noise between adjacent properties

i live in a terrace house which is connected to my neighbours by party (double brick) walls on either side.

one side is great, but the other is giving us hell with loud footsteps down the wooden floorboard hallway adjacent to the party wall, well into the night.

i know the solution is supposed to be to go and talk to them, but to cut a long story short, it isn't necessarily the most practical option at the moment.

can sound practically be reduced by spending money on insulation - underfloor and/or wall mounted? i know there are products in existence but does anyone have experience to know whether they are effective, which ones, costs, or any other advice?

i'm reaching the point of seriously entertaining selling up as i can't spend the rest of my life at 2.30am listening to feet pounding down the hallway. of course the poor sucker who buys it will inherit the problem.


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