Who's Right?Kid running upstairs: is the neighbour below right?
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In short
Partly. A child running at home is normal family life, but daily running early in the morning or late at night really does disturb the flat below.
Both sides
My son Léo is 6, he needs to move, and we live in a flat, not a house. He mostly runs between school pick-up and dinner, and sometimes on Saturday mornings. I'm not going to keep him glued to a chair all day. When Karim bangs on the ceiling with a broom, it feels aggressive. Having neighbours with kids is part of living in a building.
I'm not asking for library silence, I know there's a child upstairs. But every single day it's back and forth down the hallway, and at weekends it starts around 7:30 am. In my flat it sounds like dull thuds. I tried talking about it once, got told "he's a kid" and nothing changed. Banging on the ceiling is all I have left when I'm at the end of my rope.
The verdict
Karim is slightly more in the right on the substance. Running every day, starting at 7:30 am at weekends, is a real everyday nuisance, not a fussy neighbour overreacting. Answering "he's a kid" without changing anything shuts the conversation down.
Camille has a point too: a child should be able to play at home, and nobody can demand a silent flat. Banging on the ceiling with a broom solves nothing and turns a nuisance into a feud.
The real issue isn't the child. It's the lack of visible effort on one side and the way of complaining on the other. A few practical changes and clear hours are usually enough.
The compromise
Camille puts a thick rug in the hallway and living room, gets Léo soft slippers and sets a simple rule: no running before 9 am at weekends or after 8:30 pm. Karim sends a message instead of banging on the ceiling, and they check in again in two weeks.
Who do you think is right?
Pick a side.
Frequently asked questions
Should I ban my child from running in the flat?
No, but you can limit running to certain rooms and certain times. Offering another outlet, like the park or floor games, also helps a lot.
What actually reduces the noise of footsteps?
Thick rugs with underlay, soft-soled slippers and felt pads under furniture work best. The hallway is often the noisiest spot, so start there.
How should I react if my neighbour bangs on the ceiling?
Don't respond in kind. Suggest a calm chat instead, show what you've already done and ask at what times the noise bothers them most.
Can the neighbour take action over a child's noise?
In France, there are procedures for neighbourhood noise, but most of these disputes are settled by talking. If things stall, a conciliateur de justice (a court mediator) can help both sides reach an agreement, and service-public.gouv.fr explains the details.
Can the building rules require rugs?
In France, some co-ownership rules (règlement de copropriété) include rules on flooring or noise. Check yours or ask the building manager.
Guide Disputes between neighbors: the guide
Written with the help of AI, reviewed by the Who's Right team · This is not legal advice. How Who's Right decides
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