Tue, 19 Dec 2023 04:42:06 +0000 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262035#Comment_262035 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262035#Comment_262035 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 19:23:41 +0100 cjard
The downstairs owner recently sold and the new owner has approached with a complaint about the level of noise my current tenant generates. The tenant apparently doesn't do anything abnormal, just walks around, watches TV and talks, but the downstairs neighbour feels the sound attenuation between the flats is inadequate

They've suggested I replace the laminate flooring in my flat with carpet, and have offered to contribute towards the cost..

I'm split between saying "sorry pal; caveat emptor- sue your surveyor or sell up, because I don't think it's reasonable to subject my tenant to to upheaval and inconvenience of replacing my floor coverings with a less durable alternative just because you've realised that a ground floor room occupant hears footsteps of an upstairs occupant" and looking for a solution on the interest of keeping a good neighbour (a bad neighbour of course having an impact on my ability to keep a good tenant if a grievance develops and they take it out on my tenant - prior experience)

Any suggestions to solutions that are low disruption, that he can fund? I'd far rather he install a layer on his ceiling than rip up my flooring, even though I acknowledge laminate is noisy, it's better suited to a rental property..]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262040#Comment_262040 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262040#Comment_262040 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 22:18:02 +0100 tony
Sound deadening in the floor is now a requirement above lounge ceilings in new houses.

I would say rock wool in the ceiling, carpet upstairs as a minimum]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262043#Comment_262043 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262043#Comment_262043 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 23:03:46 +0100 Artiglio
Floorboards lifted, chicken wire folded to follow line of joists/ceiling, 100mm rockwool soundslab between joists,floating chipboard floor, decoupled from joists with "foam isolation tape". Duralay Treadmore underlay. Then laminate over. Tenants are provided with large heavy ( but cheap) rugs , to cut down the echoing and impact sound. Has been very effective but major upheavel in a tenanted property.

Large rugs in lounge/bedrooms, cushioned vinyl in kitchen and bathroom , will be a reasonable gesture and help a bit.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262045#Comment_262045 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262045#Comment_262045 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 23:59:28 +0100 djh
If http://www.propertylawuk.net/neighbouringnoises.html is correct,there's no obligation on you or your tenant to do anything.

But carpet with an acoustic underlay would be a helpful gesture as Artiglio suggests. Maybe some resilient pads underneath the TV. More than that, I'd think it was up to the downstairs owner to fit a false ceiling or resilient bars, or take his ceiling down and fit rockwool first.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262047#Comment_262047 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262047#Comment_262047 Wed, 11 Oct 2017 05:57:06 +0100 ferdinand2000
If it says no hard surface coverings or similar, then you are bang to rights unless you take a "so enforce on me" stance.

His route for progressing the complaint if you do nothing would be under the lease or through a Council nuisance complaint.

F]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262049#Comment_262049 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262049#Comment_262049 Wed, 11 Oct 2017 06:19:36 +0100 cjard
Bit of a tricky one, the lease.. Apparently it's reasonably common in situations there a house is split horizontally into 2 flats, to make the downstairs freeholder the leaseholder for the upstairs flat and vice versa, rather than form a management company that both leasers are members of. There's something messed up with this one though, but I don't recall the specifics - something like one of the freeholders is a defunct housing association and the other (my) is someone other than the ground floor owner, and has been untraceable for many years (approaching the time where it can be reverted to a present occupier through adverse dispossession). I'm not certain on the wording of the lease either- might be filed with the title at LR - will check]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262056#Comment_262056 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262056#Comment_262056 Wed, 11 Oct 2017 09:57:48 +0100 delprado
http://www.noisestopsystems.co.uk/floor-soundproofing]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262059#Comment_262059 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262059#Comment_262059 Wed, 11 Oct 2017 11:36:27 +0100 sam_cat
Its a tax deductible as its not an improvement (there is already a floor covering).

Cloud 9 cumulus 11mm or cloud 9 trade underlay. Everything else is inferior ime. Its lovely to walk on, reduces noise and has insulating properties (not great, but its about 5tog from memory), then take some advice from carpet fitter on what carpet, but dont go cheap, get something with a 10-15 year life and hard wearing, not deep pile and is bleach cleanable... This will make it last a good while and cleaning between lets easier. :)

Only complication will be working with your tenant to get it fitted at a time that suits... And they might grump as they 'only rented due to laminate floor' or some such, so might need persuading.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262082#Comment_262082 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262082#Comment_262082 Wed, 11 Oct 2017 19:09:14 +0100 richardelliot
You could always ask the tenant if they want a carpet as they might quite like it in certain rooms and therefore they wouldn't consider it a disruption.

As mentioned by different people above:
rock wool between the floor is recommended (don't think you want the disruption of this though)
they could insert a false ceiling, something like MF framing, which would all be from their side. Perhaps send them some links for options they could do?]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262167#Comment_262167 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15336&Focus=262167#Comment_262167 Sun, 15 Oct 2017 07:55:49 +0100 cjard
All in I think the combination of suggestions is the best route- I've few qualms if he wants to fund the carpet and my tenant is willing to accept the disruption, or he is willing to wait til tenant change time if she doesn't want upheaval.. and if it's still an issue post, he can look at fitting some ceiling system..]]>