Declaring Noisy Neighbours

[198x]

I'm having a debate with my girlfriend over noisy neighbours. By law do you have to state whether a neighbour is noisy or not to a possible buyer of a house/flat?

I have recently bought a flat in which the neighbours below us are noisy and deal drugs. I think that the previous owner should have told us that the neighbours below are noisy, but my girlfriend seems to think that the owners didn't have to tell us that they were noisy so long as they haven't made any complaints against them.

Is there something I can do because at the moment the council cannot do anything to evict the below neighbour as she hasn't been in the property for over a year, and I have rang the police who have given me a diary to fill in.

[rhoscun21]

Unfortunately although by law you do have to disclose disputes with neighbours if the previous owners never had anything of record they could deny it and say that they weren't noisy when they lived there! You now have to be careful as if you put anything on record with police or council you have to legally declare to anyone you sold to. There is some good advice on government websites about how to evidence anti social behaviour in order to gain prosecution however looks like a long battle! I wish you luck and offer my sympathies it must be horrible to live in those circumstances!

[Aschenbach]

rhoscun21 - agreed

When you sell your house you fill out certain forms such as the Seller's Property (or Leasehold) Information Form and Fixtures Fittings and Contents Form.

These require you to declare any compliants you have made about your neighbours and any made against you and act as a warranties upon sale - so you need to answer truthfully or you could get sued.

If the Landord is not fulfilling his or her obligations then you might want to speak to a solicitor about your housing dispute.

[Ethel]

Noise is subjective in any case. I am extremely deaf, so what is noisy to you would be barely noticeable to me.

People have different tolerances and different lifestyles.
What is objectionable to A may be a bonus to B.

Just keep your diary and record all events. It is all you can do for now.