How do you STOP a noisy neighbor?

Question

These people seem to never sleep (and neither do I since I live by their schedule) It's 3am and they are stomping around again. it's only peaceful when they aren't home which isn't for long. But what really is keeping me awake is when they come home at night 2-3 sometimes 4am they turn on a really high powered fan which sounds louder than my fridge in my own apartment, ear plugs don't block out the noise. It's really high pitch. I finally sleep when they turn it off in the morning. Should I tell them to turn it off? Or will that just make it worse and make them turn it on more often? (we live near the beach and there's always a breeze, it's not hot either, it's actaully cold out, to top it off I know they have a ceiling fan which they could use & I would never hear that, they just started doing this after more than a year of putting up with their other noises)Two weeks ago I put a note on their door w/o my name asking to please turn it down or off at night since it vibrates sound

Answer 1

I have the same problem because I live in a block of flats...the police doesn't care and probably I will buy a gun...just kidding....I did complain once and the next day I found my car scratched, funny coincidence!

Answer 2

some really, really stupid answers so far on this one.. I am sure you can tell the good from the bad..
I have been in the position from both sides.. I have had noisy neighbors and was a noisy neighbor.. It was unintentional in both cases..
Take the high road on this one.. just speak with them and ask that they not use the noisy fan or try to keep the stomping around to a minimum.. Offer to replace the fan with a quieter model, maybe? Chances are they do not know that they are being any kind of disturbance to you. Who would intentionally go out of their way to make a neighbor unhappy for no reason at all?
Maybe you are doing something that annoys them and they are childishly getting even? Just talk to them.. Unfortunatly, you have no control over their work or party schedule.. but you have all the rights in the world to live in a place that respects your need for some peace and quiet..
Don't let this spiral downhill into reacting in resentment.. there is no end to it.. they do something to annoy you.. then you get even and they feel they have to get even more annoying as a response.. and you are more annoyed and it goes on and on and on.. until somebody either gets fed up and starts swinging or moves out..
It can be all be avoided. Just knock on thier door at a normal hour or catch them in the hallway and ask if you are doing something that disturbs them in any way.. chances are they will say something like.. no, why? Be respectful when you say you don't like the way they walk loudly or slam their door at 3 am .. or the unnecessary noise from their fan.. this approach is the high road as compared to either suffering in silence or 'getting even'
Good Luck :)

Answer 3

The first thing you must realize is you cannot "control" anything or anybody, but yourself. The only way to work out a problem is through positive and direct communication. Approach the neighbors in a friendly, positive manner and have in your mind how you can most diplomatically state what the problem is. They must understand the problem themselves before they choose to make a change. After stating the problem, if they have something to say (regardless of how they act), patiently listen to their response (don't interrupt them until they are finished talking). "Wait time", and being a good listener is the best way to avoid conflict when communicating. Then, depending on their response, you go from there. Let's look at the worse case senario. They very rudely express they don't care if their lifestyle interferes with yours (maybe using profanity). Look at them, keeping your composure (you don't want to lower yourself to their poor character), and restate in a positive way, "I understand that you are saying, you aren't concerned this is a problem for my family and the other neighbors and you are not willing to quieten things down so we can be considerate of each others needs. Is that what you are saying?" If they refuse to hear you out or change this behavior, very calmly, turn and leave without saying anything else. You have rights. Any time there are two or more people together, there will be problems to be worked through. Communicating in a positive manner is the first step. In your situation we have just encountered, I would wait until the noise began again and I would call the authorities, explain what the problem is, how you have attempted to handle the situation, and request them to come and witness the problem and decide how they can be of help to you and your neighbors. It would be a good idea to have a list of other people in advance complaining of the same problem for the authorities to talk with. There are often city and county laws and consequences for "disturbing the peace." If this does not work, you have a choice to live with the situation or relocate. It was not stated if you own or rent. Perhaps you could make your landlord aware he is going to lose his good tenants if he cannot persuade these people to make the needed changes. If after that the problem continues, you will have to make the choice for your own sake to seek another place to live. I wish you success with this problem. Appropriate communication will be your best course of action, with the noisy neighbors first, then the landlord (if you have one) and as a last resort the proper authorities. Good luck.

Answer 4

Are these apartments? It would be better to approach them first, rather than through the manager. That would only further estrange you from them if you can't talk to them even once. If you've already done that, then the manager might be the next thing.

If this is a residential area, well, it's different. You can call in an anonymous complaint. Here in my area, there is no established time for noise. It is based on distance. If a noise is audible from 50 feet of its source, it is in violation of noise ordinance, but people don't call in noise if it is during the day, although they could if they wanted to.

I've not had the same problem, but I would try to approach them first, if it is in apartments. If in a housing area, you could just call the police. Rest is important enough to merit that.

Answer 5

I don't know where you live, but most places have some sort of a law about disturbing the peace after a certain time at night. Call the police and complain. I hope this helps.

Answer 6

Get a piece of chalk, and crush it up as finely as possible. Then put it inside an envelope, and put it through their letterbox. They'll think it's anthrax, so the police will come round and investigate it.

Whilst the above is going on, you can catch up on some lost sleep ;)

Answer 7

You cannot stop them dear.
You have to put up with all noises when you live in an apartment.
Learn the art of tolerance.
You have done your best, so leave the rest to God! lol
ACCEPT THE INEVITABLE.

Answer 8

Whenever you are out, have your stereo playing the Barney song...LOUD with a lot of bass. They will move within two weeks.

Answer 9

move, if you can't get a song that they hate and play it loud so they can hear it and put it on replay and go rent a motel for a night.

Answer 10

Face the facts. Talk it over with them, they probably don't know what a nuissance they are