Confronted neighbours about noise, they were horrible. Help.

17 years ago

Hi guys

I live in a 40 unit apartment building .5 kilometres from the university...I was told it had some older students, couples, and working couples,....but surprise surprise it's basically all university students - young ones, even.

I'm in a 2 bedroom 1 bath on the 3rd floor. We subletted from the previous tenants last year from May-August, and then renewed the lease...so our lease isn't up until this August.

Anyway, the reason that we picked this building was that it has a rule in the lease that states: "Noise shall be kept at a minimum at all times, especially between 11 pm - 7 am for the benefit of other tenants." The landlords assured me that any noise problems would be promptly dealt with as they were "very strict." (I distinctly remember this conversation).

Well, when the flood of students came in September, we got the worst downstairs neighbours. The insulation sucks between floors, as I soon found out. The couple below us, who look around 23 (I'm 20) started blasting music at various hours of the day (obviously not between 11pm-7 am).

Anyway, I'm very sensitive to noise - I have anxiety attacks when I hear loud bass/noise/etc.

Anyway, when I first heard the music I immediately called the landlord, expecting swift action. I was told, "It's the middle of the day. We can't do anything." I was shocked.

So, basically, since September, I've been calling the landlord at least once per week, once every 2 weeks, to complain. Nothing is done.

Lately, the music has increased to pretty much every day. It's not rock blasting, shaking the walls, but I have a fan on and the TV and I can hear the bass, plus my floor vibrates and shakes - which makes the couch vibrate - which means I can't even eat dinner or relax because I immediately am distracted and get anxiety attacks.

Of the few times that I went down to politely ask them to turn it down, I've been met with "Whatever" or yelling through the door or something equally rude.

For the last month I've been trying to put up with it...but I can't anymore. So today, at noon, I was eating my lunch when, surprise surprise, the bass started and my floor vibrated.

I figured I could go down and ask politely and express my concerns. Well, I tried. The guy basically got pissed off, called me a whiner, said "I don't care about your concerns" and some other quite rude things, and disregarded me.

I came upstairs in tears and called the landlord and explained his attitude, what he said, etc...The landlord said 'We'll have a chat with him' and 'tell the owner about his attitude'.

But now I'm fearful that I've "angered the beast" and that he's going to make my life hell.

I want out...I don't know what to do...:(

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Comments (5)

socaldisneydude
17 years ago
Well, sometimes these apartment managers need some proof so I would recommend taking a video camera and when there is no noise comming from downstairs videotape a few moments of the quiet room and when the noise starts take out the camera again and videotape the noise factor. Take the tape to your manager and play it for him/her. Good luck!
Gina_W
17 years ago
Depending on where you live, the local police will come out for nuisance noise. This is quite effective.
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moonshadow
17 years ago
Can you talk to management about moving you to another unit? Check your lease for a clause that refers to your right to 'quiet enjoyment'. If it's there, then the noise is breaking the lease. In the meantime, document everything. Dates, times, and names of anyone you spoke with. That way if you are forced out you can specifically point to dates and times when you tried to have this remedied to no avail. Do take video tape so the noise is recorded. Take your sensitivity into account before this next one (because calling the emergency number for police is taking help away from someone else): if they are breaking noise ordinances then contact the police and/or your town's code enforcement officer while it's occurring.
User
17 years ago
Talk to management about getting out of the lease.

The two complaints you posted here were about noise in the middle of the day. Pretty silly.

Don't call the police because unless it is a major noise ordinance (at noon) they can't do a thing and have better things to do.

If noise bothers you that much then you shouldn't be living in an apartment.
hyacynthe
17 years ago
Hi Kate,

Wow, I can relate to what you're going through! I live underneath an inconsiderate 100 lb girl who I swear sounds like an elephant. The problem is that she owns her unit, and I rent my condo. Every time she stomps around or blasts her music I get such bad anxiety, I can hardly calm down from it. I've taken to sleeping on the couch because I have a very loud fan in my living room, and I have to take Xanax to sleep. When you're around such startling and disruptive noise all the time, you become basically conditioned to get anxious any time there is noise. It's horrible. I would definitely follow up with your landlord, and if you have to, try to get out of your lease. I'm resigned to moving out as soon as my lease is up in September, although I love my apartment (it's on the beach).

Good luck to you. You are not being oversensitive, you have the right to live somewhere peaceful where you can relax. However, you honestly may have to move to do so.

Confronted neighbours about noise, they were horrible. Help.

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socaldisneydude

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