We have all had them before, and some of us may have even been them from time to time, but nobody likes them. Yes, I'm talking about the noisy neighbor. It's one of those things everyone hopes won't happen to them when they move, and can be the most uncomfortable, awkward, and frustrating situation to find yourself in. The last thing you want when you finish a stressful day is to listen to someone's loud TV, music or XBox for hours on end or be woken up early every Sunday by a elderly gentlemen singing Korean Karaoke (yes, this happened to me).
Although you may be tempted to go over and throw down, you will just be adding fuel to the fire. So if you find yourself in this predicament, here are a few things to help you address the issue with your neighbors in a calm, cordial and productive way.
Make an Assessment: Collect your thoughts before you approach your neighbor. How bad is the noise, how long has it lasted, what time is it, is this a one-time thing or something that happens more frequently, how is the noise affecting you, how would you like it to be resolved?
Be Safe: Always be kind and always have someone with you when approaching the problem as a witness and for safety. It is better to be safe than sorry, and if the person is unresponsive riling them up probably isn't the best idea.
Talk It Out: Be calm and courteous when you go over. Let your neighbors know about the noise level (in case they are unaware), how it is affecting you, and how you would like it resolved. Ask if they could turn it down or use headphones perhaps.
Take Notes: Make sure you write down all the details of your encounter in case the issue doesn't resolve itself and you have to take further action.
Write It Out: If you have made yourself clear and have made a couple of efforts to talk it out, then try writing a letter and maybe getting other neighbors involved as well. Keep a copy of the letter for your records.
Keep Track: Write down all attempts to contact your neighbor, when and how long the noise occurs, and how it is affecting you.
Make a Complaint: Hopefully it doesn't come to this, but if the situation doesn't get resolved after a few attempts you may have to make a formal complaint either to the landlord or authorities. Bring all of your documents and notes to show the issue.
(Image: Shutterstock)
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I apologetically disagree with this one. Especially if you live in a packed area or an apartment, people should be able to regulate themselves. Anyone who blasts music or slams doors late at night is a sociopath and won't change.
The first step, not the last, should be to contact the landlord or the authorities. If you become a chronic "please keep the music down" complainer and then call the landlord, the tenant will know it was you.
I am disappointed that this list isn't very helpful. My roommate and I are actually moving in two weeks (sooner if we could) because the landlord refused to do anything about noisy neighbors (who it turns out are also small time drug dealers) despite having received complaints from us verbally, over e-mail, and in person for over three months.
I agree with Emmi, if the neighbors have erratic behavior they are not going to stop because you ask , and asking them over and over before you go to the landlord will only result in them trying to get back at you. in my case they wake up at 5 am just to bang on my ceiling with a broom, and I also believe they punctured hole in my tire. Please take my advice, if your neighbours are being disrespectful/erratic, contact the landlord asap. If the landlord does not resolve the issue within one month call a lawyer and document everything! You will be saving yourself a lot of heartache down the road.
If you are renting an apartment, I think it is better to contact the landlord regarding overly noisy neighbors particularly if there is language in the lease regarding noise.
I've always been paranoid that *I* am the noisy neighbour. We aren't very loud, and husband drum set is in pieces in the corner, but I don't think much can be heard by our downstairs neighbours in terms of doors shutting or walking around. We recently had notes delivered to all the apartments on my floor saying there have been complaints about noise in one apartment. We couldn't guess who it was, and we were really hoping it wasn't us! We have friends over on the weekends (there's usually about 7 of us) and we often talk loudly but try to keep quiet after 10 and never have loud music, and I am always shushing them. I was afraid someone mistook our discussions as arguing, but the note said they heard arguing and 3am....that was definitely not us! I suppose I'd rather a neighbour tell me I am being loud. I'm not a sociopath at all; I am living my life and don't plan to tiptoe and whisper all the time. But if I know there is an issue, I'll do whatever I can to resolve it.
The toughest part is when the noise is at night when the management/landlord has gone home for the night. I had that situation some years ago when the 'weirdos' below me would play the same LOUD creepy music over and over. Notes, my foot stomping did nothing & the mgmnt had a he said/she said situation. Took a gun shot (from them, not me) to get them evicted. As for drums or trumpet; get a house or commercial studio; they have no business in an apt. complex unless they're all completely soundproof; not likely.
I have had this problem with neighbors who had a baby. They switched their bedroom which was over ours, to be the baby's bedroom. It was horrible. The child cried all night long sometimes until 3 or 4 am. As he got older he would kick the crib walls causing them to shake which then made cherrished items fall off shelves and photos to move. He would be allowed to stay up until 10 or 11 at night and run from one end of the apartment to the other back and forth. Then came the time when they allowed him to open and close cabinets contantly and all we heard was banging and crying day in and out. No amount of talking would convince them that their precious child was making that much noise. They had the proper amount to carpet layed down and there was nothing else we could do.
We had to sell our home and move. After nearly 2 years of it we could take no more.
I'm glad we did, they are still living there now and have a new born.
The toughest part was that they are nice people, we were friends, but this was not acceptable. We see eachother from time to time and are friendly, but we will always be bitter that we had to move because they just would not do anything about the noise.
I just want to say that the kitchen table in the 1930s image looks so Ikea-esque.
My upstairs neighbor lets her 4 yr old run, scream, stomp on the floor & ring our doorbell @ all hrs of the nite. Our tv's shake & we now have a crack running down our living rm ceiling. I tried asking her nicely with baked goods & even mentioned our tv's & ceiling but I got nowhere. One night out of pure frustration I banged on the ceiling with the back of a mop which not only didn't stop the noise but she sent one of her friends downstairs to ring our doorbell & confront us ( we didn't answer). Finally I went to the landlords & we were basically told " he a kid, learn to live with it."
Thankfully she is now in the process of moving out & all we can do now is pray for a better new neighbor.