Implementation of the 80% carpet rule

why do you even ask? why don't you just be a good neighbor and put down some rugs. Case-by case basis, why would you think your case would be any different? I am guessing since you are asking rather than just putting down rugs, that you are probably and inconsiderate person and i feel bad for your neighbors below.

Thanks for not answering my question and not reading the part about my post where I clearly mention that most apartments in the building do not have carpeting (including the apartment above me for those worried about me being an inconssiderate neighbor. And yes, I can hear them walking around).

Any constructive thoughts on the issue are appreciated. Just to emphasis, my question relates to whether the 80% carpet rule uniformly implemented across the building or is it on a casy by case basis? Because after all, who wouldn't want their upstairs neighbor to have carpets all over.

Actually, since this issue may come up again, let me clarify that both the apartment above and below the people asking that carpet be put) are not abiding by the 80% carpet rule.

If requested you do have to cover 80% of your floors with carpeting or other sound-reducing material. That's city law, not just building bylaws. If you have kids or entertain regularly you can be certain the noise will impact your downstairs neighbors. But even if it's just you, walking around in shoes, you need to be considerate. Yes, some people are more 'sensitive' than others. But your downstairs neighbors are entitled to peaceful enjoyment of their home, and if your noise is bothersome to them then you need to mitigate it.

I would strongly urge you to put down the required carpeting rather than escalating this into a pissing match. You are new to the building, and if you are an owner presumably you plan to stay long-term. Why create waves with not only your neighbors but also with the board and management, who will certainly have to be dragged into the fray? You risk alienating yourselves and becoming 'those jerks', which is never a good plan, especially for new tenants.

Bramstar, thanks for your opinion on this. We are probably going to go ahead and put carpeting either way. The more important issue that is bugging me is one of hypocricy. We do not have children or pets. We do not walk in the apartment with our shoes and do not entertain excessively (probably had friends over twice in the last three months). So it is boiling down to walking bare feet on a day to day basis which every one in the building is doing including the people below us. If the general benchmark for "noisy" is kids/entertainging regularly/pets/walking with shoes than I can understand the carpet rule would be applied on a one off basis. But if the benchmark for "noisy" is walking bare feet than I would think it is fare to assume everyone should have carpeting - unless Spiderman happens to reside in our building.

I did not have any intention of asking the neighbors above us to have carpets even though I can hear them walking since I think that's part of city life. Clearly, not everyone has to have the same opinion of what is acceptable. But if the carpet rule is not applied uniformly in this context, it will reward the relatively less tolerant at the expense of the relatively more tolerant.

In all fairness, walking overhead is a subjective noise.
-I had a neighbor who walked barefoot and it sounded like elephants on parade. The apartment was acoustically live since there was little furniture. no curtains (only paper shades in the bedrooms), and no carpeting.
-I took in a stray cat in a snowstorm and she immediately delivered 3 little kittens. Although the whole gang weighed less than 10 pounds altogether, they drove my downstairs neighbors crazy chasing each other up and down a long hallway in my apartment and batting around squeaky/bell toys. I couldn't believe the amount of noise they made until I heard it for myself in the downstairs apartment. I put in heavy hallway runners and checked with the neighbor to make sure they were no longer disturbed.

Yes it applies to everyone but no one is going to walk around checking every apartment unless there is reason to (i.e. a complaint)

Thank you all for your thoughts.

> it will reward the relatively less tolerant at the expense of the relatively more tolerant.

> The more important issue that is bugging me is one of hypocricy. 

Ankur Mehta sounds like a real gem.
>

I'm sincerly hoping Ankur Mehta didn't move into my building.
'Karma is only a bitch if you are ' Mutual respect is the issue, not hypocrisy.

I'm sincerly hoping Ankur Mehta didn't move into my building.
'Karma is only a bitch if you are ' Mutual respect is the issue, not hypocrisy.

I searched for older threads about the 80% rule. Some are quite helpful.