Neighbours complaining about my kids

[RookTaker]

Hello,

Me and my wife have 2 children (aged 4 years and 4 months). We live on the first floor of a purpose built block of flats. Recently, the neighbours who live below knocked on my door and made a complaint about the noise. Specifically, they complained about my son running and screaming. Although they were not shouting during the discussion, they were "passive/aggressive" by suggesting that they would contact the management company if the noise doesn't stop. We do try and stop our 4 year old from running but it is impossible to stop him entirely. I would like to know that if we were to sell our property would we have to declare that we had problems with the neighbours if they contact the management company?

Thanks

First thing is to pre-empt them and go to the management company and say the downstairs neighbours are complaining about your child's noise. Explain that of course you do your best to keep the child quiet, but they are a child. DD1 had/has this issue with her downstairs neighbours and went to her letting agent who said that the neighbours have form for this. They are fully on her side, should the neighbours report her.

As well as this, the neighbours can't object to everyday noise during the hours of daylight. That said, if your flat has laminate flooring as opposed to carpet, the noise will carry more and you should put down big rugs as a minimum. If there is carpet down, then you can't really do any more. Your neighbour will just have to find a solution for themselves.

On the other hand your ds is old enough to understand other people live in your block and don't need to hear him acting like your home is a park.
We live in a house that's been split into 2. Noise travels well. My dc are told ndn don't want to hear them!

The noise levels above me can be horrendous, I can tell when my neighbour is wearing flip flops by the sounds.
The thumping can leave me in tears if it's been one of those days and ear plugs don't block everything out.

What's your flooring situation, could you get carpet if you haven't already?

Could you go down and hear what it sounds like in your neighbour's flat? If you both try and find a happy medium, hopefully, things could be a lot more cordial.
Noise travelling can't be helped, but can be improved.

Thank you all.
We do have carpet and I am quite sure what the running sound is like as their are children on the flat above who sometimes run. We were thinking about adding some underlay to deaden the sound further.
If they did contact the management company would I have to declare that I had a dispute with my neighbours when we try and sell?

I'm not sure about the dispute. I always thought it only needs to be declared if the police get involved, I would ask the management company directly.
Underlay sounds like a good idea.

Ime police involved cases are all you need to disclose.

Only if police are involved.

We wanted to put in a ASBO complaint about next door neighbours but were told that we would have to declare it when we sell... so we didn't!

It's a tricky one, you can't tie your kids to a chair.
As long as police/council are not involved then no you don't have to declare it. Don't declare it anyway, it's incredibly difficult to sue for non declaration anyway.
Next doors kids scream all day long inside and out, I just suck it up because that's what children do.
I daresay they will grow up eventually.

It's tricky as children are children and you can't make them sit in one place all day and living in a flat you'll always here something from neighbours. My upstairs neighbour is currently in a huff becuase of my 3 week old crying at night. She can't help it and we settle her as quick as possible but that's just life.

I think they're being very unreasonable. If it's during the day then that's part of flat living. If it's at night I can understand.

Underlay is a good idea.

Do you insist on shoes off in the house?

If shoes are off and there is a carpet down then you are absolutely entitled to normal living.