Garden level rental question

How big an issue is noise for your tenants?  When I am down in our garden apartment I can hear walking upstairs.  I have a 10-year-old and she can be heavy footed.  The tv/Wii is in our living room and I don’t want to piss off tenants, but I also don’t want to constantly battle my child to tiptoe.  We don’t wear shoes in the house.  Is this just a given with a garden rental that you will hear people walking around upstairs? We haven’t rented yet but are getting ready to.  I would like to be a considerate landlord but I would also like to be realistic.  Thanks for any advice/opinions etc…

snarkolepctic

in Landlord 12 years and 4 months ago

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adamg | 12 years and 3 months ago

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Hi, where is your place and when are you looking for tenants?  My wife and I are looking for a garden rental in brooklyn and we dont mind some very light noise every once in a while for a great place at the right price. If you are looking for good tenants shoot me a note at adamgreenloff@gmail.com with some more info on the unit.  Thanks!

snarkolepctic | 12 years and 4 months ago

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Thanks all. I thought we had put sound proofing between the floors but clearly not, or not enough.  Anyway I don’t really have a Wii playing maniac, but she does play on occasion and was playing as I typed my question last night. I will look into putting down more rugs, too.  It’s probably a good idea to make sure tenants understand this isn’t a deluxe apartment in the sky.  Now I’m off to research health benefits of the soft step. lol….

Goatcrapp | 12 years and 4 months ago

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we have tenants above us (we occupy the parlor and garden level) and one of the tenants would walk around in heels at 5AM when she wakes. If it’s a problem, all it should take is a polite conversation.   In my case, i offered to provide area rugs with padding – she declined, but also had no idea how badly it was reverberating downstairs. She doesn’t put on the heels until she’s leaving now, and that was an amicable solution for both of us.On the occasions where she has youngsters over – there’s some noise and tumble, but it’s not out of control.  We get more noise from outside. As for getting your child to tiptoe – no need.  Kids will be kids, and as long it’s within reason, tenants living in shared homes understand that… the exception being first time tenants, etc.   There is always the argument that a softer step has all sorts of health benefits for your child, such as preventing flat feet, heel spurs, and knee problems, but that’s a different argument, and one your kid won’t care about for at least a decade more, lol.  You can always put small area rugs around, especially in the wii-zone.  There’s all sorts of accoustical padding you can put underneath.   A longer term solution (and one i will do for my own sanity once my upstairs tenant leaves) is accoustical barrier between the floors.  This involves lifting whats there ( so it’s a big job) and placing sound insulation as well as mass loading between the joists, and then sound barrier between the joist and flooring/subfloor.

Hunt4MiddleClass | 12 years and 4 months ago

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Having lived under a tenant who had his daughter over every other weekend for various activities including Wii time, I can attest to how annoying it is to have people running around and jumping up and down in the apartment above you in the name of virtual tennis.  Make it clear to prospective renters that they will have a family above them, and do your part and be a good neighbor and don’t let your kid stomp around early in the AM or late at night to the extent possible, but with that being said, noise from overhead is sort of expected when you live in the city.  If your tenant doesn’t like it, they will either complain or move out.  If it becomes a constant problem to the extent that you can’t keep tenants, then consider giving your kid away.  Just kidding.  Look, it’s the city.  Short of installing carpet (yuck), I’m not sure what you could even do about it.  Be as respectful as possibe, and that’s about all you can do.

shahnandersen

in Landlord 12 years and 4 months ago

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I don’t understand this question.  This is not an issue for a forum, but one for your prospective tenants.  Before you (and they) sign a lease, they should understand the noise situation.  If it’s OK they’ll sign; if not they will find another apartment.  Just be transparent and neither you  (or your tenants) should have any problems.

Putnamdenizen | 12 years and 4 months ago

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We’ve never had a complaint in ten years and we have what must be the worst of situations – 2 200lb guys, a dog and a now 10 year old.  No Wii! Our floors are carpeted mostly – but not in our kitchen which is over their bedroom.  Maybe we’ve just gotten lucky or tenants in an owner occupied house accept that this is part of the deal.