Do I actually have to put up with this? I'm going to go crazy pretty soon!?

Question

Okay, I live in a mediocre apartment complex. There are three employees. The main manager guy, the girl in the office, and the one maintenance guy. Notice no mention of on-call, emergency, or security.

I'm married and have two small children. We're pretty quiet folks. When we moved to our building, the people surrounding us were pretty quiet folks, too. Then about 1 1/2 months after we moved, the arpartment below us and the one beside us both were rented to.... well, let's just say, they are not pretty quiet people.

They play music that freakin makes our entire apartment vibrate. I had a plate fall off the counter based solely on their Tejano music being played at volumes we couldn't escape. They are fans of subwoofers. They apparently have no obligations to wake up early, since fun lasts past 2:30 AM all week.

And we're told that if we want to pay another $350 deposit and all moving costs, we can escape them and stay on property.

DOES THIS SEEM SCREWY TO ANYONE ELSE????

So, yeah, it's nifty how you have to fashion questions to fit in a certain number of characters, huh?

I've called the police an average of two times a week for the last two months. The fun thing is, sometimes it's outside (they don't verify who it is exactly), sometimes it's in one apartment, sometimes it's in the other. Therefore, each "apartment" has been called on a total of maybe three times.

When they left broken beer bottles along the stairs and my 5-year-old moved it out of his brothers' way, I figured "Well, the lady next to us is a mom, I'll go talk to her." Turns out, though, not a one of these people speak a word of English.

I also considered telling my 3-year-old to go knock on THEIR door at 5:30 in the morning and demand his poptarts.

I'm frustrated, we're going to go ahead and move, because I'm not convicted enough and I don't like the apartment enough to "stand up to them", I just want SLEEP! But it still ticks me off.

By the way, "can't" is a relative term.

Legally, they may get a little "no-no" from the cops afraid of offending immigrants these days in our area, but physically, they can (and do) turn the stereo up loudly and regularly.

Apparently, they don't care that most of the time, their music fests are stopped by the police. And plenty of times, they crank it back up 20 minutes later.

Answer 1

Here's an idea...Sesame Street at 200 decibels at 8:00 AM. And if these people are in th apartment below you, you should dance around with Big Bird and Elmo. Stomp, Stomp, Stomp! I'm talking earth-shattering play time with your kids. Encourage very loud singing and playing. Young children can be very vocal. Use it to your advantage. Maybe one too many mornings of waking up to "Sunny Days" with a hang over will give them pause.

Sorry for your situation...I know it sucks, especially with kids. There is no easy solution. Guess I'm just vindictive. I'd be noisey as hell really, really early in the morning. Every morning. Until they move on.

Answer 2

Girl, I know what you mean!!

My husband and I are dealing with people that are living above us that blast music, vacuum at 2:00 am and have their washing machine on all the time. To top it off, they argue, have a 3 year old son that screams bloody murder all hours of the night while they yell at each other, throw trash out onto our lawn when they argue and have this pit bull mix dog that barks, howls and cries ALL day while they're at work. I feel your pain, dear! We've complained so many times to the apartment complex managers and nothing ever seems to get done about it.

We're only going to be here for a little while longer though, my husband is active duty military and we're going to be moving back to my home state soon.

My advice to you is that you might want to try calling the police if the noise continues. If you explain your situation and tell them what's going on, they might come out and speak with the people about "noise pollution". I'm about to the point of calling the police, myself. Hope this helps, good luck and I wish you the best!! :)

Answer 3

The "main manager guy" should handle this and the loud renters should at least have to limit their noise to a certain, reasonable time period. You should not have to move to another apartment in the complex to escape them because then someone else could just disturb you there too. If the manager won't help you should ask about speaking to his supervisor and if he has one actually follow through and talk to them. You should not have to put up with music that makes things fall off your counter, that is excessive!! Good Luck!

Answer 4

re-read your lease. if it has any sort of section for rules for people's behavior, go over it with a fine tooth comb. if you find soemthing in there about noise, you bring your lease to the office and tell them they broke the lease and you want a new apartmetn or you're moving. we had a sort of similar problem and that's hwat we did.

if you're feeling pissy, you could wait untilo they turn thiers down and crank yours up. i'd talk to the neighbors around them and let them know you were considering doing this and ask if they'd like to help show these people what living next to them is like.

mainly, though, i'd look through the lease. most leases say you can not make an excessive amount of noise...this doesn't include crying babies or vaccums, as those are daily living noises, but the radio cranked up high like that is. in our state, if the cops have to come to your house more than twice they issue a fine.

good luck.

Answer 5

1. Call the police.
2. Detail every (and I mean every) incident for noise and nuisance (date/time/which apartment/etc.).
3. Call your landlord everytime you call the police.

The details will help when you sue your loser, low-life landlord. By not providing a comfortable, safe atmosphere, they are voilating most lease terms.

If things continue and your landlord refuses to do something, you can go to small-claims court and fight to break your lease. Your documentation of the incidents (and the responses by the police and landlord) will help you win the case. Typically, you can file a small-claims action for under $50.

You definitely have a case. Just make sure you document everything... judges love the underdog!


PS -- If the annoying neighbors are under housing assistance (where the government helps their rent), this can be a violation for that as well. Keep your ears open to see if they are under government assistance.

Answer 6

there is a law that music can not be louder than 10 decibel after the hour of 10 pm, you could also make a complaint with the po.po, also the renters association, about your none supporting manager and them wanting to charge you AGAIN, this would be a negligence complaint, what you have on your side is kids , use them to your advantage, and talking with the renters association, you will find if asked that you can not be kick out, you will also then have documentation.

I AM

Answer 7

I did catch the mention of the type of music that is being played. I'd definately call the police and report and continue to do so until something is done. That is one of the unfortunate things that happen in apartment complexes. Actually good neighbors can be hard to find in other areas as well. Good luck to you, and be persistent!!

Answer 8

Mega-screwy problem.

Talk with the management and ask for help.
If you don't get relief, contact your local Bar Association...this is a place where local attorneys can help (usually for free) resolve issues like this.
Then go back to the apartment management and tell them you've gotten legal advice and let them know that you will take action if they don't.

No one should have to put up with loud and/or obnoxious neighbors.
As the saying goes: your rights end where my nose (or, in your case, ears) begins.

Answer 9

You need to talk to the police about this. They are disturbing the peace. I know how you feel. It is terrible. Just start with the police. They will be able to steer you in the right direction. Make sure you call the non-emergency number, and not 911. Good luck to you!

Answer 10

Call the cops they cant play loud music after in most states 10 or 11