Help! I seem to be a noisy neighbour

I live in a 1930's end of terrace and I can hear any DIY from the rest. The house at the other end (five doors away) had a replacement extension and the noise vibrations travelled right through.

There doesnt seem to be any proper sound insulation in flats anymore. Im in a ground floor flat and am a very light sleeper and get woken up by my upstairs neighbour nearly every night when he gets up to use the toilet. He lets his bedroom door bang ( they are heavy fire doors so self closing) I can hear him peeing, he then drops the toilet seat lid which bangs, he flushes the toilet, the water pipes run through my flat. I can cope with noise during the day but over night the noise is just amplified!

It sounds as if you've gone above and beyond to accommodate the people below you Jess I wouldn't do anymore if I were you. They're being totally unreasonable and if they are that sensitive to any kind of noise, why did they buy a flat with one above it?

As for telling prospective buyers there's a noise problem, if they really want to move, why would they do that?

You've asked for helpful suggestions, well the only one I have is that you stop creeping around your own home and having whispered conversations. You're considerate, understanding neighbours so get on with your own lives and disregard any future complaints.

Where did they live before? Have they downsized from a grand mansion and expect to live the same way?
I agree with the others, live your life as you would and yes, get a solicitor on to it if necessary. Don't let them push you out!!

I can’t imagine how you are surviving this! I would make a note of all their complaints along with a note of what you have done to alleviate these + costs. It seems you can do no more. Next time they complain present them with a copy, suggest they buy ear defenders and then revert to a normal lifestyle to which you are more than entitled. They either have exceptionally sensitive hearing or more likely, just enjoy complaining and making other’s lives a misery.

My friends mum complained to her constantly about the loud music coming through the walls day and night. She was in her eighties, bless her. My friend went round several times to hear the loud noise, but heard nothing on each visit. Turned out het mum had quite severe tinnitus.

How much noise do you hear from their flat? Surely you would hear noise from eg hoovers, tvs, plumbing. Noise does not just travel downwards. Why can't they soundproof the rest of their flat like the studio if the noise is so bad? You have carpets which I think is great. Why wooden floors are permitted in flats I'll never understand. You do seem to be trying so hard to accommodate their demands that you must eventually run out of solutions. Also, have they thought that the declaration about noise being a nuisance works both ways and that either of you may find it hard to sell. I personally only think it would be an issue if there was an official intervention. They are "posturing" thinking they have a hold over you. Carry on living how you want to and get cracking with the food mixer!

Say that the is a family with a couple of toddlers is very interested in buying you flat.

My friend was at her wits end, put her flat on the market which was snapped up by the complainer and made into a duplex!

My upstairs neighbour did not want to pay for a plumber to check her water pipes which were leaking, she said it was my fault as it was from my pipes sending the water up!

Noise (and water) travels and it is not always evident where the origin is. Note down every time they complain.

Some people have said to keep your own record of their complaints but also of your activities, dates, times etc.

If you can record any noise you do make and keep a record. You are allowed to make some noise.

Do some research. You have the right to a life and to live reasonably in your home.

If you can get you own noise survey if their complains are making your life miserable. You may have a case for harassment.

My sister had this situation and the people below had been complaining about her for over a year, they were told to record her noise and keep a record on her.

Luckily the lady across the landing knew about this and suggested my sister do the same. Record her noise and the noise from the neighbour. Worked well and they were told her noise was reasonable and well within permitted limits.

I think what really finished it was they stated she'd made lots of noise out of spite after the case was closed.

Ha ha ha, my sister was away that week and had proof so when the Environmental people went round with a view to take action against my sister the neighbours were told to stop harassing her or she'd have a case against them.

Don't know if that it's true that my sister would have had a case against them for harassment but her quality of life improved and she felt she could live in her own home again.

So sad you are having to go through this but may be time to find out YOUR Rights and make a stand. Good Luck.

Some people just enjoy making others lives a misery. Sounds like you've done everything you can to accommodate them. Anyone who lives in a flat has to accept there may be a little noise from time to time. The same as those of us who live in semis on estates should, reasonably, accept that we and neighbours may intrude a little into one another lives occasionally. We used to have awful neighbours who complained about the slightest thing. In fact, within a few days of us moving into our house they informed us of all the things the previous owners had done to upset them, some of which were ridiculous. We even dreaded doing anything in our own garden as they watched what we were doing like hawks. We were very good, quiet, considerate neighbours. Fortunately they moved a few years ago and our current neighbours are a joy. So dont let them bully you.

How awful to make your lives a misery. We live in a very old house end of terrace and the walls are 9 inch thick brick so we hear nothing from the neighbours. You can ask your neighbours to contact the local council and complain, or you can complain to the council yourself. They can investigate the problem and at least there will be something official and some proof either way which would be helpful to buyers. You could go down the legal route but that would cost you. Or contact Citizens Advice Bureau. Take a stand and don't be bullied.

We have always lived in detached houses but were thinking of downsizing into a apartment. I am afraid this post hasn’t sold us the idea at all.
One of our sons had this situation at his flat in London. He owned the top two floors and a selfish individual and serial complainer owned the bottom. He hardly had a minutes piece even though he had all the ground floor up and insulated at his expense, the complaining continued.
My son sold it to a family with three children. Ha.

This is sadly an increasingly common problem. It strikes me that people who grew up in houses don't realise that you can hear the sounds of everyday living in a block of flats.

I second the advice to stop being so accommodating.

Next time she complains tell her that she will just have to put up with the sounds of daily life from you flat.

In your place, I would contact the council and your landlord and ask exactly what the rules concerning noise are. Then hand a written copy to your neighbours.

Would exchanging flats with them be an option?

Oh, you poor thing! I really feel for you. I had a similar thing with my next door neighbour years ago - he complained about EVERYthing I did and my two sons did and made me very unhappy. I'd lived in flats and houses for thirty years and always been friends with my neighbours. I spoke to his wife to see what was wrong and she said, Oh, he doesn't like you. He gets these dislikes for no reason. He even complained to other neighbours about me, although they took no notice of him. My husband used to laugh and say, Oh just ignore him, but he was out all day and most evenings and I worked from home and felt hate waves coming through the walls! I was so happy when he moved and very nice people moved in.

Ask them to record the noises they hear then you can listen and discuss a resolution that is if there is any noise recorded.

You seem to have bent over backwards to try and sort out this supposed problem and spent a lot of money in the process.
Quite honestly I smell a rat in their constant complaints and am guessing that they are not getting the price that they expected when they bought the place and did it up and blaming you for it !
You have visited them and listened to whatever noise you can hear from you flat - the next step may be to actually ask them to record what they hear over a few days.
Why should they hound you out of your home ? It makes me wonder if they actually have no plans to sell, but are hoping that after all of their complaints, that they will make you move, buy up your flat (no doubt at a below market price) and then either move a relative or friend in, or flip it and make a nice fat profit!
I think I would be inclined to ask a solicitor to write a letter saying that their continual demands are causing you distress and spoiling the enjoyment of your own home - they would have to provide proper evidence to countermand that one !

You have gone over and above to appease your neighbours. More than I would have done, I must admit. They are very lucky to have you as neighbours! This situation must be so stressful for you but, having renovated your flat, it would be a travesty if this couple forced you to move. There is a lot of good advice in the comments here. I wish you all the best.

Nobody should expect complete silence if they choose to live in a flat.
We moved into ours three years ago having always lived in a house before. I was quite surprised at how much I could hear from the flat above but we’ve got used to it and hardly notice it now. Stop allowing your neighbours to control your life. If you know that you aren’t making excessive noise then they are being unreasonable. Hopefully they will move out!

How silly- we have constant noise here during the night - loud owls, hedgehogs quacking and huffing, Chickens, Cows, guns, tractors, shifworkers leave home at 3am and dawn chorus at 4am!
I wear earplugs in a city!

Jess20 I feel for you. Going back 45 years when my daughter was 2 years old we lived in a top floor flat over one other flat where a woman on her own lived. We had a long hallway which separated our two bedrooms. In the mornings my little girl used to toddle up the hallway to our bedroom and everytime that happened the downstairs neighbour used to rant and rave and slam her flat door. I was a nervous wreck. I was expecting my second child and she'd yell from inside her flat that we were 'breeding like rabbits' - charming. My then husband was from India and the racist comments were horrendous. If that happened today she would be in prison but those were different days altogether. It has made me hyper sensitive to any noise we make where I live now.

Yes, I agree with others. You have been much too accommodating. Just live your normal lifestyle , if they complain to you ignore it. Tell them to contact Environmental Health if they think you are being noisy and make your own recordings of any noise from them. Keep a log of your daily activities, including when you are out. I think you might then get an idea of what is going on. I ,for one, think they are trying to force you to move.

They are being unreasonable. I
I’ve in a 1920’s semi. It is very solidly built so the noise from next door is minimal. But I hear the vacuuming and if they stomp up stairs, or have a loud argument. They probably hear our tv sometimes. It’s just the way it is. If you neighbours want peace then they need to buy a detached house, although we lived in one for years and our neighbours back door was very close to ours and theY had parties so we had more noise from them then any semi I ever lived in.

I agree with the poster who said o tell them to get environmental health involved. They will come to the neighbours and install sound equipment to monitor you. Some people, including my x! Cannot tolerate normal living noises if its not them making them . He fell out with all of the neighbours over perceived misdemeanours ?. Just live your life as normal x

If they cant stand the noise they can move! Youve done all you can so now ignore them

Please do not accommodate these stupid people any longer. Just tell them to sod off!!!!!!!!! You have done your best and now they are pushing you for more. Say to them that they have gone far enough and that is it. Buggar off!