Just Moved In - What Are Our Options for Moving Out?

morawa

Hey Folks,

The girlfriend and I had been looking for a quiet apartment to live in. We eventually found what looked like the ideal place after having informed the landlord of our requirement. We paid a deposit (bank transfer) and then when we went to sign the lease we paid a months rent. Rather unusually the landlord was heading away for a few days and said we could read over the agreement and sign them during the course of the weekend and they would collect them on Tuesday they were back from their trip.

The apartment is rather cool but the water pump is absolutely deafening. This isn't too bad as we only turn ours on when necessary, however you can hear the pumps going in the other apartments. When someone turns on a tap, flushes the toilet, takes a shower etc you can hear it. During the day/evening you can ignore it and just get on with things but at night time it's annoying. My other half is a light sleeper and was woken up by it last night.

When the landlord calls around tonight I'd like to know what our options are. We'd like to make a go of the place but we're not sure how it'll work out when people are still up at 1-2am or doing their washing at night.

As we haven't signed the lease we're not obliged to stay there but would we lose our deposit and our months rent? I don't want to move again but if the landlord isn't willing for us to make a go of the place and say have us move out after a few months if it hasn't worked out then we should go now rather than later.

goat2

your only problem is a bit of noise from a water pump, and flushing toilets, my daughter stayed in one like that, took no notice, whin i would call and stay i would wear ear plugs, hey presto, solved.
if that is your only problem, very small, ear plugs, your only man

Kintarō Hattori

goat2 wrote: »

your only problem is a bit of noise from a water pump, and flushing toilets, my daughter stayed in one like that, took no notice, whin i would call and stay i would wear ear plugs, hey presto, solved.
if that is your only problem, very small, ear plugs, your only man

Thanks earplugs have been tried with no luck as has a radio in the background to cancel out the noise. It doesn't bother myself but the fact is the lady in question is a light sleeper and this is a problem.

We've had apartments in the past which were just fine but this one doesn't look like it will be.

Xiney

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Thanks earplugs have been tried with no luck as has a radio in the background to cancel out the noise. It doesn't bother myself but the fact is the lady in question is a light sleeper and this is a problem.

We've had apartments in the past which were just fine but this one doesn't look like it will be.

I'm confused - are you the OP?

eth0_

Xiney wrote: »

I'm confused - are you the OP?

If it is, this is the second apartment he's wanted out of as soon as he's moved in, in the space of a couple of months!

Was this noise really not evident when you were viewing the place?

Perhaps you should be renting a house rather than an apartment - in case it's escaped your notice, a large percentage of apartments in Ireland built in the last 10 years are of poor quality and noise is an issue in many.

Graces7

And there was another last year too.....

eth0_ wrote: »

If it is, this is the second apartment he's wanted out of as soon as he's moved in, in the space of a couple of months!

Was this noise really not evident when you were viewing the place?

Perhaps you should be renting a house rather than an apartment - in case it's escaped your notice, a large percentage of apartments in Ireland built in the last 10 years are of poor quality and noise is an issue in many.

Kintarō Hattori

Whoops yep, Morawa is the girlfriends account and Kintaro mine. Two browsers, two users!

Yep we're potentially moving out again. We thought we had chosen well with this place, it's top floor, modern, the two bedrooms aren't backing onto anyone else's apartment, it's in a very secure gated location.

It would be perfect, really it would be apart from the pump. It's not the kinda thing you think to check and no it wasn't evident when we checked the place out. I'll link to a YouTube video when I find my phone cable.

eth0_ wrote: »

Perhaps you should be renting a house rather than an apartment - in case it's escaped your notice, a large percentage of apartments in Ireland built in the last 10 years are of poor quality and noise is an issue in many.

Unfortunately we've only just realised that a house is probably what suits us best. I'm aware that some apartments can be horrible but both recent places seemed like good choices initially. We've rented apartments previously that were perfect in regards to noise but we moved for other reasons.

ceadaoin.

I moved into a place recently where trains run directly at the back of the property until around 1.20am and start again around 5am ish. At first I thought I would never get used to it and kept waking up when the first train went past. It's been a few months now and I don't even hear them anymore tbh.

Maybe if you gave it a few weeks your girlfriend would become accustomed to the sounds? If the apartment is perfect in every other way, seems a lot of hassle to move yet again.

Unless you are living in a detached house, you have to expect some sort of noise from neighbours.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

I lived in a place like that in sandyford. Nothing you can do about it really. It comes with living in a built up area. We have a house now and you can still hear our neighbours coughing, laughing, partying, screwing. You just learn to ignore it. You will never be happy if you have lots of little problems like that, you know?

Kintarō Hattori

Guys I know I know. I don't have a problem with the noise myself, I'm a heavy sleeper. Yeah she expects there to be noise of some sort, it comes with living in the city. The problem is that we have lived in apartments previously where there was no 'disturbing' noise like this. Yep you'd hear things from the courtyard or dogs barking outside. These noises she can live with.

The problem with the water pump is that one moment the place is silent and then the next a neighbours pump is going like a bat out of all. It's the sudden jolt from silence to a hard rough unnatural sound that's the problem.

ceadaoin.

I don't mean to offend you OP but I really think your girlfriend is being a bit unreasonable expecting you guys to go through the hassle of moving everytime a place has a bit of noise. I mean, you have only been there a few days.

Has she tried any of the ambient sound apps you can download to block out any background noise, stuff like running water/rainfall etc? I find these work for me if my neighbours are playing loud music.

I doubt the landlord will be impressed with you wanting to leave so soon but the only thing you can do is explain the situation to her and see how she takes it!

Best of luck

Kintarō Hattori

Ah she's not being unreasonable and she doesn't expect us to move. She resigned herself to staying here but I'm encouraging her to move. The last place we lived in was a wasted year. She wasn't happy, we didn't do much or go places so I really want to avoid another 'wasted' year.

I haven't tried the ambient background noise thing, would a radio playing in the background not be the same thing?

You're right about the landlord, I can't imagine that they'd be too happy alright. I can only hope they are understanding. They left us on Friday without signing the lease or the PRTB form to see what we thought. I'm hoping that they were trying to be fair with us. I thought it was unusual that they didn't ask us to sign the forms there and then. That maybe they wanted us to be sure about the place as we had mentioned very specifically that we were looking for somewhere quiet. I had turned down a previous apartment from them as it wasn't top floor.

ceadaoin.

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Ah she's not being unreasonable and she doesn't expect us to move. She resigned herself to staying here but I'm encouraging her to move. The last place we lived in was a wasted year. She wasn't happy, we didn't do much or go places so I really want to avoid another 'wasted' year.

I haven't tried the ambient background noise thing, would a radio playing in the background not be the same thing?

You're right about the landlord, I can't imagine that they'd be too happy alright. I can only hope they are understanding. They left us on Friday without signing the lease or the PRTB form to see what we thought. I'm hoping that they were trying to be fair with us. I thought it was unusual that they didn't ask us to sign the forms there and then. That maybe they wanted us to be sure about the place as we had mentioned very specifically that we were looking for somewhere quiet. I had turned down a previous apartment from them as it wasn't top floor.

I'd imagine she just thought it was a done deal and that you wouldn't back out after moving your stuff in and all that. Seeing as you haven't actually signed anything, you're not bound by the terms of the lease so probably could expect your deposit back. The fact that have explicitly stated you want somewhere quiet will probably help your case.

For me, I wouldn't be able to sleep with a radio or music playing but for some reason the ambient sounds really do work, esp when I listen to them with headphones. I think its because its more of a constant drone as opposed to music or voices on the radio? If she has an iPhone or iPod Touch there are a few apps on iTunes available.

I know how miserable it can be living somewhere you just don't like so hopefully you get it sorted soon either way

goat2

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Ah she's not being unreasonable and she doesn't expect us to move. She resigned herself to staying here but I'm encouraging her to move. The last place we lived in was a wasted year. She wasn't happy, we didn't do much or go places so I really want to avoid another 'wasted' year.

I haven't tried the ambient background noise thing, would a radio playing in the background not be the same thing?

You're right about the landlord, I can't imagine that they'd be too happy alright. I can only hope they are understanding. They left us on Friday without signing the lease or the PRTB form to see what we thought. I'm hoping that they were trying to be fair with us. I thought it was unusual that they didn't ask us to sign the forms there and then. That maybe they wanted us to be sure about the place as we had mentioned very specifically that we were looking for somewhere quiet. I had turned down a previous apartment from them as it wasn't top floor.

is this apartment in waterford, with beautiful view out of one bedroom and kitchen diner of water and boats below, if so the landlord there is brilliant and honest, as one of my family dealt with him he was easy about the signatures not this big fuss at all they signed a few days after she moned in, there was this water pump in the apartment which was a bit noisy, but earplugs did the trick,it was a beautiful apartment and comfy and cozy it had everything

Xiney

I'm starting to wonder if the two of you are impossible to please, is all.

humberklog

Xiney wrote: »

I'm starting to wonder if the two of you are impossible to please, is all.

:pac::pac::pac:.


KH...if I could link a facepalm motif I would.

Graces7

There are different kinds of ear plugs and they take time to get used to.

I use then here as I also am a light sleeper, and they work fine if they are the right ones; others did not work well.

It is very quiet up here but cars pass loudly at times; which is the same as your sudden loud noise. They come home from the pub etc as late as 4 am these mountainey folk

The sounds- they call it "white noise" in the US - did not work for me but do for many.

Also it does take time to settle in a new place especially after so many moves.

Let time pass and try different ear plugs.

I bought new ones yesterday and they are great.

Kintarō Hattori

Xiney wrote: »

I'm starting to wonder if the two of you are impossible to please, is all.

Actually I'm probably the easiest going guy you could meet. We aren't hard to please at all, we just want somewhere relatively quiet.

Little Miss Cutie

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Actually I'm probably the easiest going guy you could meet. We aren't hard to please at all, we just want somewhere relatively quiet.

OP, I think it is very difficult to define what relatively quiet is. I know that Ithink our apt is relatively quiet as we are not near the carpark or the playground area.

That said I honestly think that expecting everyones water pump is totally unrealistic. When you live in a communal building you will always some noise from your neighbours.

I know when I was living in my parents I would sometimes here the neighbours water tank - and that was in an old semi-d with good insulation.

I think what you are looking for is total silence and bar you move to the country with no neighbours within 5 miles you are unlikely to find that.

Sorry if this seems rude,

Little Miss

Graces7

...and then in the country there are farm animals, birds...tractors...;)

Little Miss Cutie wrote: »

OP, I think it is very difficult to define what relatively quiet is. I know that Ithink our apt is relatively quiet as we are not near the carpark or the playground area.

That said I honestly think that expecting everyones water pump is totally unrealistic. When you live in a communal building you will always some noise from your neighbours.

I know when I was living in my parents I would sometimes here the neighbours water tank - and that was in an old semi-d with good insulation.

I think what you are looking for is total silence and bar you move to the country with no neighbours within 5 miles you are unlikely to find that.

Sorry if this seems rude,

Little Miss

Kintarō Hattori

I realize we could look awkward but can you say that the noise below is acceptable? Imagine this at 2-3am. Bare in mind that it's recorded on a phone so it is even noisier than this in reality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuSiMy5_Qtw

shoegirl

Erm. Is that your pump or somebody elses?

Its not half as bad as my upstairs neighbour banging his slag 5 times a night which I am seriously tempted to broadcast to all of Ireland since they have such little shame in broadcasting their nocturnal activities to about 4 long suffering neighbours (thankfullly my lease expires in 2 months).

Apartments can be noisy, and plumbing standards down south are poor to say the least. I've a lot of friends who have major problems with the plumbing in houses (never mind apartments) built around 5 or 6 years ago. If it bothers you that much (and ambient sounds generally are something you get used to) then the country cottage option sounds like your only man.

Little Miss Cutie

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

I realize we could look awkward but can you say that the noise below is acceptable? Imagine this at 2-3am. Bare in mind that it's recorded on a phone so it is even noisier than this in reality.

I am going to assume that it is your pump that I can hear in that clip - and tbh it sounds exactly like the water pump in my apt.

Our pump is just across the hall from my bedroom and I can hear it whenever water is used. I can sometimes hear my neighbours pump when it is deadly quiet at night but I think that is a fairly normal pump noise.

OP I really think to find the level of quiet you are looking for you will need to move to a detatched house which is well set back from roads etc.

I hope the LL lets you leave as there is nothing worse than renting somewhere that you hate.

Little Miss

MagicMarker

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

I realize we could look awkward but can you say that the noise below is acceptable? Imagine this at 2-3am. Bare in mind that it's recorded on a phone so it is even noisier than this in reality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuSiMy5_Qtw

That's it? Seriously?

loveacca

If that is someone elses toilet I hope they don't get a touch of the runs during the night. Can you talk to the neighbours and explain the situation to them, if you let them hear the noise they might oblige with a 'no flushing unless it is a big number 2' after 11 at night policy.
They may well be experiencing the same problem as yourself

Kintarō Hattori

shoegirl wrote: »

Erm. Is that your pump or somebody elses?

Little Miss Cutie wrote: »

I am going to assume that it is your pump that I can hear in that clip - and tbh it sounds exactly like the water pump in my apt.

Yep that's our pump as I just grabbed the video this morning on the way out. While the neighbours isn't as loud it's still noticeable if you're unfortunate to be a light sleeper!

MagicMarker wrote: »

That's it? Seriously?

You don't think that's noisy?

loveacca wrote: »

Can you talk to the neighbours and explain the situation to them, if you let them hear the noise they might oblige with a 'no flushing unless it is a big number 2' after 11 at night policy.
They may well be experiencing the same problem as yourself

I suppose we could try that alright but to be honest this has made us realize that a house is really what we need. I hope the landlord lets us go but I can understand if they don't.

Kimia

Your footsteps walking from room to room are louder. I couldn't hear any pump!

Kintarō Hattori

Kimia wrote: »

Your footsteps walking from room to room are louder. I couldn't hear any pump!

So you didn't hear alot of noise in that clip, I thought it was quite clear myself.

Kimia

No, genuinely! I'm not just saying it - all i heard was you walking around on the wooden floors..

Kintarō Hattori

I live there and I'm saying it is noisy. It's impossible to convey this on a forum and the video isn't completely accurate. Regardless of that it's gone way off topic.

The question I originally asked is 'As we haven't signed a lease yet, can we finish out our month there and get our deposit back?'.

John Mason

okay, i listened to that about 5 times before i could hear the pump.

that just standard apartment noise, after 2 weeks you wont hear it anymore.

otherwise you only other alternative is to move into the country.

i live a terraced house an sometimes i can hear my neighbours but it wouldnt make me move.

mikom

irishbird wrote: »

otherwise you only other alternative is to move into the country.

I'll await the slurry thread.

humberklog

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

I live there and I'm saying it is noisy. It's impossible to convey this on a forum and the video isn't completely accurate. Regardless of that it's gone way off topic.

The question I originally asked is 'As we haven't signed a lease yet, can we finish out our month there and get our deposit back?'.

~
Before doing anything too drastic like breaking a lease I think you should invite us all 'round to yours for a sleep over KH. Speeping bags, flash lamps, noise measuring equipment, teddy bears and cola bottles. Let others measure your misery as you might (just might) at this stage be being either unreasonable or have to high an expectation of silence.

Sir Oxman

TBH that is normal for your own water pump.
Mine is like that - but I cannot hear anyone elses, beside me or up above me

Graces7

Surely with the amount of experience you have had with rentals of late, YOU know the answer to that?

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

I live there and I'm saying it is noisy. It's impossible to convey this on a forum and the video isn't completely accurate. Regardless of that it's gone way off topic.

The question I originally asked is 'As we haven't signed a lease yet, can we finish out our month there and get our deposit back?'.

Graces7

Er... new one to me; is this still a country joy to come? Add also the favourite executlive toy of farmers. THE DIGGER. They are rapidly waking from hibernation and have bred well and produced young...

Oh, you mean muck-spreading?

mikom wrote: »

I'll await the slurry thread.

goat2

mikom wrote: »

I'll await the slurry thread.

hp hip horray
i am in the country, these days the slurry is making a pretty flurry in our noses, country perfume i call it, fine dirty healthy smell, from now till the end of may we will have this perfume on and off, if you open windows in it come, then when you close them in the evening, it lingers, but that is country living, all part of life, i am not complaining

Xiney

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

The question I originally asked is 'As we haven't signed a lease yet, can we finish out our month there and get our deposit back?'.

And the answer is yes, since you haven't signed anything you can leave without legal recourse. But you would be screwing over your new landlord who will probably be shocked and rather disappointed.

Also, if a neighbour in an apartment building had ever asked me not to flush the toilet after 10 pm I would have thought they were absolutely barking.

copacetic

I have quite a noisy pump in my apartment, as do most built in the last 4 or 5 years to get decent water pressure. Surprised you haven't seen it before, I used to always checked the water pressure everywhere I looked at renting and therefore the pump noise. If you are looking at houses, you'll find similar pumps in a lot of modern houses also.

As noted above you've signed nothing, but you have handed over a deposit, I can't imagine the landlord being in a rush to hand it back.

mikom

Graces7 wrote: »

Er... new one to me; is this still a country joy to come? Add also the favourite executlive toy of farmers. THE DIGGER. They are rapidly waking from hibernation and have bred well and produced young...

Oh, you mean muck-spreading?

Slurry from animals on slats.
Muck spreading from bedded animals.
Depends on how the local farmers are housing stock.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Graces7 wrote: »

Er... new one to me; is this still a country joy to come? Add also the favourite executlive toy of farmers. THE DIGGER. They are rapidly waking from hibernation and have bred well and produced young...

Oh, you mean muck-spreading?

Farmers with diggers? Not a common sight at all... :P

Little Miss Cutie

I think it would be very unfair on the LL.
I assume they have taken the apt off daft (or wherever it was advertised) on the basis that you have agreed to move in.
I also think that they have provided you with exactly the product /service advertised ie. Apt as described.
I know if I was the LL I would try to prove the contract was executed when you moved in and there was no trial period agreed.
OP, all jokes aside. I think you will find it very difficult to find any accomodation that is perfectly quiet but I wish you the best in your search.

Kintarō Hattori

goat2 wrote: »

i am a person who rent out a property, if and when i come across people who make mountains out of molehills, i would rather not have them in the first place, as down the line they would be knocking on my door for every small problem that would prop up,

Not at all, as stated we're very easy going people. We did very specifically mention to the landlord that we wanted somewhere quiet, that that was our absolute main priority in looking for a property. We made this very clear.

In all other respects a landlord normally wouldn't hear from us.

godtabh

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Not at all, as stated we're very easy going people. We did very specifically mention to the landlord that we wanted somewhere quiet, that that was our absolute main priority in looking for a property. We made this very clear.

In all other respects a landlord normally wouldn't hear from us.

Your definition of quiet maybe different to his.

In my apartment block I could here my downstairs neighbors tank. No issue there. You get over it. Its a background noise.

It used to get to the stage that if I went to the jacks in the middle of the night the flush would wake some up down stairs but it was never an issue.