AIBU to knock twice on the ceiling over late-night noise?

[Buzzbuzzbuzzy]

I live in a downstairs flat and the family above can be very noisy, especially since they have entirely wooden/laminate floors and refuse to put down rugs as they claim it’s dirty.

I have let them know that the noise transmission from the flats, especially impact, is pretty bad. They basically told me to suck it up.

Occasionally when the noise gets too intense, I knock on their ceiling. Never more than 2 knocks. And never during reasonable hours. I’m talking past 11pm.

Ive just found out that they’ve complained to my landlord that I am disturbing their right to a peaceful home by “banging incessantly on the ceiling”.

Not only is this untrue, what about MY right to a peaceful home?

Fortunately my LL is siding with me because other tenants have also complained about this family.

So, AIBU to give 2 knocks on the ceiling to let them know that the noise levels coming from their flat is unreasonable during unreasonable hours?

Knock three times

I'm pretty sure you're certain that you're not being unreasonable?

i know I’m not being unreasonable about the neighbours being a problem. My AIBU is whether it’s reasonable to tap twice on the ceiling to let them know their noise is bothering me late at night.

I have tried f2f, also messages. But a couple of taps is instant and in the moment

But not twice on the pipe.

YABU to keep doing it when they've said they don't appreciate it. It's obviously not helping and if you escalate into a war with them they'll just make your life more miserable. If noise out of control send them a message or knock on their door to tell them, otherwise get earplugs.

they were dragging heavy furniture across the floor at midnight. They know I don’t appreciate that. I don’t particularly want a confrontation in the middle of the night. 2 knocks tells them they’re disturbing my sleep

YANBU

I remember watching Shooting Stars at uni and this song was the one that Vic Reeves sang in the club style 🤣 And somehow one of us actually guessed it!

Arghh, others beat me to it!
I was going to say, don't do it 3 times or he'll think you want him.

You can knock if you like, but does it make any difference?

😆

Yes they do stop the noise. But like I said in my OP, they have turned it around and complained to my LL that I am the one causing a disturbance. Whilst I would agree that it’s unreasonable to bang unprovoked and incessantly, we are talking about literally two knocks when they are making unreasonable noise at unreasonable hours. My intention isn’t even to be hostile. It’s just a reminder that they have neighbours who may be affected by their din.

I was the above tenant once many years ago (although I put down rugs). I never wore shoes indoors (past the first step or two) and I tried to keep noise down. The people below were incessant with banging on their ceiling and it was awful. They have a right to enjoy their property and not have to tiptoe at all hours.

Oh I agree with you. I am on both sides as in I have a neighbour below me too.

2 knocks is not the same as incessant banging.

Likewise I have the right to enjoy my home without having to put up with the sound of furniture being moved on bare wooden floors

Twice on the pipe

It's hard to tell without knowing the volume of noise they're creating. If you live in a flat you're going to hear your neighbours and it's a bloody nightmare having people bang all the time when you're making normal human living noise, it really puts you on edge.

there is a world of difference between making normal day to day living noise and dragging heavy furniture around at midnight, using noisy appliances between 11pm and 7am, and not putting rugs down to at least absorb some of the noise.

But why would anyone drag furniture about at midnight? What do you mean by noisy appliances? Maybe they're on a tariff that means they get cheaper electricity to do their washing at night.

If you're very sensitive to noise you shouldn't live in a flat.

I have no idea why. All I know is that there was excessive noise going on at an unreasonable time. It sounded like dragging over wooden floors. Heavy footsteps. At midnight.

Being on a cheaper tariff at night should not override noisy appliances being a nuisance to your neighbours.

you sound like you would be the problem neighbour

Ok. So right now. Midnight. They are running what sounds like a vacuum cleaner over the wooden floor. Banging noises plus vibration. I am refraining from knocking on the ceiling.

Record it, for evidence.

I live in a house not a flat because I like to live in peace.

I was in the position of your neighbour once, dealing with aggressive knocking all the time for making normal levels of noise. It made me so anxious.

If you can't handle noise, you shouldn't live in a flat,