FOI request (FOIR-714791285)

Sound Insulation in Housing Association Flats (Laminate/Hard Flooring)

Requested Thu 15 May 2025
Responded Thu 03 July 2025

I am submitting this request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I am requesting recorded information held by the Housing Renewal Team related to sound insulation issues in housing association flats, particularly where laminate or other hard flooring is a contributing factor.

Please provide the following:

1. Complaint and Inspection Data

A summary (with all personal data removed) of any complaints, inspection findings, or internal records from the last five years in which sound insulation issues were reported in housing association flats, and where laminate or hard flooring was referenced. An anonymised list or aggregate data would suffice. If five years of data exceeds the cost threshold, please provide information for the most recent two years.

2. Assessment Guidance

Any internal documents, including policies, procedures, training materials, or checklists, currently used by the Housing Renewal Team when assessing noise hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), particularly where sound insulation and flooring are factors.

3. Communications with Housing Associations

Any general (non-personal) guidance, template letters, circulars, or briefing notes issued by the Council to housing associations regarding sound insulation or acceptable flooring in flats.

If any of the above is already available online, please direct me to the relevant source.

I would prefer the information in PDF format.

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Response

Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding.

1. Information not held. Our system does not differentiate between different types of disrepair complaint they are categorised as Housing Disrepair. We cannot search by disrepair such as complaints including laminate flooring.

2. The relevant matters which we consider when completing the HHSRS assessment for noise are contained within the guidance:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/15810/142631.pdf

3. Zero