| A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes: Dear Agony Aunts and Uncles,Here’s aquestion regarding apartment living…My husband and I bought a small one-bedroom apartment on the last floor in a very old building. Former owner of the building had refurbished the attic above us and turned it into an even smaller apartment (a minuscule studio). We have no idea how he managed to get the necessary permits, it was way before our time here. The isolation is non-existent as that space was an attic and it was never supposed to be an apartment. We can hear our neighbors, talk, walk, use bathroom… not to mention when they fight (which they do fairly often), or throw a party – it is pure hell. We have no idea what we are going to do when they have a baby, which is in a month’s time.Little background: When our neighbors moved in they were completely oblivious of the noise they were making. We asked them kindly to take it down a notch and they did and mostly continue to do. But let’s be clear, when the husband leaves at 1 am for work, or comes back home at 5 am, he wakes us up. When the wife wears high-heeled shoes at home, it feels like earthquake…They are overall congenial, even though they do not respect all the co-ownership regulations. Before moving in, we accepted that the building was old and that we’ll have to take our partying outside. We don’t make noise, we asked around :) We have been active in the co-ownership syndicate - gooood we sound soooo broing – but the building is old and needs our attention if we want to prevent the value of the apartments we paid when we bought them from plunging. Apartments in this building are not meant to be a destination, rather a stop on the way…So, they are about to have a baby and I don’t know how we are going to deal with the noise, especially at night. To make things worse, the husband is not overwhelmed with joy, quite the opposite; it was mostly the wife’s idea. He was hoping to become a father once they could afford as he says “a normal apartment” and now feels “stuck”, to quote him again. Despite her disapproval, he has registered in advance for night shifts at work in 2017. So, to add to the problem she will be the only one taking care of the kid, as it seems for now.We cannot move as we have just renegotiated our loan (to our benefit, for once), not to mention that we quite like it here. I just don’t see any solution. The noise won’t be their fault, but we’ll suffer just the same. If it’s anybody’s fault, it’s the fault of the previous greedy owner of the building who wanted to sell as many apartments as possible. What are we to do?
View related questions:
at work, moved in Reply to this Question
Share |
Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question! A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (16 November 2016): Thank you ALL so much!!!
I honestly didn't think that there were any quick solutions.
For long-term ones that require serious work and time, we will get an estimate.
I've already copied your replies and sent them to my husband, so taht he can start making his own to-do-list :)
Thank you once again for your support and great ideas!
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (16 November 2016): Maybe you could invest in soundproofing your apartment? I think that it prevents sound from escaping and entering your place so it would do the trick. And have a talk with the owner - he/she should be partially liable I think.
...............................
A
reader, anonymous, writes (16 November 2016): The only solution is to have soundproofing put in your ceiling. It is an investment well worth the expense. Some can be blown in like foam insulation, and some are actual ceiling tiles designed to kill sound.
If you have a lot of hardwood-flooring in your own apartment, put down some nice throw rugs. They will cushion echos bouncing from the ceiling and walls. A large hollow room is an echo chamber. It will amplify sound.
You may also petition the homeowner's association to suggest in writing to your neighbors above to scatter rugs, runners; or lay carpeting over their bare floors above your bedroom ceiling. Otherwise; you need to add a quality of life clause to your by-laws requiring neighbors to show simple courtesy regarding noise during certain hours. Good luck enforcing it. Most charge fines for violations causing complaints. Assuming you pay co-op fees.
Buy them both a lovely pair of bedroom slippers for Christmas.
All the other noise you describe comes with normal living, and there is little else you can do about that. They should be embarrassed that you can hear all their private business.
Hang tapestries on your walls to absorb echos and sound reverberation, and get used to the sounds of a newborn. You will eventually have one yourself.
You may also check city ordinances and records to determine if that apartment is legal; and all proper construction permits were obtained.
A new baby might be a silver-lining. They will tip around just not to wake the baby. They'll want some sleep too!
Please don't bang the ceiling with a broom or yell-out. That's crude and uncalled for.
...............................
A
female
reader, Aunty BimBim  +, writes (15 November 2016):
 Take your concerns to the co ownership syndicate .... you haven't added your location so we don't know what legal avenues there are available to you, I am going to assume the previous owner complied with any building permits and inspections while he was refurbishing.
...............................
A
female
reader, aunt honesty  +, writes (15 November 2016):
 Yeah it is not there fault or your fault. But am afraid it does come with the territory off apartments. I know it is not easy for you but you need to accept it now. The best I can say to you is buy a pair off ear plugs.
...............................
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (15 November 2016): Could you get some insulation fitted? Otherwise I don't think there is much you can do other than move. You could buy some far plugs to wear at night or try playing some soft music to drown out the noise. You could buy a 4 poster bed with curtains around it that might help buffer the sound. Even if that particular couple notes out the chances are someone just as noisy will move in.
...............................
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (15 November 2016): It seems you are to close for comfort and as you dont want to move you will have to invest in soundproofing.
You can get ceilings,walls and floors done and rest content in your own snug little nest.
You already know far to much about them.
It wont be long before you will be banging the ceiling with a broom and yelling "Breast is best! Pick that baby up and feed her! FEEED HER!"
Your sanity is at stake here so get started on the DIY ASP or better still use some of your saved cash to get contractors in.
Alternatively invest in earplugs.
...............................
|
