Sound solutions

• Think about flooring - are laminate flooring or bare floorboards appropriate? Hard flooring may increase noise not just for your neighbours but also in your own home. Research and guidance on fitting floors is available.
• Insulating products are available for flooring - with a value indicating how good the product is at reducing impact noise - with the symbol LW - choose a value of 17dB or above. The report above considers this in more detail.
• Some landlords either prohibit hard flooring or allow it only with permission - if you are a tenant check your conditions of tenancy.
• If, after consideration, you still favour laminate or stripped floors, take care to minimise noise: make sure flooring is well fitted to avoid creaking and insulated where appropriate.

Footsteps

• Remove shoes or wear slippers in doors, and think before carrying out activities with an impact.