Advice on Sound Insulation in Apartments

Questioner

I live in an apartment, consisting of two apartments. Old house that has been split. Has wooden intermediate floors. Now I have had problems with the sound for years. You can hear every step, whether they walk with shoes or barefoot. Besides that, the current owner had a wooden floor installed without me in lights a few years ago. The inconvenience caused by this is really terrible. I don't think the floor is floating and there is hardly any insulation underneath. I have already indicated several times that the inconvenience is bad, but so far without result. Until a few weeks ago I thought I couldn't change anything about it. But by chance I came across the splitting regulations with the following: The floor covering of the private areas must be of such a composition that contact noises are counteracted as much as possible. In particular, it is not permitted to install parquet or stone floors, unless this is done in such a way that, in the opinion of the board, no unreasonable nuisance can arise for the other owners and/or users. My question: it says that parquet may not be laid, does this mean that a wooden floor may not be laid either? Can I, on the basis of the division regulations, ensure that my upstairs neighbours finally do something about the sound insulation? As a result, the worst noise pollution can be tackled. Thank you in advance for your advice.

Lawyer

Yes, that is correct. You can speak to them or write to them. If they are still not prepared to do anything about it, you can possibly hire a lawyer. If you wish, you can then contact me.

Lawyer

In addition to this provision, the regulations also state that the owners may not cause each other any nuisance. First and foremost, it is the board of the VvE that should take enforcement action against the nuisance and in particular the fact that the parquet floor was probably laid without the board's knowledge and does not meet the standards for contact noise. It is therefore important to first urge the board to take enforcement measures. At the same time or not, you can demand that the owners of the apartment in question remove the floor or lay it in such a way that the contact noise is reasonable. I specialize in apartment law and have extensive experience with disputes about noise pollution caused by 'hard floors'. If desired, I am happy to advise you in this matter and, if necessary, to assist you further. Please feel free to contact me free of charge and without obligation.

Lawyer

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