Hard flooring, such as wood or laminate flooring has become a very popular home improvement. However, it has led to an increase in nuisance caused by noise. Wood flooring provides very poor sound insulation and this is causing disturbance to residents, particularly in flats.
Even everyday noises such as walking around, moving furniture or children playing with toys can cause a disturbance, especially where a family lives in a flat below the wood flooring.
It is clear that some types of home are less suitable to have wood flooring than others. In particular, flats in converted houses are not normally suitable. Even in houses there can be a problem caused by the absence of sound-deadening carpet, especially where the sound insulation between the houses is not to a high standard. Following consultation with residents, we have decided on the following policy.
Wood or Laminate Flooring is a Home Improvement
Under the terms of your Tenancy Agreement you need our permission in writing before carrying out improvements such as laminate flooring, wooden floor, bare flooring, ceramic tiles, and carpet with no or inadequate underlay. Contact us to ask permission to change your flooring. We will treat all requests on their own merits, but will use the following general overall principles.
In upper flats in converted properties, or upper purpose-built flats with wooden floors, permission will normally not be given.
In upper flats with solid floors, permission will normally be given, provided:
- There is no history of poor sound insulation in the building.
- There is no history of complaints of noise nuisance concerning the flat in question.
- Other characteristics of the building, such as under-floor heating, do not make the proposed floor covering unsuitable.
In ground floor flats, permission will normally be given provided:
- There is no history of poor lateral (from the sides) sound insulation in the building.
- There is no history of complaints of noise nuisance concerning the flat in question.
- Other characteristics of the building, such as under-floor heating, do not make the proposed floor covering unsuitable.
In houses, permission will normally be given provided:
- There is no history of poor sound insulation between the house and neighbouring houses.
- There is no history of complaints of noise nuisance.
- Other characteristics of the building, such as under-floor heating, do not make the proposed floor covering unsuitable.
Whenever permission is granted it will always be conditional on:
- The standard of workmanship must be to the satisfaction of Hexagon and carried out by a qualified and competent trade person.
- The Asbestos reports must be checked to ensure Asbestos Containing Materials are not being removed or encapsulated.
- Suitable underlay being used. Details of the underlay must be submitted to the Area Surveyor before any work starts, and an inspection may be required once the underlay has been laid but before the wood flooring has been laid.
- Felt pads being fitted to the bottom of legs of chairs, tables and other furniture.
- Agreement that if the flooring has to be lifted to allow access for repairs or inspections, Hexagon will not be liable for relaying the flooring, or for any damage that may be caused. Residents are advised to ensure that any contents insurance will cover the cost of replacing flooring damaged in this way.
- Agreement from the resident that they will ensure there is easy access to any stopcocks, or other equipment, located under the floor.
- Agreement from the resident that they will be liable for any damage, and the cost of any repairs, caused by the laying of the flooring (putting a nail through a pipe, for example).
- Any doors that require to be adjusted to close as a result of the increased flooring height will be the resident’s responsibility. Any required levelling of the existing floor to allow the installation to be carried out will be the resident’s responsibility.
To request hard flooring, residents must submit an Alteration to Property form. Call or email customer services to request the form (Customer-Desk@hexagon.org.uk or 020 8778 6699). The Hexagon Area Surveyor will make a decision on the request and may require a site visit pre and post works.
Permission may be withdrawn at any time if hard flooring is found to contribute to noise transference problems after it has been installed. In these circumstances, residents will be required to remove the hard flooring or cover it with underlay and carpet. Where residents have lain hard flooring without Hexagon’s permission, and it is found to contribute to noise nuisance problems, residents will be required to remove the hard flooring or cover it with adequate underlay and carpet.
You can read our full Hard Flooring Policy for more information.
