How to deal with (very) noisy upstairs neighbours?

I'm asking this on behalf of my father mostly - he lives by himself in a semi-detached/flat, and has done for 13 years. He has also put up with his upstairs neighbours for the same amount of time. They have laminate flooring, which I've heard is illegal to have in upstairs flats in the UK, for the very reason that it's infuriating for those residents living below to live a normal life, having to put up with hearing every single movement of those upstairs. The problem is, my father puts up with a lot, and for a long time he has simply just dealt with it the best he can. The noise has increasingly had an effect on him however, and I don't blame him. They put their washing machine on several times a week and sometimes at times as late as midnight/1am. The husband stands up when he's watching tv and gaming (no idea why) and so creaks about the floorboards. Aside from this they're actually OK, unfortunately the truth is that they're just living their lives, they're not bad people, it's just my dad has become hypersensitive to the noise and it's taking a toll on him. He has a couple of times gone upstairs and spoken to them, though he let it get to the point where he was very angry and they got into an argument, leading the guy to be spiteful. He's worried that if he approaches them, they will be malicious, which unfortunately is not so far from the truth I think.

Should he approach them about the flooring? If it is illegal how should he deal with this?

He has suggested that he would be (reasonably happy) to pay for half the money it would cost to get the place carpeted. Is this ridiculous? Would this really solve the creaking/noise?

What about lowering the ceiling? He reckons, though it would be a major job, it would perhaps lessen the noise.

Thank you any in advance.