Moving because of neighbours

[Elephant75]

Morning everyone

We bought our lovely ground floor flat with private garden just over 1.5 years ago. It's a old building converted into 6 flats. Yes... You know where I'm going with this.

We are lucky and don't have a mortgage. Just the usual ground rent and service charge. We love our flat and the location is brilliant. We love it

However since we have been here the noise from upstairs has become unbearable. I appreciate that we will hear noise being on the ground floor and in an old building. We are almost in our 50s so are pretty sensible about things.

We, along with other neighbours, have all complained to the freeholder about the noise. It's not loud music just to be clear. Just their family constantly over, over the weekend we have had about 15 hours of children running over floors, jumping, etc. It was unbearable. This has been happening every couple of days for hours on end. Even before lockdown started
Not sure why the children of the family aren't in school

They rent off the freeholder and she has been extremely sympathetic to us and has told them to stop.she admits there are problems with them. However, it has continued. We have even had plaster come off our walls and bit comes off our radiator where the jumping and shuddering has been severe. Our flat cost us over £400k and to see it being damaged almost daily is heart breaking.

A house along the road has just come up for sale. Obviously we would have to get a mortgage of around £100,000 and the downstairs and garden needs a bit of work. Also parking for 2 cars. We could pay this mortgage off within 3 years.

The question is.... Would you stick it out in our lovely flat and see if the neighbours move on. They also have 3 week old baby so I am sympathetic to them and conscious about her feelings and feel that I can no longer complain. Or go for the house. We are leasehold, the flat is freehold.

I bumped into the son of the freeholder the other day who obviously knew of the complaints. He informed me that his mum and had put them on a shorter lease and that she would like them out before the end of the year but feels she can't move them now because of the baby which is understandable. No sure how true this is but he seems a sensible bloke and works for his mum at the company.

We know the lady who is selling the house. She now lives abroad and won't be coming back so is in rush and is willing to wait until we sell our flat.

Any thoughts. The noise and damage is really getting me down now so appreciate any advice or similar situations.

Move to the house - no question. There's a reason why noise is used as psychological warfare in prison camps etc. It breaks the spirit. It's often argued in noise journals that neighbour noise can be a form of torture. Free yourself.

Patsy. I think you. I've just laughed at the free yourself comment so thank you .

So interesting and reassuring to hear all of your experiences. I note that not one person has said to stay. Thank you all again.

I'm going to see the house again this afternoon with one of my other neighbours.

I'd move, we sold and moved with 18 months of buying a mid terrace house. On one side we heard nothing but the living room was next door to the neighbours kitchen and we could hear their microwave, coughing etc whilst trying to relax. What's the layout like on the house in relation to the neighbour? We bought a detached house instead. Obviously some comments about how we hadn't been there long but I'm glad we moved.

We have owned flats before and heard nothing from neighbours, seems to be luck of the draw.

Thanks again everyone.. I really appreciate it.

It's end of terrace so nothing on the kitchen side. Our living area backs onto stairs. Our bedroom would bask onto a bathroom. Spare bedroom would back onto stairs. Upstairs den area not attached to anything.

I know everyone in those houses and they all stay the sound is pretty good. Cant even hear the piano practice and I believe them as I've been inside. It feels very quiet.

I can really relate to this as I live in what used to be an over 55s block apart from two leaseholders (me and the lady above me).
We have had two women with children move in on the first floor, diagonally above me, either side.
The first had no carpets and the noise started with thumping and scraping but then there was a new boyfriend on the scene and to cut a long story short, the children were removed and the woman is there on her own. Still noisy because of the lack of carpets but more bearable.
The other side has one child of around 5 who runs up and down. Sometimes it will be a few times, thump, thump, thump but sometimes, like yesterday, it started at 7am and was still going on at 9pm!!!!
Underneath them is a lady who up until a couple of weeks ago was confined to the flat as she was waiting for a motorised wheelchair and her older sister (retirement age). They have put in for a transfer as they are at their wits end.
I've mentioned it to the woman's housing officer who immediately responded that it's normal living noise. She stated this from the comfort of her office and hasn't even heard it! I can't even understand how such a small child can make this much noise and the vibration which goes with it.
I've not really got the means to move currently and I really, really love my flat but have decided that when I retire I will consider using my tax free lump sum from my pension to move to a house. It's quite a few years off yet though.
I feel sorry for my neighbours who used to have the protection of the over 55 clause but now there are so many people desperate for housing, they are housed whether it is a suitable property or not.
That's the problem with my block. They are perfect for older people but not suitable for families but there's a desperate need.
I'd move if it was me as long as you think you will be happy in the new house.

So many people in similar situations. I really do appreciate all the responses and help. I've gone ahead and called the estate agent who came to value my flat a few weeks ago with a view to putting it up for sale this week. I now need to treat the flat as a stop gap.

Also been to see the new house again. Will feel weird to have stairs again. Needs a good clean with furniture removed but I think it's the best option. Will email the lady last and try and agree a price.

Some neighbours are just awful aren't they. No consideration for others at all.

It's tricky as I think any parent would really struggle to keep multiple children quiet enough to be considerate neighbours in this sort of flat. It's both unbearable for the neighbour to live with and normal household noise at the same time.

I know I said to move but if you are not happy about stairs then maybe it's not for you?
I'm only saying that because it was a deciding factor for me as despite the latest issues, this was the place that was going to be for my older years. Ground floor, communal gardens being taken care of by someone else and just generally an easy life.
As a gut feeling (and I know you don't really know), do you think the neighbours are likely to go any time soon? I read what you said about the freeholder's son but do you think if they continue to get complaints they will eventually act?
You shouldn't really be forced out of your home.
The one in my block who's children were taken, I don't think she will be allowed to keep the flat in the long term but the stomper, I feel he will grow out of it as running up and down young children's behaviour, so it might be ok.
It's a really tough call especially when you are at the mercy of other people's behaviour.

Thanks abstract. Really valid points. I was joking when I said about getting used to the stairs again. I'm used to everything being on the same floor

I don't want to complain any more as we are gong to have to disclose any complaints and I think everyone hopes they will leave soon due to struggling in a flat with a baby and they will want their own house and space. Other residents have complained about other issues.

I've got my heart set on moving now. I think if they did leave, I'd be worried someone worse may move in. It's really a gamble isn't it.

I am in exactly the same situation, I live on the top floor, noise from my downstairs neighbor is stressing me out, can never relax. The couple is lovely however their 5 year old is constantly running around and jumping, although I love my flat I wish I could move to a house too, I’d move if I were you!

I'd buy the house. No brainer there.

I feel sorry for the poor sod that moves in!

Will you tell them why you are moving? Seems a bit underhand if not.

Hey Feline. Yes I will tell them. I would never do that to someone. Hopefully if the freeholder gets to know we are moving, and she will do, she might move them on to stop it happening again so it could be empty or a lovely person is up there by the time we sell it. 🙏

All the best with the move.

Thanks everyone again. The owner of the house has come down another £5k so we will confirm later that we will accept it.

For those of you who have sold your flats, did you have trouble selling? Were they on the market for long?

Congratulations @Elephant75 must be so nice knowing that the noise is going to be a temporary inconvenience rather than a long term problem!

Good luck!

@Elephant75

Thanks everyone again. The owner of the house has come down another £5k so we will confirm later that we will accept it.

For those of you who have sold your flats, did you have trouble selling? Were they on the market for long?

Ours took about 3 months to sell but that was back in the summer. It just depends what the market is like around your way, here flats are selling much slower than houses which seem non existent to be honest. We were lucky we got ours when we did.

Hi everyone. Well I have sold my flat for £10k under the asking price. I mentioned it to a friend who happens to know someone who needs something for investment and we have done a deal. So a saving already on estate agency fees.

I'm just so nervous about being tied to a mortgage again. We have done the figures again and although we can well afford it, I will certainly miss being mortgage free.

I've taken on board even single comment on this thread and just need to think about it as a massive investment. All our savings will be going into a freehold property that we will own forever instead of in the bank and a leasehold flat.

It will take some time to get the house looking nice as we won't have much cash to play with, i.e. Nice shutters, blinds, painting, the garden is just mud but surely we can take our time and it is worth it to get away from the neighbours.

Sods law, the week we decide to sell, is probably the quietest they have been!!! 😆

Also as well I mentioned everything in relation to the neighbours upstairs and all of the noise problems. She wasn't interested or bothered at all and took the view they will move soon. She just wants it for extra storage as well as an investment so all good there.

Oh op I have had noise problems with neighbours and it can be so stressful. Awful feeling when returning home to think ‘oh no their car is there’ or similar. I’ve lived that.
It’s amazing that you are financially in a position to be able to move - many wouldn’t be. I wouldn’t think twice about moving. Don’t even worry about ‘being forced to’ or any of those other ‘victim’-type thoughts - they lead to bitterness and don’t help mental health at all.
Just move. And good luck.

Apols op just seen your update ! Well done. Great news.

Good luck in your new chapter, OP! You deserve peace, as everyone who has dealt with noisy neighbours does. Enjoy your new home 🏡

Yes Heron. Thank you. I know all about that sinking feeling when I see the car and their family members. It's rotten isn't it and really sets you on edge.

The new house is so close the flats, we will still be able to see his car and his flat from our house but at least we won't be having to deal with all the noise and problems.

One minute I'm super super excited, the next I'm worrying and sad to my leaving the flat but this can't go on. Noisy neighbours are really the worst.

Yay! So pleased you have a solution!

I know it will be a tad painful to spend funds you weren't planning to spend, but as someone who has been there it will so be worth it. I just remember living with that constant noise ended up making me very angry as a person, and so intolerant to noise as a whole that any bit of noise and I would be infuriated it's starting up again. Your home should be your peace and quiet, and when it's not, it's incredibly stressful.

Also, even if they do move, there could be someone else who moves in who may not have running kids, but will also be making noise because the sound insulation isn't as a good as it should be.