heard a single thing ever.

My current neighbours are so loud I am absolutely overwhelmed. It started with alarms going off non stop and not being switched off. Then baby crying endlessly non stop at night on multiple occasions. Going on for so long it was unbearable. I think they were sleeping through/ couldn't hear it. So I moved out my room. Then the other little toddler is shouting each morning. Moved again to living room sofa. Then a new puppy arrives whining all night in the kitchen. They didn't hear it but it might has well have been on my sofa with me it was so loud.

So I eventually text neighbour, very polite and explained it was too much now with the dog. That stopped. Really apologetic. Instead I hear the radio on for the dog when no one is in. It feels like it's never ending noise that I haven't had before on the 4 years living here.

The sound from talking, laughing, music, kids is so unbelievably intrusive I am struggling immensely.

I can't keep texting about this. They're young and just loud and have no sense of how much this is impacting me. The problem it feels is with the layout and them just being generally loud people. I have once shouted please shut up at 8am when the dog won't stop whining. I'm sure they heard. Generally get on ok but I can sense I will be the issue for saying any more.

I can tolerate noise but it's starting early and goes on late and I'm sick of it. Middle of the day I can handle and accept .

Is there anything at all anyone can do to try soundproofing. I don't know what the Housing Association can do - if anything to improve the sound problem.

I am researching online as to what there is. I can't improve my carpeting any more than I have. Can anything be done here to improve noise flow from downstairs to upstairs? I am not holding out much hope the HA will do anything helpful.

I'm worried I will absolutely lose it soon. I have significant stress in my life which is really making this so difficult. I am a decent reasonable person and don't want to be a childish dick btw.

If the HA will allow it, you could lay sound dampening insulation under your floorboards.

It wouldn’t be cheap to do, but might be your only course of action unless they’d allow you to swap with another property?

Thanks Peter. I haven't even heard of that. I will go look it up and see how much this stuff costs.

I really couldn't face moving with my issues. I appreciate with HA you can go from frying pan into fire too with the quality of people ( yes I'm stereotyping but most are just unbelievable in behaviour). It's beautiful here and peaceful countryside to die for. Apart from the god damn racket from neighbours. Thankyou! 🙏

Aw. I really feel for you. Could you try noise cancelling head phones? I know it’s unfair that you need to use something like that in your own home but it might give you some respite at least? Also maybe try having some white noise on? There’s an App called Insight Timer with lots of free meditations and soothing sounds. I know it’s still noise but at least you’d be in control of it and might find it calming? I know that’s not sound proofing advice (I’m afraid I don’t know about that) but just ideas that might ease things a little until you can possibly sort that.

I didn't know if noise cancelling headphones were actually any good, or more than a gimmick. But I think you're right.

I feel I have little choice but to do something my end like you suggest. As I have no control over it. If my situation wasn't so difficult it probably wouldn't be so bad. I'm housebound so feel utterly powerless and so angry I am trying to stop myself throwing a massive screaming explosion - as they get louder and more don't give a shit with the racket.

I will look at suggestions, thankyou

I have cheap white noise machine from amazon. Great little thing.

I feel you. I can hear my downstairs neighbours walk.... And well, everything else of course. The shitty quality builds should be outlawed without proper insulation. We should have like EPC, NPC - noise prevention certificates.

Thank you. I'm looking today for everything I can buy. 🙏

Noise cancelling headphones are brilliant, even if your not playing anything they really dampen external noises. My teen never hears me with his on even if I shout and our house is small.
Huge sympathies though, I've had noisy neighbours in the past and it can really affect your mental wellbeing.

Do you wear these even watching TV for example? Like the loop earplugs?

I actually like my neighbours ( for now 😬). It's not their fault they're naturally loud. I've asked and highlighted it but their living noise is something they aren't going to stop so I'll have to try everything my end.

Thankyou 💐

You can get Bluetooth noise cancellimg headphone which connect to tv. My family member has them because he is quite hard of hearing and needs volume which is a divorce territory 🙈
If you don't have smart tv you can get jack connected easily (most have both options)

I really feel for you. We’ve been lucky with sound insulation in apartments and houses other than one place which had been badly converted from an house into flats and had no insulation. It was freezing and somehow seemed to carry and amplify noise from other flats through the cavity walls.

The noise was unbelievable. We could hear absolutely everything and I felt so deeply uncomfortable. We were only there temporarily, thank God, but it made me realise how bad it could be. It’s like being assaulted by unwanted sound.

I think I’d get noise cancelling AirPods. I hope it gets better.

I think its good to allow talking but also expect quiet moments.

I would seriously consider moving to a purpose built block. Ours is 1950s and I gave birth in the living room without the neighbours hearing. We never disturb each other, and hence get on very well. I know you say you can't but have you fully explored your options? I'm just not sure you'll ever be at peace knowing a random can wreck it.

Headphones, we've got neighbours with kids and I'm really sensitive to noise, it's not their fault kids are noisy so I wear them and honestly it's like a pressure valve released, plus you're in control, for me part of the stress is not knowing when the banging and football kicking will start, knowing I can block it out helps enormously. I have Bluetooth ones, and ones that connect to the telly.
They are noise cancelling ones quite expensive but really worth every penny, the loop things were useless for this situation.