Problem Tenants Causing too Much Noise?
Problem Tenants Causing too Much Noise?
As more and more people move into apartments it seems we are still having problems in taking the ordered back attitude of the Spanish or Asian – the two noisiest countries in the world – about the sounds prefabricated by our shut neighbours.
Of the top ten complaints prefabricated by flat owners, almost half of them are about noise.
block management companies offer several tips to help you get over that endless ringing in your ears, caused by those noisy neighbours:
• Check your lease and highlight any clause that either states the permitted hours that noise can be prefabricated or states the leaseholder has an obligation not to cause noise or nuisance to other occupiers.
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• Many leases include a ‘keep carpeted’ clause. Leaseholders installing a wood floor covering could be breaking this rule.
• Find out who lives there. If the culprit of the noise doesn’t actually own the flat they still might be breaking the terms of their tenancy and could risk eviction.
• Get the freeholder or a director of the block management company to write formally to the leaseholder in question.
• If talking to your neighbour doesn’t work then enlist help of a mediation service to help you negotiate a solution.
• Keep a diary of the noise, dates and times for evidence.
• Contact the Council as they have the power to deal with noise problems and can take action by sending a formal notice asking the noise to stop by a certain date or in extreme cases take your neighbours to court.
Often the key to resolving noise issues is superior block management companies, ensuring that you have access to all the right information, experts on call and pay as you go services – essentially everything you need to make noisy neighbours a thing of the past.
A member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and of the Association of Building engineers, Mary-anne Bowring has extensive knowledge of building law and the Landlord Tenants Acts. She has recently launched the website www.leaseholdersupport.co.uk, the site offers step-by-step guides on topics including the right to manage, freehold purchase and lease extensions along with a host of other services free of charge.