What to do ? ? ?

LegacyUser

Hi not sure if im posting in the correct place so please feel free to move it,

I'm just looking on some advice because i don't know what to do... I'm exhausted

I just bought an apartment and im really regretting it, I am on the bottom and above me is a two story house, my problem is that it is very badly insulated so im spending my night awake until 3 or 4am because of the people upstairs, they aren't doing anything out of the way its just my bedroom is over the kitchen (which they seem to spend most nights in) and i can hear everything, talking, laughing, chairs being dragged along the floor even the tap being turned on, i though it was just me but my roommate is not complaining that she cant sleep, I move into the sitting room some nights to sleep on the couch but i can hear the tv.

When i was buying the apartment i went to look at the show house and i sent friends upstairs to bang around to see what the noise levels were like and you couldn't hear a sound.

Is there anything i can do, i cant exactly complain to the people above me as they arent doing anything wrong...

niceoneted

You should contact the planning enforcement office at your local council. It may be that the building regulations have not been fully complied with. There is a sound test you can get done to check this. May be no harm also to see if other people in similar apt as you have the same problem and you could tackle it as a group.

Aibreann

Talk to them first, see if they listen and they will do something about it. I had this problem in the past for a few years, then when I got my apartment I was very obsessed to find something with quiet neighbors.
I hate when something like this happens, but it has to be a way. If they don't listen then you need to report this so you have quiet.

Good luck and keep us informed

unattendedbag

Sorry to hear of your problem OP.
In this current climate you cant really up and sell the place which is very unfortunate. But as a last resort you may have to move out and rent the apratment until you can sort something else out. Take niceoneted's advice about the regulations or contact your managment agency to see if they can do anything. Normally these apartments with houses on top are designed and built in a certain way to avoid as much noise transfer as possible. Im pretty sure you should not be able to hear a chair being dragged across the floor or a tap running so I suspect something has gone wrong somewhere in the building and the builders are responsible. They may have cut corners with the insulation or possibly never insulated at all!:eek: If you are getting no joy then get a few quotes from a builder/handyman/carpenter to strip your ceiling and pack it with better quality insulation. It'll cost a bit but your problem will be fixed.

LegacyUser

Thanks so much for your advice guys, Im going to get onto my management company now and have a word, I dont really want to say anything to the people upstairs because they are not doing anythign out of the way, its just seems like the insulation is bad or something,