Downstairs tenant complaining about upstairs floor noises

Downstairs tenant complaining about upstairs floor noises

Member since 2019 · 5 posts · 0 votes

We installed new hardwood floors on top of old wood floors for an upstairs unit.

(not sure the exact process but the flooring company said it won’t make that loud of noises)

Then the downstairs tenant suddenly started complaining about noises and demanded that we need to do something about this.

Any thoughts on how to approach this?

Also, we have been wanting to raise downstairs rent for some time now since the rent is relatively low compared to other units and even the market price.

Now we are worried he might think it’s retaliation??

This is the first time we’ve encountered something like this as landlords, please share any suggestions.

Thank you BP community!!

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  • Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    Step one might be to figure out if the noise is really bad. If it is, you’ll have problems with any tenant there... and probably need to look at sound insulation or soundproofing.

    But if it’s ‘average’, maybe you give your tenant the ‘happy clause’. If you’re not happy here, you can move out at the end of the month with no penalty.

  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    6y

    Hard surfaces will always be louder than carpet. Hard floors don't work well in upstairs apartments unless you have good noise insulation.

    It is what it is. Tell the tenant downstairs that they need to learn to live with it or move on. In the future, I recommend you always warn tenants of the noise between apartments because it's a common complaint. if you warn them up front, you can shut down complaints easier in the future.

    The DIY Landlord Book4.7248 Reviews
  • Member since 2019 · 5 posts · 0 votes
    6y

    @Mike McCarthy

    Thank you so much for your reply. Really appreciate it.

  • Member since 2019 · 5 posts · 0 votes
    6y

    @Nathan G.

    Hi Nathan thank you so much for the recommendation! will definitely keep that in mind.

  • Rental Property Investor · Portland OR · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y

    Well.... they never complained before when it was hardwood.  Now, with the new flooring they are. I would consider calling the floor person and ask then what is up?  What if each and every tenant complains? What if you cant keep that unit rented?  Have you gone into the lower unit and heard it yourself?

    Seems to me this is not a tenant problem, but a problem caused by something you did. 

    And interestinly, i am about to lay down new floors over old ones, and this thread may stop me in my tracks!

  • Rental Property Investor · Upstate, NY · Member since 2012 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y

    We had a tenant with a young child & the two of them were a nightmare. Nothing we did would stop the stomping noise & we had already laid new carpets & padding, even in the bath he stomped back & forth. Once we got rid of them we achieved tranquility & the only thing the lower tenants now hear is the upper unit vacuum cleaner running. 

  • Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 9k+ votes
    6y

    Never put families with a bunch of kids in the upstairs apartments is one way to fix that . Ask me how I know !

    If it has a drop ceiling you can put rolled insulation stuffed up in the ceiling packed over the tiles and use the heavy grade tile that’s like drywall not the fiberglass cheap tiles

  • Member since 2019 · 5 posts · 0 votes
    6y

    @Mary Mitchell

    Hi Mary! Thank you for your reply! We’ve talked to a couple flooring companies describing the situation and they said the noise cant be as loud as what the tenant is claiming.

    Will keep you updated on what happens next though!

    Have you contacted flooring companies already?

  • Member since 2019 · 5 posts · 0 votes
    6y

    @Pat L.

    Oh gosh! I’m glad it all worked out in the end!

    How did you get rid of them?

  • Rental Property Investor · Portland OR · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y

    @Sofia Wang may i suggest you go over and hear for yourself? Or ask tenant to record the sound? They never complained before. Why now? 

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