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Due to the housing bubble, I have been forced to rent apartments since graduating college in 2002. I have lived in many different complexes in several states, and I can tell you, nothing blocks noise and the landlords do not care. Currently, every day it is a living hell with my neighbors downstairs. It was supposed to be a single man with partial custody of two very young boys, however, shortly after he moved in he got a loudmouth lady live-in. All she seems to do is mouth-off on the telephone and watch TV all day. She is always around - never seems to go anywhere. And of course the TV is high up on a case near their ceiling (which is only 7 feet), right underneath the head of my bed. It couldn't be in a worse spot. Even more - she is a raging insomniac and watches TV at all hours. During the past eight or nine months, I have gotten way more than my fair share of sleepless nights. I have a long commute and I am scared I will fall asleep behind the wheel. My work performance has suffered greatly. And what can I do about this? There are no good options.

I've complained to the landlord but all I get is placated. All talk and no action. Like I said, I've lived in many apartments and unfortunatly this isn't the first time I've been bothered by noise - however, this is the worst. So I'm not crazy about moving to another apartment complex. Buying a house is not an option either unless I want to commit financial suicide by paying too much for a crapshack that will depreciate in value IF I can even sell it when the time comes. There is really no way out - it is such a hopeless situation.