Hello there! This is my first time posting here, so forgive me if I put this in the wrong section. I have a question concerning carpeting (or lack of it) in a second floor apartment. I live on the first floor, and my upstairs neighbors are driving me absolutely insane! Both of our families have lived in the building for many years. They always had carpeting in their apartment, and we never had an issue with it.
Last summer, they apparently asked my LL (who actually lives on the third floor)if they could replace their carpet with hardwood. Yikes! Ever since then, I hear every footstep they make. Not only that, but they have 10 kids (in a relatively small 3 BR apt), and 3 grandkids, who come over every afternoon. I can't even see how that is legal, but my main issue is the floor.
It's an old building, and they should have never been allowed to get rid of their carpet. I wanted to know if there is a law in NY that would require a second floor apartment to be carpeted, especially if the 1st floor tenant is having issues with the noise. There is nothing in my lease that states there must be carpeting, but I had honestly thought it was required (the 80/20 thing, with only having the kitchen and bathroom not carpeted). It isn't just footfall. They drop things, let the kids run and scream till past midnight some nights. Some of the kids are nice, but there are 2 in particular who scare me, and they are the main reason I don't want to approach the family myself. I wear earplugs, but they really hurt my ears. I've tried everything I can to live with the noise. I spoke to him about it, and he said he didn't want me approaching them, but I'm at my wits end. I love my apartment, I would move if I could, but at the moment, I'm not able to. I just want them to realize they don't live in a house.
Heck, I'd go in halves with them to buy some nice, plushy carpet! Sorry for the overly long post, this was a bit of venting too.