I have a friend who has just bought a semi-detached seventies built
property. The house was constructed to the nowadays pretty standard
timber frame method.

Since moving in, he can't help noticing the noise from the neighbours
although not really enough to complain. After making enquiries, it
seems that this particular generation of houses are notorious for poor
noise insulation so much so that, later on, regulations were tightened
up to improve things.

This may explain why his previous terraced house of modern design
didn't seem to have anything like the same problem.

He says his neighbours aren't that noisy it's just that he can here
them closing doors or their young child running up and down the living
room.

He also finds that he is continually turning down the volume on his own
television for fear of it being heard next door.

He's really finding it hard to get used to this and was wondering if
there is any sort of insulation improvement possible, similar to say
cavity wall insulation.

Any help?