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Well, following yet another sleepless night, I thought I'd ask the rest of you, am I the only one with annoying, irritating noisy neighbours?
The couple upstairs spend most of their time arguing - with liberal use of the 'f word' and the 'c' word, come to that. I can hear everything and am quite tempted to join in at times. Plus, their eating times are totally out of synch with the rest of the UK and lunch is at 8 pm with dinner at 2 in the morning. All the smells of burnt fish and stew drift downstairs and through my window. It wouldn't be so bad if they could actually cook but if it's not burnt, it's fried with rancid oil.
The other, really stupid thing is their 'keep fit programme' - jumping up and down at 2 or 3 in the morning. My ceiling feels like it's going to cave in. It sounds like they've got a lot of equipment in there. I think it's keep fit they're doing, anyway!
I realise that the real problem is that buildings aren't properly insulated - you can hear a pin drop - literally. Every little sound is transmitted and reverberates around my flat. I thought there were supposed to be codes about things like that. Does anyone know about building standards? Anyway, I'm off for a walk now in the snow - to get away from the crazy neighbours...
Sleepless in Southampton
I'd like to gripe about poor sound insulation in new houses. Having recently managed to buy a small flat at a reasonable price, I was delighted to be able to move in. The place looks great and is handy for shopping, schools and so on. The only problem is the noise. I can literally hear the highlights of my neighbours life. The next door neighbours, that is.
It's not just footsteps (which sound like someone is moving the furniture around) but all the little things like someone having a pee in the bathroom! Well, I think it's in the bathroom. Sounds like it's right next door in the living room. And I don't even want to go into details about 'nighttime activities'.
It's really bad. I can even hear the extractor fans going in the bathrooms and kitchens, people sneezing and using pots and pans in the kitchen. The thing is, if I can hear them, then they can hear me as well. Which means that I think twice about having a loud conversation on the phone.
What on earth has happened to building regulations and why is the sound insulation on modern buildings so poor? Do they ever check anything? I'm really fed up with this and I'm starting to think about moving already.
Not such a bargain after all!
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Plaster board walls, tiny postage stamp bedrooms in which the largest can hardly fit a double bed, never mind a wardrobe etc. No proper storage space. No space to put bins except under the windows on the street. Narrow roads on the estates.
People being driven insane by poor noise insulation? You've seen nothing yet! This problem is going to escalate exponentially.
tv on full blast,
musak on full blast,
all night ravers,
up all night then all day in bed,(Dossers)
trampolines in garden,
noisy barbeques.
I have experienced the lot and the only way to get away from them is to live in a caravan in the middle of a field! or live on a canal boat (I wish)
I think most councils insist that people in upstairs flats get their permission to install hard flooring in any room except bathroom or kitchen because of the noise. Usually they make the tenant or leaseholder either install proper insulation under the flooring or replace it with carpet.
It is worth your while finding out if this is the case where you live.
Sound insulation does not exist - its an modern house problem all over the UK., I should know I'm an sound-engineer, paid to improve sound insulation. Take it from me nothing works other thaN filling the space under the floorboards with dry-sand which is impractical, or lining your floor with 1/4" lead plate, which can be done but who wants the expense of that. Sorry, you'll have to move. if your 45, and fairly attractive I 'm willing to meet up and give other and better advice, 55 maybe, over 65, please post full details of your great wealth and generosity t0 semi-retired sound insulation engineers. .
Pedro
I've had to speak to the Girl downstairs from me (her living room is under my bedroom) about the noise on a few occasions. I've hated doing this but when it's a School night and either the music's blaring or the tv is on the volume level of a ninety year old's hearing, I felt I had no choice. Both times I've been reasonable and polite, never aggressive or abusive and certainly never sworn. However, last night, here we go again. I shouldn't have to move because my Neighbours couldn't careless, that's just not fair but I'm starting to feel I have no choice.