Party Wall Sound Insulation

[IamRhino]

We Live in a 4 Storey Georgian townhouse circa 1850 The adjoining property which is identical used to be an early release hostel run by a charity which contained all bedsit rooms although it has been empty for some years ...

It has recently been converted into 6 separate flats which appear to be occupied by students and we are having issues with noise through the party wall particuarly late @ night & in the early hours

what are the requirements for party wall sound insulation in this instance as no change of use application was made

Thank you in advance

 

[DevilDamo]

Are they flats or is it an HMO (House in Multiple Occupation)?

A first point of call would be to speak to the Environmental Health department at your local authority if you're reporting neighbours for noise. They could then look at carrying out some sound tests and then request for the necessary action to take... if it's something they could and would want to get involved with.

 

[Tipper]

Conversion of a house into flats requires both planning permission and build regs approval. Has it been done with pp?

The Building Regs requires sound insulation be installed between dwellings and this means both between flats within the building ie floors/ceilings and walls and between adjacent dwellings ie walls. Chimneys/fireplaces can be a problem area. (We took the chimney out from top to bottom, 3 floors, in our flat conversion to stop the issue arising.)

Get onto the local building control department and find out what they have approved/inspected during the conversion with respect to sound control. It will have had a sound test to prove the efficiency of the measures installed too with a formal report given to the BCO.

 

[joe-90]

You could hardly live next door and not know about PP. And remember, if you make a formal complaint you may be asked about it when you sell up.

 

[Deluks]

Construction that meets all the relevant passage of sound regs is no match for a loud telly or a roomfull of drunken students.