Apartment noise and sleep?

Question

My husband and I just moved in a new apartment and the place is great. After a few days, we realized that the upstairs neighbors are really noisy and we told the landlord about it. They seem to be making an effort but there's still some noise. I have trouble falling asleep even with my earplugs on? Any advice?

Answer 1

I had this issue in a condo once. The neighbors upstairs were terrible, and even though they "tried", the noise never stopped. Eventually, if it was at night, and past 10 pm, I started calling the police to intervene. When that didn't work, I kept doing it until it did. There will come a point when the police will get fed up with tyour neighbors, and lay down the law about it. then you can get some sleep. Cities have laws about noise for this very reason.

Answer 2

This reply is to a post of about 2 years ago. Hope this will be read. Here is my solution...If you can financially handle it, do NOT seek apartments that accept Section 8 housing! If you do, you will have neighbors that don't work. And because they don't work, they can make all the noise they want at inappropriate times, and still get their sleep whenever they want, leaving you tired, angry and frustrated! They don't understand the need for a good night's sleep and peace/recreational time so one can be prepared for the next workday. If you are financially strapped and become a Section 8 renter, do your homework when looking for an apartment. Look for apartments that are brick buildings, as those have a tendency to absorb noise better. I currently live in an apartment complex that is quite beautiful concerning the grounds and layout of the units. However, it is Section 8 and the walls of these apartments are paper thin. I can literally hear my neighbor four doors down, sneezing in the morning. Also, choose an upstairs apartment (with no apartment above you). Just the sound of someone walking above your ground level flat can be maddening!

Answer 3

I had this problem and it is horrible, I wrote the guy a note. It would stop for a little while then continue. It just seemed so delibrate. It is a hard situation. I would also bang the ceiling with a broom when the noise was unbearable. He would slam the front door several times during the night, then stomp up the steps, slam his door it just seemed that all his noise would echo. Finally, thank God I moved. I am in a house and my noise situation is a little better but sometimes my neighbors blast horrible music in which I called the police about. And they have fours kids that stomps, fights and yells late so it just seems that noise is always problem especially in the city.

Answer 4

Try a box fan ... or two. Turn it to the wall though so it's not blowing on you . They work great and you will some find your self needing the fan "white noise" to sleep.

Second vow to NEVER rent a downstairs again.

Answer 5

Try using meditation or relaxation CD's, anything with an ambient sound should help cover the noise from above. Some of the best are CD's of falling rain or ocean waves. I have used these for years to cover up my husbands snoring lol... Also try a brand of ear plugs called Macs. They are a pliable silicone and much more comfortable then traditional ear plugs and do a better job of closing the ear canal and thus block more sound. Good luck and sleep soundly.

Answer 6

Yes, you need some other noise to distract you from the noise of your neighbors. Like playing the radio really low. Your brain will focus more on the radio than the neighbors (assuming they're not dropping things on the floor to make sudden loud noises).

Answer 7

My b/f and I sleep with our fan on which blocks a lot of noises. Or maybe if you try headphones w/music?

Answer 8

You can never eliminate all noise. Try running a smooth but noisy fan to cover up the noise, it can be very "hypnotizing".

Answer 9

The problem isn't your neighbors but the flimsiness of the building. They are all built like that, and usually have little to no insulation between floors. It sounds like a heard of elephants even though they are just walking normally.

Solutions: Move to a top floor. Move to a modern 4+ story building that has more stringent design codes due to fire issues. Move to a place with noone living above you. Learn to live with it.

Look at the bright side, at least you aren't single listening to a playboy or playgirl neighbor making the bed (or the sofa, or the kitchen table...) noisy at all hours. ^_^

Answer 10

Try background noise...a fan or tv.
As for apartments that is what they are like. You get what you pay for.
Reason I live in a house.