Noisy Neighbors: What to Do After Multiple Complaints
October 22nd, 2009 by Staff WriterMany of us, as either homeowners or renters, have dealt with noisy neighbors at some point in our lives. This can be an issue of a household down the street making a lot of noise, or people in an apartment above or next to others disturbing the peace and quiet of those who live with them in the same building.
At first, you might just call the local police on a neighbor for a noise violation, but for more than one incident, this can cease to be effective. The police might tell you that the noise issue is a “civil situation”, and they may stop coming to repeated calls. That’s when you have to take more action to deal with unreasonable noise from neighbors. Many who are up against this take any and all of the following actions to follow up on a noise situation that happens continually.
Talk to the Landlord or Property Manager
If the local police are willing to cite a neighbor who is too loud, they will probably first ask complainers to contact a property manager if the loud party are renting rather than paying a mortgage on a home. The local law enforcement will want to know that the property owner has been advised of any problems, because often, the landlord is the one who is responsible to deal with the situation.
Talk to Your Neighbor Directly
It’s often advisable to let the guilty parties know that actions are pending against them. You may not have wanted to talk to your neighbor during the first few noise violations, as it’s often more convenient to send the police and let them speak for you. However, if you’re going to pursue further action, your loud neighbors are going to figure it out at some point, and the situation can possibly be resolved by dealing with them up front.
Document the Noise
One of the next steps for any further action is to do what you can to document the noise situation. This can take any of a number of creative forms including audiotapes, video or eyewitness testimony from other neighbors.
Visit your Local Government
It’s important for those seeking resolution on noise issues to know that in almost all cases, there is a local government board that runs the local police department. These municipal governments have local ordinances against noise, and in front of these boards is where you may want to pursue enforcement on noise issues.
Take Your Case to Small Claims Court
If the local Government Board is unresponsive to your problems, you do have the alternative of taking your case to a local civil court where you can represent yourself in a grievance. This way you can avoid sky-high attorney costs. You won’t be able to sue for a large dollar amount, but you will get the noise violations exposed at the judicial level. In some cases, you may also be able to bring suit against your landlord for possible violations of the intent of the lease document, where renters are often guaranteed reasonable peace and quiet in their homes.
The above process can help you bring repeated noise violations to a successful resolution.
Tags: Noise, Noise Complaint, Noise Laws
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:39 pm
I did all of the things suggested in your article, to no avail. The place I live in is run by shady, self serving people. I was told to my face that I was imagining noises, due to my medical problems! This skaggy, creepy so called Manager or secretary said the Police did not hear anything, or the neighbors. The situation is bad because the noise is directly under my bedroom and it is from large, loud sub woofer speakers and bass. The result is that my floors are vibrating and walls shaking. The Coop board members do not maintain the apartments nor do they care about the tenants at all. My final attempt at getting relief was to write a letter requesting a reasonable accommodation, in the way of an apartment transfer. Of course I received no response.
July 27th, 2010 at 7:44 am
I read somewhere on a website that if you give your landlord several complaints that were written and documented and the noise still continues you have the legal right to break the lease without penalty. Im dealing with the same situation. I have been to my landlord once which that noise has discontinued but the neighbors in the TH row in front of us is outside fighting and screaming all nite with their kids. Its so annoying! Im pregnant and have barely slept, its taking its toll already too and weve only lived here about a month. Im trying to find the site I saw the law on but of course I cant find it now
August 9th, 2010 at 10:33 pm
Let me know when you find the site destiny
November 26th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
I live next to a 20 something. She has one of the foulest mouths you have ever heard. She pounds on my door I dont answer she starts yelling and screaming, F ing B F ing B. And slams her front door. She bangs on her walls all hours of the night. I call security, ( if you want to call these people this ) and they will tell the manager they didnt hear nothing, of course not they are not in bed with me. This girl stays outside all hours of the night with her friends yelling. Others that live around her tell me the same thing what is wrong with her?? If you dont give her what she wants you are a f-ing rude b. When her friends are around she reallys gets mouthy. Showing how big she is. I have told the manager and several times she has shrugged her shoulders at me, she will not do anything about her. We are moving to another apartment, but, in the mean time when the level of noise is after the hours of 10 pm, I will filing a report and getting the report number and filing a civil complaint. I fill like my life is in jepardy, when ever shes around screaming. I fill like a prisoner in my own place, I pay rent I pay the managers wages, to have a peaceful place and quiet place to live I pay for that, not to listen to some girl with a filthy mouth, and in rage all the time. Time for action now, from now on I am calling 911.
January 16th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
Use certified mail when talking to your landlords. Look up local laws and quote them directlly including chapter and code numbers. Doing this will not only show that you know excactly what you are talking about, but leave the landlord guessing if you have an attourney or not. If you feel a threat of violence, call the police immediettly and tell them so. When fighting or violence is involved someone can be evicted in as little as three days in most areas. Your landlord is responsible for the peace and saftey on there properties.Complaints should be taken care of within two weeks in most areas. Failure to do so can result in civil damages. Just be sure to use those certified letters.
January 16th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
Use certified mail when talking to your landlords. Look up local laws and quote them directlly including chapter and code numbers. Doing this will not only show that you know excactly what you are talking about, but leave the landlord guessing if you have an attourney or not. If you feel a threat of violence, call the police immediettly and tell them so. When fighting or violence is involved someone can be evicted in as little as three days in most areas. Your landlord is responsible for the peace and saftey on there properties.Complaints should be taken care of within two weeks in most areas. Failure to do so can result in civil damages. Just be sure to use those certified letters.
December 21st, 2011 at 10:07 pm
hay i pay taxes and payrent no body can tell me that i cant play my music bass guitar and enjoy it is my right and freedom to do so if peoples dont appressiate music then they should go some wheres else
December 29th, 2011 at 6:27 am
Hello fed up,
I am not a lawyer…. but I delt with a situation similar. Document the dates and if possible her noise.When you file your civil complaint it should prevail with the evidence or her not showing up for court. If you are in danger write a note to the manager ,ask to be released from the lease due to life threating situations and excessive noise. If this is a serious threat get a restraining order form the police.
I moved into an apartment a refurbished miltary base with thick walls and 18 foot ceiling really nice. My neighbor decides to purchase two large dogs…leaving them in the apartment all day barking creating an deafing echo in the hall and my vents. I notifed the manager and they did nothing. I documented the dogs distubing my peace with a time stamped video for about a week.
Then I inform the owner of my plans to sue them for breach of contract. Within a couple of days the mangement sent me a letter informing me that I could move or place me in another apartment. I decided to move, the owner paid for my movers and gave me my deposit before I left. In hindsight, they should have adressed the dog owner.
Keep a journal of disruptive events that disturb your peace. If you watch the court tv shows the only reason a person lose is lack of evidence.
Have a great day.