Noisy neighbours

[Danini]

I have bought my first property, a ground floor flat in a Victorian conversion. Prior to buying I was aware that there may be noise from the flat above since it is an older house (even though of course it was dead quiet on all viewings) but the noise from above is just unbearable! There is a constant walking back and forth back and forth and every step is loudely transmitted down to our flat through noisy floorboards. It stared at 5 am this morning in my bedroom. What is the best approach to this? I haven't even met the neighbours yet and don't want a complain to be the first interaction. What are my rights? What can be done about it? They are renting and I own my flat.

Thanks.

It doesn't sound like any of the noise is anything out of the ordinary - just the people above using their home. Unfortunately, you might just have to put up with it and make any modifications your side.

Of course you can speak to the upstairs neighbours about it, but they might not want or be able to do anything about it.

It doesn't really matter if they are renting and you own, they have a right to live in their home.

Victorian conversions are notorious for this and if it’s just regular household noise like walking then you can’t really complain as the problem is the building rather than anything they’re doing. Proper soundproofing is probably the only you can make living in a conversion flat bearable tbh - we live in one, we only bought it because it was soundproofed and we don’t hear a peep from upstairs.

Do they have hard floors upstairs or are they carpeted? Some conversion flats stipulate that floors must be carpeted.

Thank you all for your replies. I don't blame the tenants as such (apart from being early birds...), it is defintely an issue with the building. I have invested enough in my flat to consider paying for soundproofing if needed, however would prefer not to of course. How is the soundproofing done? Is it to their flat or mine? Or both?

I do not yet know if there is carpet or wooden floors. Mine has wooden floors so I would be surprised if it is not allowed according to the lease.

Read the lease about carpets. Your freeholder may be able to help.

Sorry no idea how soundproofing is done as ours was done by a previous owner. Checking if carpets are stipulated in the lease and whether they have them is a good idea too. Good luck getting it sorted.

If it’s normal household noise like walking about there’s nothing you can do, except appeal to their better nature and ask them to put some thick rugs down.

Victorian conversions are awful. My friends owned one in London and you could hear every single sound even normal talking. Its impossible to live a normal life like that.
I would get several quotes for soundproofing because that is the only answer.