I do not see how your neighbors thinking you are loud is your problem in this situation. I currently live in a an apartment with neighbors above me that I can hear walking around...and other things...but I also understand that living in a building with other people above/below me means it isn't going to be as quiet as living in my own home.

If it is that loud for the family below you, then I don't think it is you who should consider moving but them.

Best of luck!

You have been more than kind....the people you live above wont be happy no matter what you do. At this point, i would block their numbers and invite ALL the neighborhood kids over, indoor hide and seek, stilt walking lessons...you name it. Run them out of the apartment, grab their keys as the pass. :)

Do you rent or do you own? What about the people downstairs?

I think there's a point where you need to say, "Look, shared dwellings are loud by nature, and sound travels more easily in old buildings. We've done everything we can to accommodate you, but your right to quiet enjoyment is not a right to absolute silence - there needs to be give and take."

Can one of you guys go downstairs and listen to the noise? Is it really that bad? Can you have one of them come upstairs and walk around while the other listens downstairs?

Find out what the noise ordinances are for your city/town. If you are not breaking those rules, then there is no problem.

Let them know that they can communicate with the landlord if they want. Stop communicating with them. Block their texts.

I had a downstairs neighbor who I catered to for about a year until she complained to another neighbor about how noisy we were during a period of time when we were out of town. She was upset that we walked in our apartment (shoeless, quietly) after 9pm. She'd pull out her broom and bang on the ceiling at 9:03pm. We didn't have loud music, we put felt pads on all our moveable furniture, no shoes in the apartment, in bed by 11pm and up at 7am. We couldn't put down carpets for allergy reasons. She didn't have small children (which would have made some of her behaviour understandable).

Let it be noted that I live in NYC. Not a quiet place.
If all else fails, give your neighbors a white noise machine (cheap box fan works just fiiiiiine).

Good luck.

Invite them up to witness how you move around the apartment and to get a sense of how you've changed your life for their sake. Print off what you've written here and give it to them to read as well. No matter what, when you have people stacked on top of each other, there's going to be noise. That's just the way it is. If you are just producing the 'normal' amount of noise, then that should be accepted by your neighbors. If you were purposely being obnoxious, that's a different story. I'm now living in a house because my last upstairs neighbor was so unwilling to listen to me when I politely asked her to be aware of a few things, such as her noisy bed and her noisier boyfriend, etc. Do your best to explain the situation. If they won't understand, then do as suggested. Block their number and just ignore them and carry on with your life.

Solution: change your phone number. And then install a security can over where your car is parked in case they are ridiculous and want "revenge" (sorry, just saw this on People's Court yesterday.)

*camera

You have done all you can. Do you have a landlord that might be helpful? If she/he isn't involved it might be time. I agree with BBrianmo1 that the challenges of a an older multifamily building are not yours to fix. Can you hear them as well? I suggest inviting them for coffee and telling them that you have done all you can to minimize the noise, and that you realistically can do no more. Let them know that you are willing to both continue your efforts and to be forgiving of their noise. However, you need them to stop texting you. If they continue to text. block their number. Sounds like nothing you do will make them happy so give yourself permission to stop trying to accomplish the impossible.

Not to sound rude, but they made the choice to live underneath a family. Or underneath anyone for that matter. I lived in a basement apartment and yes, the people above me were kinda loud, but I knew that I made the choice to live in a place that had people above me. So that was my problem.

You and your family are being very respectful of them and they are not reciprocating. I think it's time to sit down and have a chat with them and let them know you're doing your best, but you're not going to disrupt your entire life for them. If they want more quiet, they need to find a detached apartment somewhere else.

First, watch the I Love Lucy episode where Lucy and Ricky are stomping around over Fred and Ethel's apartment, banging garbage can lids, etc. See if this episode gives you any ideas.

Second, make a ton of noise so the people below you move out. Problem solved.

Yes, it's annoying, but if you talk to them and see if you can go down and hear how loud it is in their apartment while you're walking around, if you go downstairs while you have your significant other upstairs walking around you can talk on the phone to make sure you know where they are that makes the most noise. If it sounds like normal walking, just reassure them that you've gotten thicker mats, let them see that you have as well, and that you take your shoes off by the door, and just leave it at that.

The running toilet could sound a lot louder in the basement as they probably have your pipes running through the wall, but the walking, unless you all are a bunch of really loud walkers (make sure your significant other doesn't tiptoe too much, just walks regularly when you're testing it) they are just being dramatic about normal noises. As bbrianmo1 says, living in a building with other people does mean you're going to hear them, so they will have to learn to accept it.

I would definitely let them know their requests are out of line and you won't be taking their messages anymore. I know it's important to keep an amicable relationship with your neighbors but they've crossed the point of that. You can't feel comfortable in your ow home because you've tried desperately to cater to them with no given their end. Time to take back your house.

I had an UPSTAIRS neighbor that complained on us because my two year old got up at 6am and cried for food. Eventually the landlord just ignored her because she complained so uh and one of my other four neighbors cared a bit because they were realistic.

*much and none

I had to read back through to make sure I MYSELF had not posted this. Well, other than the fact that below us is not the basement. And though our neighbour complains regularly, it is not daily.
Some may not see how this is "your problem", but I feel for you 100%. Having two toddlers doesn't make it easy to do as you have and stop all movement in our place, but we remove shoes, tip toe, reprimand playing off the mats and jolly skipping down the hallway... she has gone so far as to tell my husband his good-morning-whistling drives her up the wall, on several occasions. If you feel as I do, and by reading your post I believe you do, we have somehow become more concerned about pleasing our unreasonable neighbours than maintaining healthy, happy relationships within our own families!
The fact of the matter is, at least in my case, that most of the "noise" arises from none other than joyful situations - the skipping, whistling, laughing, heaven forbid dancing at 2 o'clock in the afternoon... and for a while I would snap at the one who had forgotten to be happy in PERFECT SILENCE. Then I realized how ridiculous that was.
Now, I let my family live. Within a reasonable decibel limit and at reasonable hours, we do as we please. I have even been known to let my 18 month of drag a little basket on wheel down the hallway without interfering and carrying it to the nearest rug.

They chose to live on the lower level, they knew there would be someone upstairs. There is only so much they can ask, and so much you can do. Do not let them ruin your enjoying your own home.

Their complaints are way out of line. You're trying your best, they have to deal with being on a planet filled with people, all of whom will be making noise at all hours of the night. Do you have a landlord? Why is he or she not involved? Have you talked to them about what specifically is bothering them about the noise, you know, since they probably make plenty of their own?

I agree with others who say you should stop receiving their messages. Whether you block their number, tell them to stop calling (do this in writing, send a copy to the landlord), and take back your life. Stop being a pushover. You can only be so sympathetic.

Totally agree with this! They are being unreasonable. Block their number and don't answer the door for them. They have burned that bridge!

Please, please do NOT make your children tiptoe on a regular basis. When my brother and I were kids, we lived upstairs from a family as noise sensitive as this one. My parents made my brother tiptoe because the neighbors said that he "walked hard." The result of this continual tiptoeing was shortening of the tendons in my brothers legs. That shortening led to his spending over a year in leg casts up to his knees in order to coax the tendons into their proper place and length, and that time in casts in turn made him have to repeat a grade. Constant tiptoeing has significant and sometimes severe consequences, especially to growing legs.

Can you just say, "I'm sorry, I've done all I can. We try to be quiet to the extent that it hampers our quality of life. Please rest assured we will continue to do our best to be quiet and considerate neighbors. With this assurance, you no longer have to send us texts."

(wait for feedback, blah blah)

"These old houses just don't insulate sound very well. I guess that's the downside of the {charm, whatever]." (planting the seed, or watering the existing thought, that this is not the home for them.)

Good luck!!

You've done everything you need to do and more. Most places have noise ordinances that indicates excessive noise cannot occur between certain nighttime hours, and that buildings with multiple tenants must have floor coverings that take up a certain percentage of the floor space. Beyond that, you're not required to do anything - and if your neighbors are complaining that the toilet is running, they are much too sensitive to noise to live anywhere other than a house in the country, let alone in a basement apartment. I would first talk to or text your neighbors politely. Tell them you've done everything in your power to reduce all of the noise you can, but you are allowed to actually LIVE in the apartment for which you pay rent, and a certain amount of living causes noise. If they continue, you should talk to the landlord about the problem. You can also give your neighbors a copy of your city noise ordinances with the relevant passages underlined, and a list of the things you have done to reduce noise, along with a note that you have copied this list and sent it to the landlord. That should stop the nasty texts from coming, but if they don't, then you should block your neighbors' texts, and send them a brief and terse text, email, or letter saying you are no longer going to engage with them in this matter, that you have addressed the problem to the best of your capability, and that the rest of the issue is up to them to solve. Either they will find a way to live with it or move out. Of course, if they own the house, then you're kind of screwed and you'll have to move out yourself. Good luck!

ask the landlord to insulate the floor between your floors. they can make small holes and use the blow-in insulation. we are the upstairs people too, but the floor is well insulated.

I would definitely get the landlord involved. After all it's really his/her problem not yours. They can do several things to add more sound insulation to the ceiling in the lower apartment. The other thing you may do, and I did this with my neighbor downstairs is invite them to hear things in your apartment, like the tv or stereo, so that they can see that you are living your everyday life and not in a loud way. If they are reasonable people (though it sounds like they aren't) then they will understand. Tell them nicely that it's not either of your faults for the sound transmission and that they need to take it up with the landlord.
If they are completely unreasonable, as it would seem, then respond to any text for a short while saying please refer any further complaints to the landlord and then stop responding altogether. If they don't stop sending you nasty texts, that constitutes harassment and you could actually take it up Legally if you want to go that far. Also I would forward any text you get to the landlord so they can see first hand what you have to deal with.

Oh my. Ive been on both sides if this and my heart is breaking for you. Where is the landlord in all of this? It sounds like the basement apartment is not really suitable for tenants. Not because if your noise level but because the house simply cant contain the noise between the floors. If you havent contacted the landlord yet, do so immediately. You are probably not the first set if main floor tenants to have to deal w this. You are doing what is considered normal living. Show the harrassing texts to your landlord. I do think it should be a one family house.

If you haven't started already, begin a "noise diariy". What you want to document is what reasonable actions you have taken and what everyday incidents are causing the problems. You also want to contact your landlord. This is a structural issue inherent in old houses, originally designed for single family occupancy, and nothing, _nothing_ is going to solve the sound transmission problem without some additional sound-proofing. This is the landlord's problem - and ultimate responsibility. I would check the law regarding "quiet enjoyment", reasonable expectations, and the obligations of all parties in your local area.

Building codes across North American have only starting to recognize this problem in conversions and subdivsions of houses in the past twenty years. Most current conversions, unless the contractor and the landlord were knowledgeable and conscientious, do not deal with it adequately.

There are cavity spray products that can dampen sound transmission from below and there are sound dampening roll products which should be installed as part of the sub-floor installation as part of renovation floor replacement.

Became familiar with many products on the market in during my time as a co-op board member of a older building being renovated unit-by-unit last decade. Sound abatement products make for _much_ better neighbours!

It does sound like you're being reasonable and kind. It also must suck for them to be stuck in a basement apartment that doesn't work for them. I agree with all the previous posters to invite them up to see what's going on, with someone else down to hear the noise level. They might be able to install some acoustic tiles to their ceiling to help. I also highly recommend the white noise option.

I had the same experience. Our landlord insisted that everything was insulated just fine and then ignored everything else. I started keeping a list of everything that was said from the neighbor. After he start threatened my kids for playing outside (on a quiet cul-de-sac), I send the landlord the list and she refused to renew their lease. Eventually, we moved because it was just too much stress on us.

I would make screen caps of their texts and then BLOCK their number. I would also go back to living a normal, but respectful life. Ignore any communication you receive from them. Make your landlord aware of the situation and explain in no uncertain terms you are being harassed by this neighbor. Ask your landlord to have a conversation with the neighbor about THEIR behavior. It's very important that your landlord (I'm assuming if you were the only your relationship with the neighbor would be VERY different) know what's been going on and what steps (reasonable and unreasonable) you have made to remedy the situation.

If they are a family of four living in a basement apartment, I would think they have bigger problems than a friendly family living above them. Tell them to stop harrassing you and move on.

You could always give your kids tap shoes and then the fun would really start!

I had a problem with a downstairs neighbor in San Francisco who complained when I was taking a shower. I also had a very nice stereo system and I love listening to music and she would complain all the time, even if it was playing at a whisper where *I* could barely hear it. I made every effort to accommodate her but she would be banging on my door screaming at me it was too loud EVERY DAY. Finally I had enough one day and showed her was REALLY loud was. 30 days later she moved.

Oh! I've been there. I've just moved out. I am a single person living with a dog and got endless calls, broom banging, banging on the door, emails, notes. Turns out I was the third tenant to deal with this. My new place, ironically, has a toddler living upstairs but I expected the noise and was fine with it. That is city living. I recommend moving out.

I lived in an apartment where my neighbors downstairs complained about everything we did. We had double padding under the carpet -- didn't matter. She even complained about my one year son walking around -- he was one! We didn't have toys that made noise. The day we moved they even complained about the noise of the movers -- who were actually the ones to put them in their place!!!

It definitely sounds like these people are being unreasonable at this point. There's going to be noise wherever you live, especially in older houses. As others have mentioned, I would explain to them what you said here and if they continue to complain/text, just ignore them. Explain the situation to the landlord if they haven't been informed yet and invite both parties in to see how you've gone out of your way to accommodate this couple. I would like to think that as a young family, they would be a bit more understanding of your situation so it may just be a case of them being difficult.

I've been on both sides of this one. That they complained to you about the sound of your toilet running tells me they are TOTALLY irrational and need to go. I think you should send your landlord a letter or email detailing it - make sure it's in writing, not on the phone. landlords sometimes don't want to be involved in this type of dispute but he or she can suggest other remedies (fortifying their ceiling ?) and at least will know details about the situation.

Really, the upstairs neighbor has the upper hand just by virtue of acoustics. I'd block their number too. If they start banging on the ceiling, bang back.

My former downstairs neighbor used to do this constantly; once I tripped on my rug and fell and she complained to the landlord. I told him I would rather have NOT fallen on my floor but I'll take it into consideration. Same neighbor left her dog alone for most of the day and he howled for many hours. She eventually got kicked out.

Stephaniegriffiths - excellent advice.

I'll match you pot smoking (so much so I can smell it in my apartment), loud music listening neighbors below and a heavy walking landlord above.

I definitely recommend what Kiera said about the noise ordinances.
KDC mentioned having your floor insulated but I know a case where that didnt help at all (and was expemsive). My brother in law and his family complained that they could hear everything their upstairs neighbors were doing and it was driving them crazy so the landlord and his neighbors noiseproofed the floors... to no avail. Personnally, I think my brother and sister in laws are just brats who have never had to deal with the real world. I hear everything my neighbors do upstairs including even when they open their dresser drawers in the morning. Like someone else mentioned, its what you get when you buy an old apartment in the city.

You said "matting" not carpeting. The only things which might help are padding and carpeting plus that insulation between the floors suggestion - none of which is your responsibility. Noise can drive people crazy with stress so continue to be sympathetic for your own protection. If you block their number they might knock on the door. Encourage them to move in the politest way way you can manage because if the landlord hasn't done anything about the carpeting he probably never will and you and your neighbour have reached an impass. ARE YOU THE LANDLORD?

Either they have to move because it's an old building and they can't resolve the fact that they live under other human beings who can't not move around, or you have to move because you don't need that stress in your life. If the landlord isn't involved yet you should probably get that conversation started because they should know they're about to lose at least one tenant.

My advice to you is next time move into an actual apartment building that was purpose built to house tenants, they usually have MUCH better sound proofing in the walls/floors than converted houses. When you tour the apartment go one floor down and ask the potential neigbors below if they can here you walking around.

This is one of the reasons that I am happy to finally be selling my condo this year. I'm dealing with a similar issue. I think all the advice here is good. They are not living in a single-family house or a townhouse, so they should know that they will hear noise coming from upstairs. If the kids are not running and stomping around, then what in the world do they want? The kids to start flying around the room?

I would find the noise ordinance laws in your county (they should be online). The next time they text you, I would text them back quoting one of the laws, and that their constant text messages are harassment. If you rent, I'd tell them that from now on, they should speak to the landlord. If you own, then they can complain to the condo management company. They are harassing you, and it's time that they stop.

I agree with StephanieGriffiths as well. So many landlords look at rental properties as pure income generators without taking the responsibility to make them comfortable, liveable places- especially if we're talking about an older place that's been converted into separate floor apartments. They know they'll find tenants either way, so they don't bother with things like acoustics.

I would definitely invite your neighbors to approach your landlord jointly and see what they'd consider doing in terms of soundproofing/insulation. It DOES seem clear to me you're at that point where changing behavior isn't going to help. Everyday activity makes noise, and you can't help that fact. The only solution to in this case is a matter of engineering, and someone has to pay for it.

I am in a similar situation, but I am the noise complainer. The family living above me have an almost 4 year old daughter and the noise she makes has been a problem since she was about 6 months old. Running, banging things on the floors, screaming, and jumping... it was endless. It woke both myself and my roommate up in the early mornings and seriously affected our quality of life when we were at home. Our walls and floors shake when she runs around. We had numerous conversations with the neighbors, who were nice and understanding, but only to an extent. Years of this went by and we eventually got their landlord involved. They installed carpeting, but surprisingly it had little effect. We've had to come to a compromise on hours she can make noise. It takes a lot of patience and understanding from us too. We don't like that they have to restrict her behavior. But we also deserve peace and quiet. There will be noise in apartments, but when it's in excess there is a right to complain. My neighbors know that their living situation is not ideal and they'll be moving out when they are able. The only answer is to compromise, have patience, and come to the reality that one of the parties will have to move. Really. Until you are in a situation where you are the noise victim, you won't truly understand.

Maybe they are harrasing your family because they just want you to move out to get your appartment as it's bigger than theirs?

I would throw a dance party at that point. They live in the basement of a house ,they are going to hear the plumbing. All the pipes run down and out of the house. I would let the landlord know of all the complaints. Really I would think it was getting to the point of harassment when I can not have people over. I would also suggest to see if they can get the landlord to better sound proof down stairs.

Perhaps your neighbors or landlord could install acoustic tiles on the downstairs ceiling? (My neighbor down the street has the same layout of house as I do, and she complains about the noise coming down between floors (he bedroom is on main floor, her kids live upstairs). I don't have the same problem -- and I think it's because the previous owners installed acoustic tile on the main floor bedroom ceilings.

For the most part, I agree with the comments made regarding your attempts to keep the noise level in your home to a bare minimum. However; if you are following the standard "noise" clauses in your lease (no loud noises after such and such a time), have placed area rugs/carpeting or mats in your home and instructed your family to walk softly; then it is not you that has the issue, it is your neighbors.
As other posters mentioned; write down everything you have done to cancel noise, take pictures of your efforts, screenshot the texts and then save everything in a folder on your computer and then send your landlord. Be respectful when addressing your landlord and describing your efforts to placate your neighbors below you and that because you are being respectful, you are sure that he understands that you have a young family, they play, sometimes get loud, yet they are not being disrespectful and that no loud noises occur between such and such a time.
You are not at fault; you, your family and your landlord can only do so much in regards to the noise of everyday living and if the neighbors are that sensitive to noise; it might be up to the landlord to not renew their lease.
I am on the 2nd floor of a three story building; we maintain noise control during the day, no loud noises after 9 pm at night and recognize that our upstairs neighbors have children (whom all walk hard) and our neighbors below us recognize that we have a dog (as do they). We know sound carries and live with the noise of everyday life.

Move. Save your sanity!

Move.

I really feel for you, because I'm almost the same situation. I live in a house that has been converted into three apartments. My downstairs neighbors complain about my roommate and I constantly. My entire floor is covered in rugs, I stopped trying to do exercise videos at home, if I watch TV on my computer I do it with headphones on. Conversely, I hear everything my upstairs neighbors do. I can hear their dog's toenails on the floor, I can hear the guy snoring at night - they're not being at all obnoxious, but the level of noise from their apt. is awful.

Life it too short to constantly fight with your neighbors and to always limit yourself and your children from relaxing and enjoying your own home. Find an apartment designed for multi-family living, get the Wii out again, play music and laugh and have fun. Is it a pain to move? Yes. But as soon as this stress is out of your life, you'll never look back

If they are reasonable people -- then you should definitely go with Stephanie's advice from above. If they are not very nice -- then I think you should enroll your children in gymnastics and buy them a drum set. Get those crotchety buggers to move out.

Do NOT BLOCK THE TEXTS! This would suggest you are ignoring them whereas you have done the exact opposite. Talk to the landlord!

It's them - not you! Do not sacrifice your children's happiness in their own home for the sake of unreasonable people below you. You and your family have the right to live your life and make noise in your own home. Interestingly I came across this passiveagressivenote entry. I think you should consider this when dealing with your neighbors. If they continue to text you and bother you they are harassing you.

http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/2013/02/15/noise-is-allowed/

Oooohhhh, and tap dancing classes too.

What rotten eggs most of you commenters are. 'Block their numbers' 'drive them out' 'make more noise'. You assume this one side of a story you just read is absolutely blameless, and give some of the meanest, shallowest advice possible. You assume whatever is convenient. I never understood why people with real problems [as opposed to made up stuff - if you can imagine] would ask random strangers and trolls instead of dealing with those involved. Does this supposed poster who has never posted back again expect really a solution or is it just idiotic tattle-taling? God bless those of you who gave sincere advice and didn't advise this alleged poster to do something nasty.

Like Dc mom. Good advice. And Stephanie. And others who suggested it is ultimately the landlords responsibility. And those who advised the poster to invite one neighbor up to observe while another listened.

Fay, even if the poster weren't blameless, texting your neighbors (and I have to wonder how they got the number in the first place) is FAR from the way to deal with noise issues. Some people just are that annoying to even the most quiet of tenants, so many of us don't find the story unbelievable. Blocking their number isn't mean or shallow at all - no one has the right to harass you on your private number like that.

Talk to your neighbor, tell them you are doing your best, and suggest that you go to the landlord together to ask that additional sound proofing be installed. While it is really their problem and not yours, they are still your neighbor, and in the long run, it is better to try to mend fences than cause further damage.

That being said, if they continue to be combative, then by all means start blocking their texts, and keeping records in case this becomes some sort of harassment suit.

I have lived in several different flats and usually neighbors understand the noise--I lived above a bar manager (single guy and he kept very strange hours) and he dealt with my third grade daughter and her noise--he blasted music, made love to his girlfriend, etc. I considered him like an older brother in the house or something. Anyway, neither of us complained. He married and moved out and a couple with no kids moved in. I left within 2 months. People with no life and nothing to do--they complained constantly.

Now, I own a condo/townhouse and the single older lady with no job next door is pulling the same "I can hear your footsteps, etc." You cannot please everyone. I have noticed that even though I have been a model neighbor (shoveled her walk, picked up trash on her lawn, haven't allowed kids to have many guests, etc.) she is still a loudmouth complainer. If you can't stand the neighbor, leave. For now, I am in the ignoring stage with mine. People are prejudiced against children and it is unfair.

And what about the rights of the people downstairs? Oh as long as the children are happy, right? Don't be ridiculous. Preventing people from living normally and happily because of the noise you're making is harassment in and of itself and also a lease violation. Think about that.

I don't know how much more money you would want to invest in this. But, possibly cork? It's suppose to be able to absorb all kinds of sound. Or maybe your neighbor would be interested in corking their apartment so the sound doesn't get through.

It makes me sick that they have a family and they have the nerve to complain. Usually people with kids are more decent about noise.

You have made a very sincere effort to be a good neighbor. Don't spoil your efforts by any retaliation. I'd get the landlord (or if it's a condo, the condo board) involved. Explain the efforts you've taken and ask if the landlord/association is willing/able to assist in providing some additional way to insulate the sound from your level. Unfortunately, sound from above, below and to the side is what you get when you live in apartments/condos. Our next door neighbor's baby wakes up screaming crying every night. They are forever apologizing to us, and we tell them not to worry. Meanwhile, our dog occasionally tears around the living room and makes a lot of noise for which we apologize to our downstairs neighbor. And they forgive us. It is what it is. We knew there would be people all around us when we bought our unit. Who can expect complete silence in tight living quarters? Sounds like the downstairs neighbors might be the ones who need to change.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5693465_soundproof-cork.html

Try talking to the landlord, if there is one. If you dont wear shoes and walk barefoot, the heel hitting the floor while walking can be quite loud, try wearing flip flops at home. I have an upstairs neighbor who is on the healthier side and our floors shake when she walks and its loud. Other that that you seem to have done a lot of things to accomodate them. I think its time for you to 'live' in you house. Try chatting with them, a bit firmly may be..

http://www.ehow.com/how_5693465_soundproof-cork.html

I have a family with two toddlers living upstairs, old building, no noise proof insulation and I can hear everything, my living room lamp shakes like crazy when the kids run around a lot. The younger kid cries a lot, sometimes for hours.
But I knew this when I moved in and do not complain at all. I am fine with it as long as they spare me from the kid's noise at night.
One the other hand I have a very well behaved dog. He does not bark a lot, only if a stranger comes right up to the window or door. Even then I can tell him to be quiet and he obliges at once. The dog is never left alone at home. And when I work he stays with a dogsitter.
But stil my neighbors complain about excessive noise from this dog. I asked them this morning wether they felt bothered in the last five days and the answer was "oh, yes the dog barks for hours" - my dog is staying with friends about 150 miles away this week. But still they can hear him barking...makes you wonder...
When I told them I got a really funny reaction: "we are so traumatised by the barking, we just assume it is still going on".

I would strongly suggest that you keep a noise diary. And I would put your neighbor to the test: when your kids and husband are away for a day, and you sit very quietly in your apartement, ask them wether the noise was up or down.
If they tell you same as always you do know that it is their way of bugging you.

I live in a condo and hear the neighbor (and her dog) walking around upstairs all the time. There is some pounding at around 7 each night, which I assume is something to do with dinner and other noises that still puzzle me. They are just part of my life, almost make me feel cozy when I hear the tap tap tap of the dog trotting around up there.

your neighbors are the unreasonable ones, not you.

personally I'd be a dick and play loud music and movies just for them to see how unreasonable they are.

Fay, there's no reason that the neighbors have to TEXT them. I'm all for communication between neighbors, but constant texting is a load of crap. I'd block that in a heartbeat.

Bo, thank you for recognizing that "Noise can drive people crazy with stress"! For two years, I lived below a rambunctious 8 year old who would stomp-run from one end of the apartment to the other stopping only to pound on a piano while screaming "MA MA MA" because his mother was constantly on the telephone, ignoring him (he was so loud, we could hear his words clearly through the floor). It would go on for hours at a time. When his father was home, we wouldn't hear a peep! I was in a constant tense state, and lived with the worry that just as I was about to sleep or study, he would start up again.

Noisywithkids, if you love your apartment, while it's an expensive solution, have you considered foam for soundproofing recording studios as the padding under your carpet? I know it's hugely thick, but you'll likely never hear from your downstairs neighbors again.
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Move. In fact you should have moved after the first year. Look, there's lots of well meaning advice we can give you, but the fact is, this isn't going to change. Do you really want to live with the stress? Do your children deserve to feel like they're doing something wrong?

This is your problem, not the neighbors or your kids. Move. Sometimes life isn't fair and the best thing to do is to remove yourself from the stress. The only one you can control is YOU.

Did you live on E. 64th st? I had a neighbor who would do the exact same thing. She would bang her broom on the ceiling even if I was tiptoeing around in my socks in the early evening, or she would come bang on my door to complain.

I live in the downstairs apartment in a 1920s duplex. Yes, at times it can be a little noisy. The upstairs neighbors have two dogs with rather scratchy nails. The neighbor before them had a boyfriend who snored to pull paint off of walls.

You have to make compromises. If we felt that our neighbor's noise was unwarranted or there was an easy solution through them, we would say something.

If noise is happening in the rest of the apartment, during normal (or even not normal) "waking" hours, then who cares? For the most part, these are totally acceptable sounds...no different than normal street noise. It's part of life. If sound is happening above our bedroom (the same space they put theirs) at a sleeping time, that's different. To combat that, we keep an air purifier running. It almost completely drowns out other noises. A white noise generator might do the same.

My other suggestion is to tell your neighbors to ask your landlord about sound-proofing for their ceiling. You've tried that on your own with the mats and it's apparently not enough. Ask them to have the landlord over to evaluate the sound level and whether or not sound-proofing is needed. Of course, sound-proofing isn't required and it's a bit of a luxury, so having that happen is slim...but at least it gives the neighbors someone else to hassle about the issue.

Downstairs dweller here. I've posted on AT about this subject and asking for help before and there really isn't much you can do about noise in a condo or apartment.
Our dining room is right below the master bedroom and it's made for some interesting meal conversations at all times of the day. In the evening or at night, he tries to mask the sounds by playing the stereo but it better serves as an alert for us to move to another room for the next hour or so. I can hear him talking on his phone, and he knows this, so he takes some of his calls out on the porch.
I bought a desk and changed our sunroom/reading room into an office and stopped using the dining room table as a study/work area. It's helped except that it is under their dining room, so when they have guests over, I move back into the dining room. Thank goodness for a laptop!
They drop stuff constantly in the kitchen and it makes you wonder. Pots, pans, plates, glasses, frozen food from out of the fridge, etc. The garbage disposal is really loud too. What can you do though? Make them eat microwave meals?
The roommate's bedroom is right above our master bedroom. I've offered to purchase him a rug, pad, and new less squeaky bed but he hasn't taken me up on the offer. He's been kind enough to not play Call of Duty past 10:00 pm during the weekdays and that helps. He's a good guy and much, much quieter than the previous roommate who would come home drunk each night to stumble and fall about the bedroom then throw his keys and contents of his pockets on the floor. The roommate's bathroom is right above our closet and we can hear everything he does in there. Everything. When he runs the jacuzzi tub it sounds like something is going to come through the ceiling due to the noise and vibration.
They have a friend with a dog and child and who comes over and the clip, clip, clip of the dogs toenails on the floor is annoying when I'm studying or working. It's a hyper dog and runs constantly from each end of the unit. I can only hear the child when he first arrives or when he gets excited about something. It's not constant and he doesn't run inside although, he plays with his cars in the halls. Again, annoying but not so bad. I can hear the TV and sports cheering type stuff but it's not constant or obnxious. When it becomes a distraction I turn on our stereo and set the volume accordingly or I leave the house.
On the other side of the argument, I don't feel any guilt when my daughter plays her electric guitar and has the amp to set high. I don't feel any guilt turning our music up loud or having parties of our own.
We own our place and so do they so there isn't much we can do. All of the floors are wood and they're in compliance with the association regarding rugs. The building is a gut rehab so the only thing I can think of is that the builder skimped on construction materials. It's interesting that we don't hear their dishwasher, washer and dryer, or master bathroom noise.
New renters just moved in to the apartment across the hall and I know when they've left for work because the dog barks and cries until they return. It makes for a very long day. I'll bring it to their attention, but chances are I'll deal with it or I'll start leaving the house during the day to study or work until they move out. At least I don't live next to the El tracks.
Sorry for the long comment - I guess the point is that condo or apartment living has it's good things and it's bad things. If noise is a big issue, whether you're the one making it or suffering through it, then maybe condo or apartment living is not for you.

I have lived in the downstairs apartment in two converted houses and a little noise is just part of the deal. I knew what I was getting into, and luckily always had great upstairs neighbors and I did my best to be a good downstairs neighbor.

But. My brother and sister in law were in a similar situation as you with their upstairs flat. (The two-story flat happens to belong to my sister in law's family in this situation.) After months of complaining from downstairs my brother spent half an hour in the neighbor's flat listening to the normal upstairs activity, which was barely audible through the carpeted floor and 12 ft ceilings in complete silence. It confirmed to them that they really were not making too much noise, just had unhappy downstairs neighbors.

First and foremost I would get your landlord involved and document everything you have done to minimize your noise impact and respond to the downstairs neighbor. I have two kids and I can't imagine how hard it must be for you to keep your kids quiet to appease the neighbors - who also have kids, so it blows my mind that that alone wouldn't make them less uptight. But I digress. I would agree with the others who have suggested you all swap and listen to what the other is hearing (or not). In addition to the effort you have clearly already made, you can then say you've made every effort to truly "hear" them and be good upstairs neighbors. It would also give them a glimpse into how you have adjusted your living situation to accommodate them. It's possible the family downstairs will never be happy so long as they are living in a basement apartment, and that is not your problem.

We had the reverse problem 20 years ago in our first place. The lady upstairs complained about our tv. One day I came home and could hear my room mates 4 way Marshall amp turned up to 11 and guitar wailing across the street when I got out of my car. It was winter, so that is pretty loud! That woman moved out shortly after.

myurbanelife, it almost sounds like you moved into my old apartment! My sister came over one afternoon and practically got a contact buzz from the sidewalk. I was pregnant at the time, so that situation -- while a dream for many twentysomethings -- was really not cool.

You sound like very conscientious neighbors. They, on the other hand, are not. I've lived above & below and have some understanding of both sides. Their unreasonable expectations and inability to cope with what seems to be normal(or even below)noise is not your problem.

You have more than complied with their requests and now it's time for them to decide if this type of arrangement does not work for them. And if anyone needs to move, it is they. There are some laws in some areas that provide relief for tenants who are forced to live in inhabitable conditions. This is clearly not the case. Hold your ground & live your life...unafraid. Good luck.

*unihabitable* oops

Here is a solution that worked for me.

Next time they call, listen politely to what they have to say, then calmly say «You know, I hear you too, in fact I hear everything you do, in your kitchen, your living room, your bathroom, your bedrooms. I hear you talking, I hear your music, the television, the children, I hear you taking a shower, flushing the toilet, I hear the bathroom fan, the water running in the pipes, the banging when you do repairs». It's important to stick to what you actually hear because they can't deny it. Then wait for their reaction. Expect them to be stunned. Stay calm. Say that you just wanted them to know. Don't threaten. Just knowing that you hear everything will get them thinking that you could also possibly complain. That will turn their focus on themselves instead of on you, which will hopefully bring results.

I used this tactic with a downstairs neighbour whose continuous complaints made my life miserable for a couple of years. I felt guilty for breathing. After listing the multiple noises that came from her appartment, her reaction was: «why didn't you say anything?» to which I answered «because I tolerate». She replied «I understand» and promptly hung up. She never called again and she even toned down her own noise.

You have done more than most reasonable people would do in trying to alleviate any noise. I don't think you should have your young children tiptoe around the house as it could cause physical problems for them as they grow, as experienced by a previous commentator. Start living a normal life in your home and the family downstairs will just have to learn how to deal with it. And do not respond to their texts.

If you are renting, and the "noise" is outside the established "quiet hours," then you don't have to cater to them. As everyone has said, the neighbors need to understand that noise is a part of apartment living and learn to deal with it. When I'm home during the day and my upstairs neighbors are walking about, sure, I can hear it, but I don't bang on the ceiling with a broom. I sigh, grit my teeth, and turn up the tv. That's life, folks.

I agree with Fay. We don't know the situation first hand. To the poster: are you positive your kids aren't being loud? Is it even possible the little darlings are as silent as you say they are? Maybe it's true. Next time you see the neighbors, ask them to text you when the noise is loud and have them let you in to their apartment so you can hear it. Problem solved: if they're lying snits, you won't hear anything. If it sounds like elephants are crashing through the ceiling, they're telling the truth.

I strongly advise against the revenge suggested by other commenters. I myself have tried this with neighbors and guess what - they can play that game too. After you figure it out talk to the landlord, and be glad they're only texting.

People who can't stand normal living noises should not live in an apartment. I don't see how a small child can make too much noise by normal playing, laughing, running around. No one should tiptoe in their apartment! A baby is allowed to cry! Some people really have no tolerance. If you want to control all the noises, you should live in a house...

I lived in apartment for 10 years, and never had any problems until a new neighbor moved into an itty-bitty studio apartment next to mine. This man was a bartender and a raging alcoholic who would come home at 4am and scream obscenities and throw things against the wall and knock over furniture for hours. His two kids lived there part-time (no clue where they could even sleep, that place was so small) and they would throw balls against the wall and yell and run around all day long. I had to call the police on the guy at one point (it had gone on for hours), and the next night he screamed the "c" word into my open window in a threatening manner. I also called my landlord countless times. The neighbor always played dumb and said he didn't know what I was talking about. Other neighbors complained too. Nothing happened. He was still living there when I moved out.

Just down the street, a friend of mine lived downstairs from a nasty woman who would complain about her constantly, saying she was excessively noisy and that she smoked pot all the time (neither was true). Meanwhile, this woman would have late-night parties and clack around the wood floors in heels at all hours and blast her horrible music. She wanted my friend out and made her life hell. Even took her and the landlord to court trying to get her evicted. Unbelievable. The landlord was scared of the woman, who was a lawyer, and let her get away with reprehensible behavior because she constantly threatened to sue him.

I feel for you and your family in this situation. I'm so relieved to own a house now with no shared walls. I hope you're able to work something out. People just need to understand that living in an apartment involves a reasonable amount of noise. But like others, I wouldn't advise blocking your neighbors' texts or aggravating them with excessive noise in hopes of forcing them out. There was a recent case in the news where a man shot his neighbors because he'd had enough of their seriously unneighborly behavior. You never know who might be really unhinged. Talk to your landlord! Good luck!

I would write them a polite letter, say you understand their concerns, and list all the nice things you have tried to do to limit your noise. Then explain that, it has come to the point that you are changing the way you and your family lives, therefore you cannot continue to accomodate their requests. As them to send all future requests to the landlord (and copy the landlord on this letter btw). Then see if your cell service will allow you to block a number (most do) or change your number.

This way, you've established what you've done to be a good neighbor, you've sent the problem to the landlord where it belongs (you are not responsible for lack of sound barriers in the construction of the building, or for dealing with unreasonable tenants - he or she is). The landlord can decide not to renew their lease (when it comes up) if they are too much of a problem.

Tell the landlord so he has a heads up (save the texts so you can show him how many you get and explain to them what was going on at the time of the complaint) Then tell the neighbors that you have done all you can ( you put down thicker flooring for their sake and that is a big expenditure) and are now going to live life. If they have any problems with the lack of sound proofing between the apartments they can take it up with the manager. Besides, they probably just want you to move so they can take your apartment.

Good luck

Oh you could also give them a "better number" for them to contact you at.

I believe you will want to bow out of any sort of communication with your downstairs neighbors. Tell the landlord what is going on, and that you've done what you can to accommodate. The problem is perhaps a combination of (a) the neighbors being sensitive and (b) insufficient soundproofing, which is a structural issue, not your problem. You are open to having your floor inspected for sufficient carpeting, if the landlord thinks this is necessary. Then anytime the neighbors downstairs have a complaint, tell them to contact the landlord.

Honestly, that's what I'd do. In fact, that's what I did.

In a downstairs apartment (in a larger building), we got complaints, too. We had rugs on 75% of our floor space--and pretty much all of the floor space that we walked on. We alerted the management, they inspected our floor for coverage, and they basically told the folks downstairs: Them's the breaks!

And one of the managers (whom we liked a lot) said that the downstairs neighbor was highly sensitive--had put blackout curtains everywhere, complained about kids playing at the school next door, that sort of thing. In the end, this person belonged in the suburbs in a bungalow, not in an urban apartment building.

It sounds like you are going above and beyond trying to accomodate your downstairs neighbours. As other have said, observe any and all noise ordinances AND talk to your landlord.

I had a noise complaint a few years ago. I had been listening to music before going out (it was a Saturday night and I had shut down by 10 PM). It was my first noise complaint. It was also my last. Why? Because these people left. Problem solved.

It turns out they had made several complaints about other tenants as well. It's an apartment building. People walk, pee, watch television, listen to music. It seems like your downstairs neighbours have the similar issues with living in a shared building and acceptance.

However, in their defense there may indeed be an issue with the sound dampening between floors. But that is not your issue. That's for the landlord to address if it is. Have the landlord evaluate the sound of your activities from below. He/she will be likely more impartial to what you're doing (I'm assuming you're not working on a midnight adaptation of Riverdance wearing clogs).

If it's not and these people are making it uncomfortable for you to enjoy your residence due to their demands, that's best handled by getting a drum set. I'm kidding... sorta. ;)

Sounds to me like your neighbors just need to get over it! They moved in downstairs knowing very well that SOMEONE would be living upstairs and noise from footsteps in an older home is just a given. You've been considerate from what it seems. Change your number, and tell them it's out of your hands. If they have a problem, THEY can move. No point walking on eggshells sacrificing your happiness for theirs.

I'm in a similar situation, only I am the bottom unit! I understand that shower noises, normal walking, cleaning and some TV sounds are expected with bottom apartments, especially one as old as mine. I moved in before the family above me did, so offically I was there first. They do more than just live in their apartment. They have a young child, as well as some older kids.

The noise is non stop. Some days from 5 am to 11 pm. Its not average life noise. Its children literally banging around so much that my cabinets have opened, my belongings in them rattle and shake, and my other belongings will shutter. Its like an actual earthquake. I've had visitors come over and exclaim. "WHAT IS THAT?!"

I've actually called management one day when i was home sick with a fever, BEGGING them to ask them to do something different. It was quiet for about 45 minutes.

I'm to the point where I want to fight fire with fire.

Thanks for making me not feel alone.

Even in a shared space, you and your children should be able to go about your business: to move normally about your own home, use the restroom whenever needed (whatever time that may be, and however much 'noise' a silly toilet makes!), and not be bothering anyone or bothered BY anyone.

When you are receiving so many complaints it is time to turn the tables - rather than legitimately communicating a serious noise complaint, they are harassing you and your family. Put a stop to it. If there is a landlord, make all communication go through him or her. If you are the landlord, let them know they are out of line.

As everyone before me has said, your neighbors are being completely unreasonable. I assume you're renting? I'd get in touch with the landlord and let him/her know that the downstairs neighbors are harassing you with unreasonable noise requests. If the floor is poorly insulated and needs to be fixed, that's the landlord's problem. If the downstairs family is insanely noise sensitive, that's the family's problem and they should move somewhere where they don't have people living above them. We live in a lower level apartment that I love, and we occasionally hear the people upstairs' water running, or hear the floorboards creaking when they walk around, or hear one of them practicing guitar... but it doesn't really bother us; it just comes with apartment living. It wouldn't even occur to me to complain unless they were doing something like blasting loud music at 3 in the morning. THAT'S when you complain about noise, not when people are walking around at 4 in the afternoon.

How frustrating! It sounds as though you have made reasonable accommodations; I'm not sure there's anything else that you can do beyond getting the landlord (if there is one) involved. But at this point, for your own sanity, you need to have a very straightforward talk with these neighbors and indicate that you can no longer receive daily missives from them, and that they need to consider the possibility that living in a downstairs unit will simply entail a certain level of noise. You can be apologetic but firm: "I just don't think there's anything more we can do."

We live in a middle unit and hear most of our upstairs neighbor's daily activities, but we've all lived in the city for a long time and understand this is par for the course. We have a preschooler who isn't the best sleeper in the world, so we don't really feel we're in a position to complain. We also hear our downstairs neighbor whose amorous encounters always seem to be extremely high-decible. Earplugs come in handy.

Your neighbors are being totally unreasonable! They chose to live under another apartment so it's a given that they will hear noise from time to time. It sounds like you have gone out of your way and done more than you should.

If you were up all night making noise or letting your kids play Wii and jump right above all the time, then I would understand them texting you but during waking hours they need to deal with normal everyday noise.

I like everyone's suggestions of going downstairs to hear the noise yourself to see how loud it really is. Tell them all you've done to help remedy the situation.

You should ask them to stop texting you all the time over every little noise, that is uncalled for! If they have an issue after all that you've done...tell THEM to move!

I'm a downstairs neighbour. The family in the apartment above us were really, really loud. The tv would be so loud - we could have ours on silent and still follow the shows. Music was so loud it would actually distort. I work from home a lot and it was really really difficult to concentrate, and it got to the point where the slightest noise would have me on alert - ready for the nuisance. However, reaching this point also told me that I was probably on the verge of being un-reasonable in my expectations. I'm not one for confrontation - but I went to call on them, to see if we could reach a compromise. They couldn't hear me ring or knock their door, so I wrote them a note, keeping it really polite and saying that I thought that perhaps they hadn't realised how noisy they were being. Since that time, they have been much more considerate. The noise is still there, but not to the same degree. I understand a family living above are going to make noise, but it's about give and take.

Clearly this family are very atuned to the noise that you and your family make. You may not be making that much noise to you - but if they are fixated on it, the slightest noise will have them on high alert. Equally they might not think you've done anything to abate the noise. I'd contact them and say you need to find some resolution for both of your sakes.

Ask them to come upstairs and see what you've done to minimise the noise, and see if you can visit them to hear what it sounds like. If both of you are planning to remain in your homes for the fore-seeable future, you need to reach a compromise otherwise you'll drive yourselves to a very low place.

Good luck.

I bought a condo 6 years ago and moved in. The upstairs neighbor started in on me immediately about doors and cabinets shutting too loud. She complained of other stuff with little notes. I live a fairly quite lifestyle and the neighbors all told her they had no problem with me. Finally she banged on my door one morning and complained that my "extra evening" activities were too loud, with the young lady standing behind me. I told her we live in close proximity to 5 units and there was gong to be some noise. She said "Very funny!" I told her to %&$* off and never speak to me again. She hasn't in 6 years. The perfect neighbor! We hear each other and it is no big deal. I try to keep my noise down if I know she is home, but I do get to live my life. On two occasions I have asked her to take an air purifier off the floor because it was causing some weird reverberation that was really loud! Louder than the actual machine. She did. I do not turn on my bass amp if she is home. My dog barks, as dose my GF's when they are over. They only bark if somebody or some animal is outside. They are supposed to do that. I do not worry about it. We now coexist!

You're dealing with an attitude problem and not a physical problem. If they are complaining about the toilet being flushed, then they are the problem. Old houses are noisier: less insulation, loose floorboards (wood shrinks over time). And basements were never designed as well as the upper floors were. I have a feeling these folks had a small issue with noise when they moved in, but then let it build and, well, consume them as time moved on. There is really nothing you can do physically to quiet your space.

Call block their number, have the landlord talk to them, send them baked goods, but only they can change their attitude.

I agree with Miss Riss. They are after your apartment and want you out. Stick to your grounds and request a meeting with the landlord/manager. Show him all the texts as well as a list of the things you are doing to accommodate your neighbors (even show photos of the pads). Make sure he understands that you are a polite, tolerant neighbor and that your downstairs neighbors are the problem, HIS problem.
And please, don't tiptoe or live in total silence. Taking off your shoes and respecting quiet hours is plenty.
Good luck!

Been there! love the comments--there are some really well-worded responses that I will save if ever I am in this situation again. A few NEW thoughts:

Confirm that they have carpeting and drapes--if they don't any regular noise from you (or the street) will be amplified. They have to try to allieviate the issue too.

while this next suggestion might anger them more, suggest magnesium supplements. A magnesium deficiency can lead to increased sensitivity to noise. A friend of mine started taking it when she found her kids to be "too much" and all is good in her home now. Lots of info about this on the web.

My boyfriend and I lived on the first floor of a large, old house with four young women living in the second floor apt. above us with various work shifts/school schedules. It was like living under a sorority house, but once we had a conversation and they did what they could (no shoes in the house/wooden floors, watching noise at certain hours, etc.), we had to understand and accept that it is what it is... Sounds like your neighbors need to be a little more realistic. Let them know everything that you're doing but you shouldn't have to live uncomfortably in your own place. First floor apts. have their issues and the renters beneath you need to understand that - it's a simple fact of life.

I am a bottom floor dweller living below a nice couple with two puppies. I've been lucky enough to have neighbors that keep similar hours to mine own. I find I don't care that their dogs are going crazy at 7 a.m. for breakfast and 5 p.m. when their owners are home from work, as long as 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. everything is quiet up there. Maybe discussing some quiet hours might be a good compromise.

You are obviously not the problem in this situation. You cannot limit your life that much.
Some people are just not happy letting other live their lifes.
Get new neighbors.

Sounds like a tough situation. I think some buildings carry noise better than others and some folks are more sensitive to noise than others. Example: I used to grumble about my neighbor's stereo being on too loud some times. I was visiting them once and the stereo was on at a totally acceptable level when I realized- there was no way around it. When I went to my apartment, it just seemed louder. Our building amplified some sounds and it wasn't fair to complain about the noise because it actually wasn't very loud in their apartment.
On the other hand, I was visiting another friend who always complained about noise and I totally couldn't hear it. She thought I was crazy, but I'm pretty sure she was just extra-sensitive. Anyway, sometimes there is just nothing more you can do about it. Your neighbors will live!

First, it seems like you were at one point on good terms with the neighbors, or at least on terms good enough to give them your cell phone number. (Personally, I can count on one hand the number of times I've ever done that in 15+ years of living in apartment/condo buildings!) In that case, I agree with suggestion to have them upstairs to see what you've done to minimize the noise, as well as to ask them what they've done to mitigate the situation (per Bagelsmom's suggestions: carpeting, drapes). Make it nice, non-confrontational, informative. Have cookies and coffee on hand. Invite their kids up too and see if they start running around, acting normally, and making noise. That might be a wake-up call for them!

Second, if they're making noise too, start your own noise diary. Not to be vicious, but to point out that the nature of living in close proximity means there's going to be some noise bleedthough.

Third, manage their expectations. If they want a noise-proof environment, make it clear (and get your landlord, if applicable, to back this up) that that is an unrealistic expectation. This may be their first apartment and they just may not be accustomed to living with noise.

Lastly, although it sounds like you've bent over backwards to be accommodating, you may need to move if nothing works. It's not fair, but it's not worth the stress if your neighbors are insane/unreasonable. And who knows: you might end up someplace you love more.

Agree with what many have said. I'd find it ironic if you move out and your neighbors end up with someone new who is far less or not at all accommodating.

I hope that downstairs neighbors understand that in most cases the problem is that the ceiling/floor has not been properly soundproofed. This typically has nothing to do with the neighbors upstairs being unreasonable (though sometimes there are unreasonable neighbors, no doubt). It has to do with the building not being built for quiet.

You need to find this out before you sign a lease... Complain to the landlord.

I'm guessing your doing everything in your power to be reasonably quiet. Everyone in multi-unit buildings is entitled to make a reasonable amount of noise. It's called living!

I'd suggest your noise-sensitive neighbors get a decibel meter and see how much noise is really heard down there. And I suggest you do the same so you can see how much noise you're making inside your home. The average home is about 40-50 decibels. There's obviously a big difference between 50 dB of random noise and 50dB of white noise, but you're entitled to something in that range. A basement unit is always going to be noisy and probably not a good choice for a couple with a baby. I'm very sensitive to noise and when we were looking for a new place I picked one that didn't have neighbors above us.

So funny you should post this, my cousin just told me about a downstairs neighbor being unreasonable. If they make one solitary noise in the middle of the day she's at her door complaining. There's really no winning. I am curious, have you ever asked them to come into their apartment to give it a listen while someone else walks around in your unit? See if there's a real sound issue of if they're being truly ridiculous. But really, it sounds like they'll complain no matter what, so I'd say ignore it. They have to accept that the only way to never hear upstairs neighbors is to not have any. Also, I would only suggest moving out if you can find someplace as cheap with as much space. No point living in a space that makes you less happy to not have jerky neighbors.

Yall need to relax. As amusing as this massive internet bitch-fest is, the appropriate thing to do is invite your neighbors and LL over for a meeting and discuss it like adults.

I'm glad there are at least some comments encouraging apartment dwellers to act like adults and see both sides. Visiting the downstairs neighbor's apartment is a must - to see if noise really is a problem. The other solution, although radical, is to switch apartments. I always lived on the top floor after a bad experience - the real estate company lied to us, said we'd have a second floor apt then at the last minute announced we'd be living in the basement apartment. This was after we had paid. Don't assume it's always a choice to live on the 1st floor.

This happened to me when an elderly woman who had never lived in apartments in her life moved in below. She complained about everything. She complained about us running the vacuum or doing the dishes. She complained that we killed her tomato plants hanging laundry on the balcony. Many, many ridiculous complaints designed to silence us completely. She often beat her ceiling with a broom handle. I finally wrote a very long letter to the management detailing her campaign of complaint harassment against me and other tenants. It helped that I've been here for a very long time and never had another complaint from anyone else in my time here. Within a month, she got two warning notices from management and finally decided to move before the third one came (which would have meant eviction for her).

Invite your neighbors up for a cup of tea and chat. Tell them how much you respect their wish for a quiet life, and that you're doing your very best. Ask one of them to go downstairs, the other one to stay upstairs to walk around and do every-day things to the degree they think would be "silent" downstairs. Then ask them to switch and repeat. Then ask if the activities you went through were heard and what they think would be reasonable changes.

the beauty is you don't have to commit to anything, but you can ask them for their input in a way that forces them to be reasonable. If they felt they were making a reasonable amount of noise upstairs, but it was bellowing downstairs, what are you supposed to do, right?

This is just a fact of life in living in shared buildings. They need to grow up and realize that living this way means they will have to deal w/the lives of other people - the noises, the smells, the attitudes, the children and pets, etc.

The decent thing to do in your position is to take basic precautions against creating excess noise - the golden rule approach, which it sounds like you've done. The decent thing to do in their case is to not bother you about this b/c they are the ones who chose to live in such an arrangement.

It's just basic common sense that if you live in a basement apartment (or any apartment) you will likely have to deal w/such things. Even in homes, neighbors have an occasional loud party and most decent human beings won't raise hell over it, even if it's a temporary nuisance. That's life and it's really not a big deal.

I live in a building with about 50 studios/one bedrooms. I can hear a lot of what's going on within my neighbor's apartments, upstairs and on both sides. My upstairs neighbor likes to exercise at odd hours in the night, and I can hear it even through the carpeting+cement in between. Both my next door neighbors throw parties and come home drunk and late, mostly on weekends and sometimes on weekdays. One of them has a bed that bangs right against our wall- and a loving steady partner, apparently-. None of those things seem unreasonable to me. Not even the jumping around at 2 am, since I don't know if my upstairs neighbor has a tough schedule.
I'm also aware that sound travels through pipes and that some noises could come from two floors up.
I also have a chronic insomnia problem, where it's very hard for me to fall asleep on most nights. I deal with it with meditation and earplugs. No need for me to stress over stuff I cannot control over nighttime.

I have lived in a similar situation to the writer, where one cannot have peace in their own house because of other people's complaints and I do not wish it upon anyone.

My daughter and her family live on Capitol Hill(DC). Their first home was a 4 story rowhouse condo, w/them on the third floor. The guest room where I slept when visiting from CA was below the upstairs neighbors' elliptical/treadmill(?) At 630 or 7 every morning my room and bed would vibrate and pound for at least 45 minutes. You could not notice it outside this room, so my kids had no idea this went on. Not used to cramped city living, I was more than annoyed. My daughter, who is a master of diplomacy and persuasion, convinced them to change their workout time while Mom was in town. They now own a rowhouse and have renters in the English basement. They are respectful, but not hyper-aware of the noise they make. With a toddler now and one on the way, they definitely have the choice if the renters complain too much.
Good luck. It sounds as if someone needs to move.

I don't know where you live, but $200 would not buy sufficient under-rug padding for more than one or two rooms (depending on the size of the room) in the cities I live in.

Most leases require rugs and padding on most of the floor. Have you covered all of the floor you typically walk on? Use relatively thick rugs. Use thick runners in any hallways, as kids moving fast in hallways is often the loudest underneath. Get thick rug padding (not "matting") designed for underneath rugs under all of them. Use some of that interlocking foam matting on top of that for areas where kids play on the floor a lot.

Once you've done that, then you've done what you need to do. Then show them what you've done, and discuss that some buildings just aren't made thick enough to keep excess noise from moving between floors. Suggest they use white noise machine or soft music to mask the rest. Recognize that is it a real problem for them, that you will both have to live with, that their concern is not an unreasonable nuisance, even if they seem like a nuisance in the manner in which they complain. Continue to make your kids walk, not run, indoors, and not jump or bang stuff on the floors (that's just common courtesy when living above others.) Shoeless or soft shoes is good; no need to tiptoe.

The downstairs neighbors should be mad at whomever designed the space w/insufficient noise insulation instead of being mad at their neighbors, who are just going about their lives (and even taking extra precautions).

You say you've been living there for a year. How long have the complainers been living there? Did the basement family know you had kids before they moved in? (Kids come with jumping and noise) Duh! If they don't like it they could move out...with their kids...who also make noise and jump in that basement, I'm sure.

Hmmm. Call me crazy, but I'm thinking they want to annoy you enough that you'll get fed up and move out so they can take your apartment. Stop coddling them. Do whatever is reasonable and if they don't like it, then it's their problem. They can soundproof their ceilings or move.

Do you rent or own your apartment? When I was renting a studio apartment a few years back in Manhattan, there was a gentleman who lived below me who started complaining that he could hear me walking. The building was old, and the wood floors were creaky. So I invested in a thick, nearly wall-to-wall carpet with a pad underneath. That wasn't enough for him. He still kept complaining, constantly leaving me notes. I finally wrote a letter to my landlord and asked him to inform the tenant I had done all that I could and that it wasn't my fault we lived in an old building with creaky floors. I also asked the landlord to please tell this man to stop contacting me because his behavior had become abusive. My letter to the landlord worked because I never heard a peep out of the guy again. If you own your apartment, is there a co-op board you could contact? At this point, you need to stop communicating with this woman.

i would change your phone number and live your life. if your downstairs neighbours have a problem with the noise, then they can move.

i've lived in plenty of old homes-turned-apartments before where i can hear my neighbours, and i do what any rational human being would do. ignore it. or turn up my tv.

i would change your phone number and live your life. if your downstairs neighbours have a problem with the noise, then they can move.

i've lived in plenty of old homes-turned-apartments before where i can hear my neighbours, and i do what any rational human being would do. ignore it. or turn up my tv.

We live downstairs but we are the landlords. The upstairs apartment is carpeted, wall to wall. We provided high-end wireless headphones. When we advertise our unit we look for someone quiet and quiet hours are in the lease. Then we got a kid. We try to be considerate neighbors to our tenant, but sometimes the noise...i.e. temper tantrums can get excessive. When the tenant gets noisy, I try to remember that is the sound of the second mortgage layment. ;-) and i make cookies for our tenant when it gets noisy here. We also try to keep open dialogue about noise...hey how are we doing? Or apologize for an early morning shower or late night action movie that got loud. This communication happens easily because tenants have laundry priviledges so we get to see each other. I think this is key - seeing each other regularly and being mutually rspectful. But when the rubber hits the road, we are the owners and we do make that clear.

We also try to make sure the tenant knws when we are out of town so they can cut lose!

Both families have kids. Four bedrooms; that's a lot of space; how much of it is directly over the smaller basement apartment (and are these bedrooms over the lower one)? Guessing the basement family has a baby/babies, but if they can hear you upstairs, can you hear them downstairs. Sounds (no pun) like you've done enough unless your kids are dribbling a basketball in their rooms etc. Deal with it with your LL; don't invite them up; doesn't seem like any answer will satisfy them. Hopefully, they'll move.

When you know your family will be home ask a spend a few minutes in their apartment to hear what they hear.

My daughter also had this problem with downstairs neighbor when she lived in NYC. He would bang in his ceiling at the slightest noise, which included laughing while sitting on sofa, and even come upstairs and wake her up because he thought she was source of any noise even when she was actually sleeping. One day, he went too far and acosted her in the elevator and threatened her. He didn't stop until landlord told him he would be evicted if he had any contact at all with her. Be considerate, take reasonable steps (take off shoes, watch volume of music/tv, and observe generally accepted "quiet hours"), but do not allow neighbors to set unreasonable standards. Involve your landlord early. It's his/her responsibility to assure your peaceful enjoyment of your home.

Wow, I'm surprised at how quickly people have been jumping to the conclusion that the downstairs neighbors are being unreasonable jerks. Even if you are trying your best to be quiet, it's probable and frankly likely that their complaints are valid. I have lived in an apartment on a lower floor in an older building, and the noise from people walking upstairs was often loud enough that it was difficult to do any work or sleep. Some people walk more lightly than others, but you have to bear in mind that the sounds that you hear when you're walking on the floor are not what your downstairs neighbors hear. Try inviting one of them to walk on your floor in a normal way while the other one listens, and to listen from downstairs as your partner walks on the floor. Ultimately I agree that this is the landlord's problem and it would help if both you and your neighbors contacted him/ her to request some soundproofing solution, but having both parties hear what it sounds like from the other apartment might help ease the tension. The poor soundproofing is not something that the other family could reasonably have expected before moving in, since many buildings have great soundproofing where only the most egregious activities disturb the neighbors below (that may be what's adding to their frustration--they don't realize that the pounding sounds they hear are actually light steps from above and instead think that it's an intentional disregard of their need for peace and quiet). Obviously you have no obligation to do anything, but I think the best thing to do would be to treat it as a joint problem and have a frank conversation with your neighbors about how to solve it (whether that be avoiding walking in certain areas at night or during certain limited working hours or contacting your landlord).

Also I would urge against the sentiments that a lot of people have expressed that it's just tough luck for them and they should turn on the TV or move. It's not a piece of cake to find a new apartment and it's legitimate for someone to want at least some quiet in their home rather than playing the TV or loud music to mask the sounds from upstairs. You should go downstairs and hear what it sounds like and then put yourself in their shoes and think about what you would consider a reasonable compromise if you had the lower apartment. Sure, communal living comes with noise and compromise, but why should all of that fall on the lower neighbors? If you have honestly experienced the noise from their apartment, tried to work with them, and still find them unwilling to compromise at all, maybe then you can wash your hands of the situation, but first, it would probably be a good idea to try to understand where they're coming from.

The first apartment I lived in after I moved away from parent's home the neighbor complained constantly about me and my housemate banging our cabinets late at night. She would scream at us through the floor(waking us up), knock on our door late at night and scream at us(waking us up) and one time called the police.

Me and my housemate worked the breakfast shift at a restaurant so for us a late night was 10pm. When she came down to yell at us we were in our PJ's and all our lights were off.

Her balcony was right above my bedroom and early on Sunday mornings she would prepare aluminum cans for recycling by stomping on them on the balcony. Really annoying when I rarely had a chance to sleep in.

So glad I moved away from her. I think she was someone with some serious emotional issues.

My point: Like others have suggested you can try to be even more reasonable than you already are being by measuring the decibel levels in your home and visiting their apartment when they complain to see if you hear what they are hearing (difficult, by the way, because as soon as they complain you and yours will start tiptoeing so if you were being noisy you will have modified your behavior.)

But I think they might have some serious emotional problems if they need to text you rude messages and you should begin the process to move away.

I wish you and your family the best of luck and a happier home.

I'm with those who think your neighbors are being ridiculous! Complaints about the toilet running? Give me a fucking break!

They're lucky that you've been so accommodating. Any further attempts on your part to placate them will just feed into their dysfunction. Live your lives; tell your neighbors that life is noisy and they either have to deal with it or move!

We just moved into our first apt. Sold house looking for a new one... Anyway we have the upstairs unit. During the day I walk around barefoot, no t.v or radio and I listen to the floors underneath me. I've noticed a few spots where the floor creeks. You can not do anything about noisy floors. It's the building NOT you or your family. I think you have done enough to cover the problem but nothing helps because its the building. Let them know that. And if they don't get it let them call the police. At some point they will leave. That's just the way it is.

I own, not rent, a first floor condo. A couple with a very active toddler bought the place above me. I did not have a choice in the matter. They make a lot of noise. Guess what? It doesn't bother me, because I LIKE them. If I didn't like them, the noise would bother the hell out of me. They are the nicest, kindest people and their little boy's face lights up when he sees me.

Do you and your neighbors know one another? Do the children play together? If the relationship is good the noise above might not bother them so much.

I thinking you've really been trying. I think it's worth bearing in mind for them that these kids are growing up and soon the majority of the daytime energy will be expelled in kindergarten, school, outside etc.

Are there lawsuits in the States around kids' noise. I work for a children's nonprofit that's being sued here in Munich and I often wonder if this noise would even be an issue back home. Here's the story:
http://www.toytowngermany.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=199114

Will you please come be my upstairs-neighbors?! You sound like very nice considerate people, and from what you say, you have gone above and beyond trying to be good neighbors. You could definitely teach my neighbors a thing or two about Wii-playing and late-night tap-dance practicing.

If those people are complaining about whistling! Really!... I´d say you´ve done all you can within reason. Now it´s time you took care of your concerns and contact the landlord with a list of text messages, their ridiculous content and the content of your noise- making and improvements you already have made.

Then blast death- metal, buy your kids a drum set and get them pesky lil´ ones enrolled onto a tap- dancing class!
( I once scared downstairs dimwit who just didn´t like my choice of music- Mozart. Three days of Death Metal in a form of Moonspell made him beg for Mozart instead. Ever since our relations were verging on peachy. )

You've been more than accommodating to the neighbours below. I would honestly stop trying so hard, let your children play as they please, go crazy with the Wii Fit and make all the noise they want. Okay, maybe not that last part, but I would let your family live normally and the people below will soon realize how considerate you were being and they will have wished they would have just shut their mouths.

I don't really see the neighbor as out of line, perhaps they were told "text if there are issues". I see two parties who are not handling things correctly. I'd be careful about any sort of retalliation tactics as this can cause a bigger problem. Check the building rules and city codes and attach them to letter. I'd write a kind letter to the neighbor describing what you've done and also list the #/times/contents of texts, ask them to place future complaints via the landlord, cc landlord. Take letter and show your phone texts to landlord and have them sign witnessed. Make full copies for all parties just in case you've got a lazy landlord. Once that is done I'd send a card 1x year "hoping for a year as happy neighbors"...only if you're in a good mood.

As an example I have a rental in building where the rules so you cannot disturb the neighbors, if nose from your dwelling can be heard outside the dwelling, it counts.I also had to pay a plumber for above said rental because my pipes were making noise, change of water pressure in the building. If an owner of the condo ignores the letters of the HOA the next time they want to have a tennant it is rejected. Very quickly the landlord deals with their tenants. A musician had to insulate his walls, a person with children had to hide their lovely wood floors, covered by rugs, a dog actually wears those little boots inside. I know no one wears shoes inside-we joke about it. All this of course depends on the rules.

I now live in Hong Kong and in our estate you can't disturb neighbors, few do actually. People have been forced to move out because they could not keep their pets/children from making noise. "Indoor voices-outdoor voices" is commonly heard. After a few complaints, & they send someone to listen, social services is called. After that visit you are told to leave or deal with legal issues. People adapt. That said when kids are out in parks they yell a lot, because they can. Pet sitting or daycare is common.

I'd just ignore them completely. If they don't like it, oh well. At a certain point, they need to learn how to live around other people who make real people noise and walk and talk. They don't get to tell others how to live.

I completely agree with Qzie! Basement apartments are noisy, and it's one thing for them to ask you not to do jumping jacks with stilettos at midnight. But YOU have been a wonderful neighbor, and it sounds like you are being accommodating to the point of it really affecting YOUR lifestyle.

Try to have a friendly chat to let them know about the changes you've made and that you can't do any more. And if they still complain to you about the everyday things like walking or flushing the toilet, ask them to speak to the landlord (make a separate call to the landlord to give him/her the heads up). After that, it's on them.

Good luck!

I couldn't agree more Qzie! I also have 2 toddlers and a downstairs neighbor who shoots off nasty emails whenever they're home. I feel tyrannized by her. She makes my husband and me jumpy and short with the children every time they try to run or jump or drag a toy on the floor. The worst part is they are at daycare all day long and are only home on weekends during the day so how excessive can the noise be??? I am fed up with his woman intruding on our family!

Have you talked to the landlord? If you are not doing anything wrong their behavior might be considered harrassment.

Many, many years ago I had a downstairs neighbor who was an alcoholic. He mostly stayed in his apartment and listened to Dave Matthews (torture) but had a very odd relationship with one of the other tenants, who tolerated him (probably felt bad for him) and even invited him into her home for meals, but sometimes you would hear him screaming at her! She had children, a teenager and a little girl.

I actually never met him . . .or so I thought. After I had lived there a short time, he left an odd note on my door. I can't remember what it said now but the gist of it was that I was stuck up (The other neighbor later explained it was because I had never made the effort to introduce myself to him). He didn't threaten me but it still felt threatening in a way.

I was in my mid-20s and a single woman living alone, and it creeped me out, so I took it to the property manager. Because of that and because others had complained about him in the past, the guy was out by the end of the month. The landlord did tell me his name and I did see him finally about a week before he moved out, and he was a guy who had very drunkenly and somewhat creepily hit on me at a nearby bar a few months before I moved into that place!! So I will never know if he remembered me from that or if he was just a jerk in general. I didn't tell the landlord once I realized it because I still felt like he was threatening to me and this other woman and it was probably better for everyone that he was gone. She told me later she had gotten a little afraid of him and had also complained to the property manager.

Not the same situation exactly, because it sounds like they are more annoying than creepy, but you have the right to be safe and comfortable in your own home and it doesn't hurt to talk to the landlord (if that hasn't been tried). Also, I am not a parent but it seems if you have children it isn't great for them to have to live their everyday lives at the whim of some OCD people downstairs.

Also maybe you and your partner should start having extremely loud sex hahahaha

i moved into an old duplex with my brother in L.A. and the next morning had a letter from the downstairs neighbor complaining our move-in was too loud...i responded by taping a pair of earplugs to her door, never heard from her since.

I've actually been on both sides of this. I suspect your situation is similar to my current apartment which is the poor construction and lack of soundproofing of your building. Like your neighbors I hear everything. It's so bad that even a pin dropping to the floor upstairs sounds more like a bowling ball being dropped. Essentially, every sound is magnified. I've spoken to my landlord and others about this and was told the only thing that could effectively block neighbor noise was to tear about the building and rebuild with thicker walls and floors. That's the best way to add mass which you need to block sound transmission. Fyi, wood floors are pretty good sound conductors.

I know you spent $200 on rugs, but I'll be honest for $200 the rugs you purchased are most likely inadequate (that is too thin to be effective) unless you got the deal of the century. You need the thickest area rug you can find which will cost more than $200. Also, you will need to purchase a very thick rug pad which again will cost you money - the thicker the more money. (What I did at my own personal cost was purchase and install with the help of friends interlocking cork floors which I can easily remove and take with me when I leave my rental for good. I also then added rugs on top of cork. Fyi, my downstairs neighbors love to play their music and tv at the highest volume possible.)

I recommend that you speak to your landlord about the situation and see if you, the landlord and downstairs neighbors can have a discussion. I doubt that your landlord is unaware how bad the soundproofing is. Perhaps your landlord can share the cost of a solution. Don't take the advice of others to ignore and dismiss your neighbors or to seek retribution by being obnoxious. I agree that your neighbors might be a touch too sensitive, but having lived in a building where there is no soundproofing, I can sympathize with those who live in such buildings, especially on the lower floors. It's hell, but it's made me more mindful of my noise and how poorly constructed some buildings are. Unfortunately, it's hard to tell until you move in. By then you're stuck with a lease.

I forgot to add, but in the case of your downstairs neighbors, if they haven't already, they should try and install tall bookshelves (w/ books) along the walls to help block the noise from your apartment. Or they could try and hang the thickest curtains or cork along the wall which should help dampen the sounds from your apt. The last option is for them to ask the landlord to install a drop ceiling which will help minimize the sounds being transmitted. But that depends on how high or low the ceiling is and whether the landlord will pay or allow for such a construction.

Apart from that, given the situation, it seems someone will have to move out if they can. I realize that may not be possible, contrary to some of the comments made by others as some magic and viable solution. I live in rental market with almost no availability, especially in my price range, and very high rents which makes moving incredibly hard. I don't know if that's the case with you or your neighbors, but if that is, you guys need to talk, preferably with your landlord present.

Id call your landlord and explain to them whats going on. then id pull out the Wii fit and have a great old time. They sound like jerks. you shouldnt have to move, if they dont like it they should leave. good luck!!

We had the same situation a year ago, and that was the tipping point that pushed us out of the building and into home ownership (except we have no kids).

After renting for nearly ten years with no problems, new neighbors moved in below us and immediately began to complain. We did all the the things you did, tiptoeing, carpets, changing our routine, but it only seemed to escalate the problem. Eventually things came to a head when I burned myself and dropped a hot pan in the kitchen and the man downstairs came up and threatened me and assaulted my husband. We had to call the police that night and on several more occasions.

In the end it cost us money to move and we really didn't have it; but moving out was the only way to resolve the situation. It's tough to hear, but once your quality of life has dropped so low that you're living in fear of another complaint or a knock at the door, it's time to move on.

Goodness, I thought I'd written this post, too. We happen to live above a most strange lady (previously an even stranger mate, who paced and talked to himself while outside, resided with her), who has complained about our noise during most of our waking hours (not in the morning though, like you'd think) from lunchtime to dinnertime to bedtime (around 8:30pm) from the first night we moved in. We altered our lives to the point that we were constantly irritable with our little ones for making the littlest noise or dropping a simple toy, handing them laptops and Ipads all too often, and letting them watch WAY too much television just to keep them from being active. Very sad. I'd break a sweat if they walked too hard across the room. She still complained and asked if we could have it completely quiet by 7pm so she could meditate in her living room (underneath our living room btw) the moment she got home from work. She only works outside the home a few days a week from about 4-7pm if we're lucky. From what I can tell, she's nearly ALWAYS home. We are now in the process of moving to a downstairs unit because I couldn't handle the pressure anymore. I begged our landlord to switch apartments or just live somewhere else and before that I offered to switch apartments with her, offered her another apartment in the complex that we were offered (it, too, was a top-floor unit) because it made sense that she lived on the very top if she was so sensitive. She refused to make any changes or offer any solutions and only wanted us to be perfectly quiet dwellers. Nevermind this lady chose to live on a lower unit in front of an elementary school and frequently works from home AND says she's too stressed out to deal with our noise because her job is just so stressful. Oh, and she's in a three bedroom with just herself at this point. What did she expect, exactly? I'll never understand, though I certainly hope the new tenants moving into this apartment give her plenty of hell. Her wacky boyfriend asked us for our phone number the second night we were here because he wanted to be able to communicate to us when we were being too noisy. Luckily, I said, hell no. Not to mention, the weirdo came knocking on our door at 10:30 on a weekday the 2nd week we were here to ask if he could "rock out". We were sleeping and that act really creeped me way out, especially when we'd had numerous complaints the first week here for being too loud at dinnertime. The people living here previous to us suddenly moved out and abandoned the place a few months before their lease was up. Suspicious? Yes. Anyway, we decided about two months ago, after a four-page letter from her, that we were done, that we were going to live our lives as we saw fit. Sure, we want to respect our neighbors, but you can't drive yourself crazy for your kids walking across the floor, not running around, but walking from say, the bathroom to the bedroom, or just plain being normal (not hyperactive and undisciplined) kids. So, we told her to call the police if she saw fit, to leave us alone from here on out, that we know she hears us, that we care, but the floors are thin and the place is old. She went CRAZY! She began to pound on her ceiling to the point I would swear she was doing damage (though since the place is old probably just sounded incredibly obnoxious). Nonetheless, when I saw an apartment become available downstairs, I JUMPED at the chance and even had to offer more money to get into it, but knew it was worth it for my sanity. I could give a shite about hers though. She's a batty, crazy thing (we call her battleaxe) and I hope she remains as miserable as she currently is! I'm sorry but she was just so wretched, I just have no sympathy for her.

Did I mention the creeper boyfriend also asked us if we had a gun?!! Seriously, scary!