Noisy homes 'put property hunters off'

Noisy homes are a major turn off for house hunters in the UK, new research has discovered. The Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA) reported on the recent findings from insulation specialist Rockwool, which found that no fewer than 87 per cent of buyers and tenants - a whopping 41.2 million people - said noise levels are a major factor in whether they would buy or rent, while another 43 per cent said it was a primary consideration.

Rockwool joined forces with the Noise Abatement Society to host a roundtable discussion involving property professionals and noise experts to see if there were any ways that noise pollution can be reduced in homes belonging to landlord insurance customers, among others.

A big part of the problem is down to modern interior design changes, which have led to more open-plan rooms being created but with the unwelcome side-effect of increasing sound levels in homes.

While one in ten Britons have been disturbed by noise in the past 12 months - from neighbours walking on wooden floors, among other things - 2.9 million British householders have still removed carpets and installed wooden floors, highlighting the number of badly-planned home improvements in the UK.

Rockwool UK managing director Thomas Heldgaard, said: "We strongly encourage householders and tenants to speak to builders, developers and landlords about noise insulation when they are making home improvements. If insulation is being installed anyway to improve energy efficiency and heat retention, it makes sense to also ensure that it is improving the acoustic insulation of the building and cutting noise pollution - something which many insulation materials will do if properly specified and installed."