How can I ask my neighbours to keep the noise down in the evenings without starting an argument?

Answer 1

If you live in an apartment, contact the landlord and file a complaint. I would not make physical contact with your neighbors, unless you know that they are not drug addicts. you never know whats taking place behind someone's door. if you live in an apartment and the landlord refuses or does not take any action, then call the police.

Each person has a lawful right to their personal space and the right to live in a normal, quite surrounding. noise, violates that right.

Answer 2

Here in the south land you are not disturbing the peace until sundown. If the loud music continues after sundown yu can call the cops and they will come out and tell the offending party to turn it down.
My Ex & I had a problem with that at one time. We called the cops to the lound music next door and it was not sundown. There was nothing they would do. We both worked the late shifts and my ex asked the cops when we get home about 2:00AM and cut the sterio wide open, I guess we are breaking the law, and he said yes. However; try cutting it up when y'all get home and when they report the noise, and you see us coming, or stopping in front of your apartment just "cut it off".It worked, but not after my wife beat the S... out of this lady..

Answer 3

Try to ask them nicely if they are reasonable people. Maybe have a friend stand nearby but not visible as a witness. Ask if they mind keeping the noise down a bit in the evenings and ask if you disturb them in any way as well. If they are reasonable they won't mind and probably didn't know.

A friend of mine always said to invite yourself over to the party. I never found this practical, however.

If you have asked before or otherwise know they are unreasonable then don't even waste your time. Call the police. If it is a building call the administrator. You may need to establish a paper trail to get out of your lease.

The sad news is that most Americans don't know have to behave. No one told them not to play loud music in apartments or not to slam doors, etc.
Currently I am living in Switzerland and even though there are strict rules so they know, they don't care and make noise 24/7

I think that many Americans are truly ignorant though and if you ask will try to comply though manners are hard to learn overnight.

I don't know if this is a house or apartment. If it's an apartment know that construction makes a big difference. Make sure you are in a solid concrete building and preferably on the top floor. Try to find apartments that have mostly elderly people (but make sure you aren't next to a deaf elderly person).

I have finally realized that no matter how quiet neighbors are this cannot compensate for poor construction and no matter how good the construction you can't make up for bad neighbors - e.g. a kid banging on a concrete floor will be heard below no matter how thick the floor. Solid construction helps for free-standing houses too.

Other than that your options are getting some machines for "white noise" - air purifier, or one which makes water noises or if you must ear plugs. Ear plugs give itchy ears with time and you can get impacted ear wax.

The best solution for this is to start looking for new housing if speaking with them doesn't give immediate results. Calling the police can never really be effective if people don't know how to behave. It's more to create a paper trail.

Someone suggested stereo wars but you have to have a good stereo and probably leave. And, then you risk them calling the police on you. I tried this and put the speaker face down on the floor for a noisy downstairs neighbor. Although they "got the point" they still kept using their stereo, etc. so it really didn't get rid of the noise. Sometimes they turned it down a bit. I chose music which I thought they'd hate too.

The best solution for noisy neighbors is to leave as soon as you can before you go nuts. So, if that's your stay or go question I would say leave to find a better place soon. Make sure you know who all new neighbors are and know that sometimes those renting places will lie so double check what you are told by knocking on doors or otherwise inquiring.

The ideal is to find a house with no neighbors nearby. But, this is harder and harder to find.

Hopefully you have neighbors who are nice and who didn't know they were disturbing you.

PS: someone added while I was writing this about calling the police and having your identity hidden. This might be safer if you are sure they won't know who's complaining in case you eventually have to call the police anyway. But, if asking nicely doesn't work I doubt the police will be a long term fix though it has apparently worked for some. Most places the noise resumes as soon as the police leave! For getting them kicked out with two police reports you will have to see what the local laws are and what building laws are if any. I have never found it so easy anywhere I've lived in the US, Canada or now in Switzerland. Laws are one thing but enforcement is another too. A lawyer is never worth it either.
We currently have a lawyer dealing with this in Switzerland where laws are strict and it's done absolutely nothing. Hopefully he can help us out of our lease. I have dealt with nightmare neighbors off and on for years now and have even gotten or worsened fibromyalgia from it.

Good Luck. DON'T LET YOUR NEIGHBORS SO GET YOU DOWN THAT YOU'RE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT DEATH! TAKE ACTION OR MOVE!

Answer 4

In the first instance it's always best deal with it amicably and in a civil manner, tell them that the noise is bothering you and could they turn it down.

We have a right to peace and quiet. if it persists then you could take further steps. For example there is an Environmental Law Foundation (do a google search) which gives advice on what the law is regarding noise and environmental pollution such as traffic exhaust fumes, trucks in residential street etc. .We actually have a legal right to brethe clean air and without risk to health and safety, or excessive noise

Your city hall would have a noise abatement officer who could help you. Before it gets to that stage it is always preferable to resolve disputes amicably.

Answer 5

I just walk over and ask them nicely, but I'm told I'm kind of mean looking. Call the police.
I stopped some people from partying at all hours of the night in a park behind my house by stepping out my back door and firing a few shots into the ground with a 357. They left pretty quickly and didn't come back.

Answer 6

I have a neighbor like this, too. I have used the "nice" approach, smile and wave when I see them, say hi and chat them up, etc. I think they might feel guilty, because now it hasn't been as much of a problem lately. This obviously won't work for everyone and could be a slow fix, but it seems to have helped.

Answer 7

Make a personal visit to your neighbors first, with a smile and a simple request to be considerate. If that fails, then involving the police will at least leave you with the comfort that you tried to be civil about it. If your neighbors are really jerks, you may have to go the distance.

Answer 8

call the cops and tell them to keep your identity a secret.
Its the only way, they will stop. After the 2nd time you call the cops, get a copy of the police report and you can get them kicked out.

Answer 9

Call the cops and cite disturbing the peace. They come and deal with it without citing who made the call and you avoid an ugly confrontation with your neighbors.

Answer 10

My neighbors are drivin' me crazy!!!!Every morning they have to get out the stereo , the music is really loud,and they can't stop dancing for like 2 hours!!!
I want them so badly!
Go to court!That's what I'll do too