Pony living upstairs.

eightyfish

Okay - I want to hear some opinions on noisy neighbours. I bought an apartment last summer. Love it, but people have moved in above us and the lady appears to love to wear clogs/high heals. She wears them all the time, clip-clopping around. Occasionally, this has gone on until 4am. It's not loud, but it is incredibly annoying as you can hear every footstep. My next-door neighbour can hear it also.

I have a feeling that they didn't put soundproofing under their wooden floor - a practice I think is only polite. So - what to do? If you go up and politely explain the situation, some people will immediately become defensive and dismiss you, possible making the problem worse in the long term as there will be agro between neighbours.

Has anyone had a similar problem?

My name is URL

What can you do.. cut her legs off?

You could have your apartment soundproofed I guess

peasant

buy your neighbour a pair of these:

http://images.manufactum.de/manufactum/contentimage/thumbs_294/80718-Haunold-Filzpantoffel-Herren-01-4261.jpg

seamus

The first thing I would do is politely raise it with the neighbour. Invite them to come down to your place and hear it for themselves.

Make suggestions as to what they could do:
- Remove their shoes when they walk in (obvious)
- Put down mats to deaden the sound. This will also preserve their wooden floor.

If they become dismissive or fob you off, then take a look at the rules of the complex. Most will contain rules that state that:
Excessive noise between (roughly) 11pm and 8am is unacceptable
Wooden floors cannot be laid in apartments.

If they contain these rules, then report it to your management company, who will deal with it from there.

Overheal

My name is URL wrote: »

What can you do.. cut her legs off?

You could have your apartment soundproofed

She could be violating a Building Code if you have reason to believe she didnt install an underlayment under her floors.

Or she used the 2-in-1 cheap shyte. That crap the builders use that does virtually Nothing. People buy it because its half the cost of proper lay. And underlay pad is not just for laminates. We used a thicker rubber foam pad for both laminates and hardwoods on our installs [the middle one, here: http://www.lamiproinc.com/underlay.html]. Especially good for crawlspaces such as your neighbour's 2nd floor. That 2 in 1 is useless, you see it wrapped around your new coffee maker to stop it from getting scratched in the box - thats all its fukkin good for.

That doesnt mean she couldnt be violating a sound ordnance.

we'llallhavetea_old

how disappointing, i thought this would involve "into the west" style capers

Turtyturd

Not even a mention of a pony in the post....and I had a joke about plenty of riding ready to go.

markpb

First, try to speak to her. It's quite likely that she doesn't realise and will take her shoes off. If she goes off the deep end, check your lease agreement and house rules. Some apartment blocks have a rule that wooden floors cannot be fitted above the ground floor or a suitable sound-proofing layer fitted underneath the wood.

Edit: Damn you Seamus, damn you

Wazdakka

Awww..
I wanted to hear about a pony

DubMedic

eightyfish wrote: »

I have a feeling that So - what to do?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSD4vsh1zDA

Party, party each and every night until they get sick of you and move out.


.

xsiborg

we'llallhavetea wrote: »

how disappointing, i thought this would involve "into the west" style capers

me too...

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1060044825/

My name is URL

Overheal wrote: »

She could be violating a Building Code if you have reason to believe she didnt install an underlayment under her floors.

Or she used the premo cheap shyte. http://www.google.com/products?q=laminate+underlay&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=4fpiS_PILMaPtgeA5PDNBw&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=3&ved=0CC8QrQQwAg That crap the builders use that does virtually Nothing. People buy it because its half the cost of proper lay. And underlay pad is not just for laminates. We used a thicker rubber foam pad for both laminates and hardwoods on our installs. Especially good for crawlspaces such as your neighbour's 2nd floor.

That doesnt mean she couldnt be violating a sound ordnance.

Unless she's the one that fitted the apartment, I doubt she could be held responsible for it. And even if she did fit it out, there probably should have been soundproofing installed when the apartment was being built

Red_Marauder

I think whoever advised you to invite her down to hear it for herself made a good point. It's important not to antagonise her by allowing her to think you're being a fusspot with nothing better to worry about.

I would treat her with an almost apologetic courtesy if I were you, she will be more open to what you are saying and may go out of her way to address the issue she clearly doesn't know exists.

Overheal

My name is URL wrote: »

Unless she's the one that fitted the apartment, I doubt she could be held responsible for it. And even if she did fit it out, there probably should have been soundproofing installed when the apartment was being built

True, and I guess I shouldnt be trying to blame her.

You can still have a building inspector called out to check code though. Like URL says, it could even be the builder's fault and I wouldnt be shocked if they made shortcuts to pinch a penny. Because builders NEVER do that sort of thing ever.

Turtyturd

Red_Marauder wrote: »

I think whoever advised you to invite her down to hear it for herself made a good point.

Did they really though?

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

pickarooney

Red_Marauder wrote: »

I think whoever advised you to invite her down to hear it for herself made a good point.

I thought it was the stupidest thing I've ever heard myself.

Come downstairs and listen to that racket you're making
*neighbour comes down*
I don't hear anything

Ciaran187

You don't live in a 1 bed in Ongar do you? I just moved out of one. That b1tch upstairs needed a good sh@g so she did. One day I was about to leave, looked out to see if it was raining and spotted her taking my wheelie bin out of my garden and ever so gently lying it on the ground, just to inconvenience me. I'm not even going to begin the stories about her, but just to clarify, she was spiteful and DID actually do this stuff on purpose.

I got my own back though. Got a rather large gang of people around one night. Stood out on the road pointing up to her apartment, making sure she saw us. Suddenly the noise stopped. Every now and again I'd see her and I'd just have a demented smile on my face as if I'd done something and was waiting for the effects to become apparent.

Nice.

But I'd suggest just asking her one day if she has any problem with noise from neighbours. When she says she doesn't, explain that you can hear her walking around her apartment and it's loud enough to wake you up / turn up the TV / whatever is actually true (plus 10% for good measure). Say you were going to contact the building management company about sound proofing if others had problems with the noise.

Just as an FYI, building regulations are rubbish in Ireland. There is no maximum level of noise permitted. The regulations state that the noise from adjoining buildings / households must only be reduced by a certain amount. You'd be surprised what that amount is. A single piece of plasterboard is enough between rooms and the bare stone floor is generally enough on it's own. It's a fight you're not going to win if you go down the legal route.

Can you hear people talking upstairs. A rule of thumb is if you can make out what they're talking about then it may be in breach.

As previous posters said, building regulations aside, the management company may have their own "House Rules" that residents must abide by. Give them a look over.

K-9

pickarooney wrote: »

I thought it was the stupidest thing I've ever heard myself.

Come downstairs and listen to that racket you're making
*neighbour comes down*
I don't hear anything

Yep, thought that myself.

She'll look at you like a madman.

They might be sexy heels though.

Biggins

eightyfish wrote: »

Okay - I want to hear some opinions on noisy neighbours. I bought an apartment last summer. Love it, but people have moved in above us and the lady appears to love to wear clogs/high heals. She wears them all the time, clip-clopping around. Occasionally, this has gone on until 4am. It's not loud, but it is incredibly annoying as you can hear every footstep. My next-door neighbour can hear it also.

I have a feeling that they didn't put soundproofing under their wooden floor - a practice I think is only polite. So - what to do? If you go up and politely explain the situation, some people will immediately become defensive and dismiss you, possible making the problem worse in the long term as there will be agro between neighbours.

Has anyone had a similar problem?

I know two boys that was doing it.
They made of film of them and called it "Into The West"

bonerm

Get a pair of Dutch clogs and then learn how to do this....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D5XxshEdcfAM

seamus

pickarooney wrote: »

I thought it was the stupidest thing I've ever heard myself.

Come downstairs and listen to that racket you're making
*neighbour comes down*
I don't hear anything

Actually you get her to go downstairs to your apartment, and then you go up to her apartment and start pulling up her floors.

Ciaran187

seamus wrote: »

Actually you get her to go downstairs to your apartment, and then you go up to her apartment and start pulling up her floors.

Maybe tear up her carpet

starbelgrade

Overheal wrote: »

She could be violating a Building Code if you have reason to believe she didnt install an underlayment under her floors.


That doesnt mean she couldnt be violating a sound ordnance.

There is no Building Regulations regarding the laying of wooden floors / carpets, or indeed underlay. There are however, regulations regarding sound insulation & sound transfer. It's up to the builder to comply with these regulations.

If sounds, such as footfall is audible in the apartment below, it's a sure sign that these requirements were not met. If the apartment is bonded by the likes of Homebond, you may have some comeback, but that depends.

Regarding violating noise disturbance codes - as the sounds are just footfall & not noise disturbance from loud parties or music, your neighbour is not doing anything that could be stopped.

Your only real hope is to have a polite word with her & explain your dilemma.

ejmaztec

Perhaps the folks upstairs are rehearsing for the local school's production of Equus?:eek:

eightyfish

Thanks for the replies. I'll have a word with her over the weekend, might even ask my neighbour on this level to go up with me. I've met her (above) in the corridor, she seems tall and domineering, and in the car park her heals are thunderous.

Oh, and to those looking for a pony go here.

My name is URL

eightyfish wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I'll have a word with her over the weekend, might even ask my neighbour on this level to go up with me. I've met her (above) in the corridor, she seems tall and domineering, and in the car park her heals are thunderous.

Oh, and to those looking for a pony go here.

Why ask your neighbor to go with you? It's your problem...

You say she seems domineering yet you're willing to (what will seem like to the woman) gang up on her?

Not trying to have a go at you, but that'd piss me off.

ejmaztec

eightyfish wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I'll have a word with her over the weekend, might even ask my neighbour on this level to go up with me. I've met her (above) in the corridor, she seems tall and domineering, and in the car park her heals are thunderous.

Oh, and to those looking for a pony go here.

Don't forget your riding crop and polo mallet, the ultimate deciders in all things equestrian. They're better than shouting until you get hoarse.

TheKells

That's a trough break :eek:

Ruu_Old

Neeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiigggggggghhhhhhhhhhbours! :eek:

AckwelFoley

Knock on the door of her apartment with an empty mug like you were looking for a barrys tea bag.

When she looks through the peep hole.. she will open.

When the door is open Kick her in the cooter.

She will be walking on her hands and knees for at least 3 weeks - and with neighbours that go around kicking people in the cooters, she might even move out.

You will win

This cannot fail

Honest

Aidric

So has anyone actually had a pony live upstairs?

eightyfish

My name is URL wrote: »

Why ask your neighbor to go with you? It's your problem...

You say she seems domineering yet you're willing to (what will seem like to the woman) gang up on her?

Not trying to have a go at you, but that'd piss me off.

That's a bit harsh. It's my neighbour's problem also, she emailed me a few days ago to say the footsteps kept her awake until 4am. And all I said was we might go up together, don't think that's exactly "ganging up".

The domineering thing - she's just the type of person who doesn't bother saying hi in the lift, if you know what I mean.