Neighbour Issue

[red_boots2]

We rent out our flat and have an issue with the downstairs Neighbour complaining about noise from the Tenants.

I doubt very much the Tenants are making much noise to be honest as he has always been difficult. We had similar complaints from him after we moved in. We had new carpets put in with thick underlay, chipboards to even out the floor and the floorboards screwed in. Despite this it apparently made no difference to the noise late at night (8pm) and he complained about the extra noise made during the day when the carpets were being fitted.

A few others in the block have had similar complaints from him. I have told him to speak to the Tenants about the noise, he refuses simply telling me it's my job to sort out. (I know it's not unless it's a serious noise problem)

I have tried speaking and reasoning with him but it doesn't seem to get through - On one occasion he asked us not to shower when he was in the garden as the noise from water pipes disturbed him.

I am thinking of blocking his number so he can't contact me other than by e-mail. Does anyone have any advice about the situation?

[ash72]

Ignore the neighbour.

[jpkeates]

Seconded..

[Hudson01]

Ignore the neighbour.

Yep, that about sums it up..... to be blunt he needs to understand that when living in a flat surrounded by other dwellings he will not have the same sound isolation a family living in a detached house would..... like never will ! He needs to suck it up or purchase more lottery tickets and hope for the best.

[theartfullodger]

If really really pushed refer him to CaB. And doctor for more pills

[bobthebuilder2]

what kind of noise and how loud ?

[Interlaken]

Tell him to get in touch with Environmental Health at the council. Yes, I would block his number.

[ash5050]

He's got a bee in his bonnet and nothing you do is going to make him stop complaining.
Clearly if He's complaining about running water this isn't a reasonable thing to bring up.
Do expect he might escalate matters if you don't engage with him - as reasonable as ignoring him would be. If he harasses your tenants then it's likely they'll be looking elsewhere once their lease is up.

He sounds like a nightmare

[red_boots2]

bobthebuilder2 The stairs up to the property are next to his living room. He was complaining about the tenants moving furniture up the stairs as it was disturbing him. They'd finished by 7ish.

The complaints we got from him were mostly that the TV was too loud. I pointed out that he constantly played the piano and refused to plug in headphones (electric piano) and used an amp which is why we had to turn the TV.

He's the last Council tenant in the block, I suspect he's lonely, but efforts to befriend him were rebuffed.

I'll just have to see how the new tenants find it.

I'm thinking of ignoring him as people have suggested, but telling him to email me every complaint then filtering it into a separate folder. That way it shouldn't disturb me as much, but I also have a record of both spurious and genuine concerns.

[theartfullodger]

As before, refer him to a doctor for more pills & maybe adult social services (in local council) e.g.
https://www.slough.gov.uk/adult-social-care

[red_boots2]

theartfullodger Thanks, I did make them aware a while ago. Part of my reasoning behind the email logs is that I have something to present to them.

[Hudson01]

He appears to have some kind of mental illness, i have dealt with an individual like this in my day job, you will never, and really do mean this, solve ' his ' issue with noise, if there are stairs sharing the party wall then noise transmission is a physical thing, it cannot be avoided.

As i have previously stated, he needs to somehow do better in life and buy a detached house, impossible maybe, But whilst he is in a flat he will never be in a totally silent place. If you engage with him too much then his stress will transfer to you..... do not let this happen, tell him that his dispute is exactly that, HIS.

Stay at arms length on this one.