Woman lives in noisy apartment building

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
A woman that I deliver meals to is usually slow answering her door. She says the reason is that she sleeps in the daytime because her upstairs neighbor continually plays loud music when he's home. She said she did complain to the apartment management, but nothing was done about it. I really don't know what other advice I could offer to her since I never lived in an apartment complex. Any suggestions?
 
She can always wear earplugs, if the music isn't loud enough or late enough for the police or apartment management to come in and take action.
 
Do you have noise laws or bylaws? We do here and after x hour it's quiet time and it's enforceable in this city.
Also suggest ear plugs and maybe a white noise machine or the tv on at night where it's just static and the volume up loud.
I feel sorry for the woman, that is awful.
I have been down that road before. It is miserable.
 
It all depends on how loud they are, some people are more sensitive to normal noise like tv or radio. If it is extremely loud, I would complain to the management/super first as there are noise restrictions, usually after 11:00 p.m. and if that doesn't work, the police. The Rent Control Agency in the city should also be informed as they can step in as well and advise on the next step. The noisemakers would be warned and kicked out if they fail to comply, hopefully. If the police are called too often to a unit, the tenants of that unit could be charged for disturbing the peace.
 
I called the county Adult Protective Service, but their representative said that unless she's in real physical danger (like being
homeless in cold weather or being physically threatened), they can't do anything.
 
This is the one reason that apartments are a scary place to move to if you've lived in a house mostly isn't it? Like why don't these builders sound proof between suites. At least if the suites are going to be offered for sale. It would cost maybe another $5,000.00 to do that and I think most purchasers would be agreeable to that additional cost if it meant they weren't going to have to hear each other! I know I would.

We're planning on moving back to BC eventually and in looking at the MLS, the building that we prefer actually has concrete floor/ceiling between levels. When the time comes, that's the first place we'll look for that specific reason. I've even checked into building a secondary wall between me and the neighbours to cut down on sound. If I loved the building and neighbourhood but had a noisy neighbour I think it would be worth it. Also a selling feature.
 
We live in a college town and we also have a significant population of young military folk. We have apartments behind us and across the street from us. There are days/nights that the music... if you want to call it that... can be annoying. Both apartment complex management teams seem to be cognizant of the issue and, most times, get the loud noise shout down by midnight. Also, I've spent hundreds of nights in motels, many of those located near truck stops. So, when I hit the bed... I don't hear anything. My wife even worries about my sleeping so sound. I've just gotten used to noise and don't let it bother me.

The problem with ear plugs that some have suggested is that you don't want to shut out emergency door knocks, phone calls, etc. I would first go to the apartment management and see if they would take steps to remedy the situation. If that doesn't work... and I had gone to sleeping days... I'd be wide awake when the loud music shuts down and the "youngsters" finally try to go to sleep. Then I'd turn some classical symphony music up as loud as I could... or church hymns, doing everything possible to keep them from sleeping. Might even try to find recordings of a couple 'fire and brimstone' preachers and let their sermons echo into the "still of the night". I my choice in "entertainment" interfered with their sleep habits... and they're still working... we might be able to come to an amicable resolution.
 
People have frequent parties during the warm months with speakers outside. They have until 11pm, 10 if I need to get up for work or I'm calling the cops.
 
Noisy neighbors…often a difficult, touchy problem to deal with.

I’m very sensitive to noise, so I sympathize with her. But there are so many variables:

- How bad is the noise and how often?
- Is it just music or also loud talking/arguing and fighting?
- Does the tenant who is bothered have a good relationship with owner/landlord? (i.e,, a good tenant who has been there awhile, takes care of the apt., pays rent on time, and others don’t complain about)
- Some rental mgmt companies don’t care because they have a lot of units to deal with and lots of turnover….they know if someone is unhappy and moves that another tenant who can come up with a month’s rent and sec dep will move in soon.

Sure, she can call the police, but they’re not necessarily going to do anything unless it’s REALLY bad or people are fighting. This also creates tension which can escalate and result in other nasty behavior. Not saying no one should ever call the police about noise, just pointing out there could be ramifications.

Has she ever tried talking directly to the neighbor?

Home ownership doesn’t guarantee that one won’t have problems with noisy neighbors. I know homeowners in upscale neighborhoods who have problems with neighbors (also home owners) who blast loud music, have motorcycles in/out at all hours, and lots of screaming/fighting.

She might look into a senior citizen complex (55+). I know moving is an expense and a hassle, but I’d weigh the pros/cons.
 
When I read posts like these it makes me think maybe I should stop complaining about living in the country. We do have loud live country music in the neighborhood occasionally but they always shut it down by 10 pm (usually). It's good music and we usually sit outside in our lawn chairs and listen. All went well till they decided their grandson should show off his talents on an electric organ --- then it was time to call the cops. :) Two houses away we have a cop who unwinds by playing the drums and now their 6 year old daughter is learning, but you know, it doesn't bother me at all. Like I told his wife I paid good money for drum meditation CDs so I think I can handle a little Metallica 3 or 4 times a week. If I don't want to hear it, I just close up our house.
 
Wait a second, if she's in an apartment complex, there has to to be some kind of landlord. She can go to them and make a complaint.

But even in an apartment complex there should be rules against noise. I have an older friend who lives in an apartment complex. The rule is, if you can hear your neighbors, it's too loud and the loud neighbor is warned. There should be county/city noise ordinance rules as well. Here after 10:00pm, if you're noisy, you get a very polite visit from the cops.

Unless Fourth of July and holidays...11:00pm is the rule.

Loud neighbors should be reported when it 1) interferes with sleep after 10pm, 2) has loud music going on before 10pm and continuing thereafter, and 3) elderly folks or small children being awakened at any time after 10pm.

That's the least. I'd be going to the landlord, then to the police. There are noise ordinances, and loud music and crap has to fly in the face of noise ordinances.
 
Does she have a civil relationship with the neighbor and has she talked to him directly? It could be he doesn't realize how loud it is - especially if apt mgmt hasn't said anything.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top