Garden level tenants complaining of “thin floors”

Oy – wondering if anyone has some suggestions/experience w tenants on the garden level complaining about the noise from the parlor level floor? The parlor floors have the original parquet – and there are recessed lights in the new drywall – I even have soundproofing in 3/4 of the ceiling – but they are very noise sensitive – the floors are creaky – there is no real solution to this and they are now threatening to “take $100 off the rent” because of an inordinate amount of noise – which I just figured out is the cleaning lady – working between the hours of 11am and 2pm – so yes furniture is being moved and floors being washed (I have put carpet down on 70% of the floor – but they still need to be washed ?.) I’ve already told them they can break the lease and leave – but they are staying – and complaining and asking for money off on the rent. BTW – I lived down there with tenants above me – this kind of noise just doesn’t really phase me but I know that’s me – I was raised in a NY apt with furniture moving upstairs all of the time – it was noisy and we lived w it. Do they have a case? Thoughts of how to respond? Thanks in advance for any advice.

deebeeeye

in General Discussion 3 years and 2 months ago

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helen40

in General Discussion 3 years and 2 months ago

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If i lived on the parlor, I would have my clog dancing club meet weekly at home. Tell them you are not accepting a reduced rent, give them 30 days notice if no lease, or that you will not be renewing at the end of the term. I wouldnt invest one dime to try to “negoitate” with a tenant like this. They have no idea how good they have it. Let them deal with this market now.

dorkofwindsor | 3 years and 2 months ago

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one single layer of drywall laid traditionally on the ceiling is going to have a lot of people not digging life. add cans and its not going to be pretty. i’m a little skeptical about the soundproofing comment, if its just fiberglass batts its not going to do much with 1 layer of swiss cheese ceiling.

Jasperrose11 | 3 years and 2 months ago

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OP – The noise they are complaining about happens during reasonable daytime hours, you have 70% of the floor covered and have offered to let them out of the lease, so I think you have done all you can. If they were reasonable tenants I would say try to work with them to pinpoint if there is a particular time/spot that is creating a problem during what is probably their work from home time, but as is the only option is likely to not renew their lease.

Putnamdenizen | 3 years and 2 months ago

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Can I have the name of your cleaning person? Lol.

jimcornell55 | 3 years and 2 months ago

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What an annoyance. I have a friend and her tenants broke the lease as she was renovating the ground floor unit – mostly finishing work, not major construction. They are two floors above and want their security back. They are claiming no one told them about the construction downstairs which I am pretty sure was communicated verbally.

frerunda | 3 years and 2 months ago

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we had the exact same issue. There was no insulation between the floors and the recess can lighting let a lot of sound in. We tried to cover the entire parlor floor with rugs. They were not satisfied. We offered to let them out of their lease, they did not want to go. We ended up Soundproofing with sound dampening sheetrock, removed recess lighting and it is an 80% improvement. They ended up leaving at the end of the lease, they were very annoying in every way. We have never had any subsequent tenants complain.

Lurker | 3 years and 2 months ago

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I mean, they don’t get to arbitrarily reduce rent at all–presumably you have a contract. So that’s out of the question. You seem to have a choice–tell them you aren’t renewing your lease, or if you don’t have one, give them reasonable notice and start advertising for new tenants.

BTW if I’m understanding what you’re saying, recessed lights in the renters apt could allow significant noise to get through and are the opposite of what you’d want . Anything breaking through the ceiling will allow sound, and if your ceiling is directly connected to the joists above they will transfer footfall as well.

Arkady | 3 years and 2 months ago

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If it were intolerable they’d take your offer to move.

RobertGMarvin

in General Discussion 3 years and 2 months ago

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What entitled jerks! How often is the cleaning lady there? Weekly? Every two weeks?