In this guide
Where holiday let noise usually comes from
- Between units. Apartments and split houses where one group's evening is the next group's night's sleep.
- Footsteps overhead. Hard floors are popular in lets because they're easy to clean, but they're loud for whoever is below.
- Doors and corridors. Thin internal doors and shared hallways carry voices, cases and slamming doors.
- The street or seafront. Late-night foot traffic, gulls at dawn and seafront roads in summer.
The upgrades that pay back fastest
| Problem | Upgrade |
|---|---|
| Voices through a shared wall | Acoustic wall lining on the bedroom side. See our party wall guide |
| Footsteps from the unit above | Acoustic underlay under hard flooring above, or an acoustic ceiling below. See soundproofing between floors |
| Noise from the corridor | Solid-core doors with acoustic seals and a drop seal |
| Street and seafront noise | Secondary glazing on the bedroom windows |
You rarely need to do everything. Start with the bedrooms, because that's where noise turns into a complaint, and the wall or floor that guests mention most.
Fire safety comes first
Holiday lets are covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, so owners need a fire risk assessment. Doors onto shared escape routes are often fire doors, and any acoustic upgrade must keep that fire performance. That means the right door, intumescent strips and seals that are compatible with them. We specify acoustic work so it supports your fire safety rather than compromising it. GOV.UK has fire safety guidance for small self-catering and paying guest accommodation, including a risk assessment checklist.
Work in the quiet season
Most acoustic upgrades are measured in days, not weeks, and the cleanest time to do them is between November and March, when bookings in coastal Devon are lightest. A survey in autumn means the work can be priced, scheduled and finished well before Easter.
Tell guests about it
Once the work is done, say so in your listing. "Acoustically upgraded bedrooms" or "soundproofed between apartments" reassures light sleepers and families. Every Terbium installation comes with a certificate you can point to.
Common questions
Can soundproofing be done between guest bookings?+
Smaller jobs like doors, seals and a single wall lining can often fit into a short gap. Larger work is best planned for the quiet season.
Will acoustic upgrades affect my fire doors?+
They mustn't. Fire doors need to keep their fire rating, so seals, hardware and any replacement doors must be compatible. We'll design the acoustic work around your fire risk assessment.
Free site survey
Not sure which option suits your home?
We'll visit, find where the noise is getting in and give you a clear written quote. No obligation, and we cover all of Devon from Exmouth.