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Hard Surface Flooring Sound Transmission Issues

By Ellen R. Schuster, Esq.

This article first appeared in the Fall 2021 Issue of The Communicator here.

Complaints about noise from an upstairs neighbor’s hard surface flooring - and the expectations that the association will handle it – are on the rise. This increase is due to aging buildings, hard surface flooring trends, and more people at home during the day hearing noises they wouldn’t have heard while otherwise at work.

Boards have a duty to investigate reports of violations of the governing documents. Hard surface flooring noise disputes may implicate such violations in several ways, including restrictions on the installation of hard surface flooring without prior association approval, installations that increase noise transmission from what existed prior to the installation, and nuisances. Without investigation, and potentially taking enforcement steps, associations may be at an increased risk...