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Noisy homes a major turn off for tenants

11th July 2012

Landlords hoping to attract new tenants to their property may want to consider ways of reducing noise levels within the house or flat.

According to research from insulation specialist Rockwool, noisy homes are a major turn off for the vast majority of both prospective homeowners and tenants.

A poll by the company found that 87 per cent of buyers and tenants, equivalent to 41.2 million people, said noise levels are an important consideration when they're looking to buy or rent, with almost half (43 per cent) saying they're very important.

Installing wall and cavity insulation could be one way for landlords to reduce the noise levels within their properties, but so could avoiding certain interior design choices, says Rockwool.

The company's research suggested that the current trend for wooden floors and open plan living is causing an increase in the amount of noise that transmits between and within flats and houses.

Some 2.9 million British householders say they have removed carpet and installed wooden floors in the past three years, leading to a rising number of people complaining about the noise created by neighbours walking in the flat above.

In addition, 650,000 homeowners say they have removed walls to create an open plan space in the past three years, removing the noise barriers that internal walls create.

"While trends towards open plan living and wooden floors may improve the aesthetic quality of homes, they also intensify the level of noise transference within the building and can significantly increase noise within flats, not only for the occupants of the apartment in question but also for their neighbours," said Rockwool UK managing director Thomas Heldgaard.

Landlords may therefore want to consider carefully the impact on noise levels of any improvements they make to their property.

Improvements may also add to the value of the property, so it is also important that buy-to-let owners make sure they have adequate landlord buildings insurance in place to protect the full value of their assets.

Posted by Simon Hayes

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