Hi all,
I live in a maisonette (a converted townhouse). We shared freeholders are looking to install soundproofing within the 1st floor floorboards and ground floor ceiling. We are on good terms and we we would like to work out the fairest way to share the costs. Currently there is a minor disagreement over whether the costs should be split 50/50 however we are both happy to follow best/legal practices and wish to avoid the need for sound test costs or similar.
To keep this discussion impartial I will refer to the occupant of:
Ground floor as Party A.
1st floor as Party B.
Party B wishes to keep the original floorboards as the final finish (made good, sealed and stained) however Party A would prefer that an extra layer (underlay/wood or carpet) is fitted on top of the floorboards. Party A is pondering whether Party B should be responsible for a greater share of the costs if it is to be a floorboard finish. Party B however thinks that Party A has more to gain from the works in terms of noise reduction.
When Party B moved into the property there was a wood floor floor with cheap MDF underlay. This flooring has since been taken up to reveal the floorboards.
As Party B is refurbishing the entire 1st floor all soundproofing will be installed at 1st floor level (not ground floor ceiling). We are in agreement that the following would be a suitable method of soundproofing up to floorboard level:
http://www.soundstop.co.uk/solutions/floor_access/under_floor/floor_solution_3.php
Knowing that lease documents often specify suitable types of flooring we have reviewed our contract packages. The attached images are the only pages with reference to nuisance or noise. There is not any particular reference to flooring within any of the contract documents.
Questions to consider:
Is the 1st floor/ground floor ceiling split 50/50 by an imaginary line?
Should costs legally be shared 50/50?
Is there a legal requirement to keep noise under a certain dB level, regardless of floor finish?
Do any of these documents make legal reference to everyday foot traffic noise?
If the 1st floor was purchased without soundproofing does Party B retain a right to keep it that way?
Thanks in advance.
I live in a maisonette (a converted townhouse). We shared freeholders are looking to install soundproofing within the 1st floor floorboards and ground floor ceiling. We are on good terms and we we would like to work out the fairest way to share the costs. Currently there is a minor disagreement over whether the costs should be split 50/50 however we are both happy to follow best/legal practices and wish to avoid the need for sound test costs or similar.
To keep this discussion impartial I will refer to the occupant of:
Ground floor as Party A.
1st floor as Party B.
Party B wishes to keep the original floorboards as the final finish (made good, sealed and stained) however Party A would prefer that an extra layer (underlay/wood or carpet) is fitted on top of the floorboards. Party A is pondering whether Party B should be responsible for a greater share of the costs if it is to be a floorboard finish. Party B however thinks that Party A has more to gain from the works in terms of noise reduction.
When Party B moved into the property there was a wood floor floor with cheap MDF underlay. This flooring has since been taken up to reveal the floorboards.
As Party B is refurbishing the entire 1st floor all soundproofing will be installed at 1st floor level (not ground floor ceiling). We are in agreement that the following would be a suitable method of soundproofing up to floorboard level:
http://www.soundstop.co.uk/solutions/floor_access/under_floor/floor_solution_3.php
Knowing that lease documents often specify suitable types of flooring we have reviewed our contract packages. The attached images are the only pages with reference to nuisance or noise. There is not any particular reference to flooring within any of the contract documents.
Questions to consider:
Is the 1st floor/ground floor ceiling split 50/50 by an imaginary line?
Should costs legally be shared 50/50?
Is there a legal requirement to keep noise under a certain dB level, regardless of floor finish?
Do any of these documents make legal reference to everyday foot traffic noise?
If the 1st floor was purchased without soundproofing does Party B retain a right to keep it that way?
Thanks in advance.