Noisy Neighbors upstairs... What do we do?

Question

Our new upstairs neighbors are soo loud. They have 3 kids up there and they are all soooo loud I think they bought them pogo sticks for christmas. What can we do to get them to quite down without starting a fued?

Answer 1

complain to a landlord?

Answer 2

there are several things you could do,
1. go upstairs, and let them know they are being to loud (but don't get in their face or scream and yell at them). Maybe they don't know how loud they are actually being.
2 If the first one doesn't work, record the noise that you're forced to put up with, copy the recording, give one to the upstairs neighbors and tell them- this is how loud you really are- i've recorded it for you. If they don't keep it down, take a copy of the recording to the landlord and complain about the noise to landlord and give landlord copy of recorded noises from upstairs.
3. if all else fails, threaten to move due to the noise- tell your landlord that if they don't keep the noise down- you will move. But if the landlord hasn't done anything by this time- until you do move- call the police on the upstairs neighbors everytime they make loud noise after hours.

Answer 3

I'm in the same hell as you, but it's with my single, female tenant upstairs from me. She stays up until 3 am, and often has her noisy boyfriend come over at midnight or later, where they proceed to stomp around and drop things. I have tried talking to her a few times, and writing notes. She even came down once and heard how noisy it is. Nothing changed until my boyfriend slammed on the ceiling in the middle of the night when they were noisy, and then at 7:00am to wake them up.

I am a really nice person, but the only way the noise will quiet down is if I dish it back. I've tried diplomacy, now if I get woken up or hear loud noises after 10 or 11:00pm, she is getting a wake up call in the morning.

The only way the noise will actually stop is to move - this is what I plan to do at the end of my lease (in 9 long months from now).

good luck!!!

Answer 4

I have been an apartment manager for 15 years. As a manager, it can be difficult sometimes when two neighbors are having this type of dispute. Here's basically how it works (from the inside): You make the complaint in writing, describing the problem and when it occurred. The manager usually calls the tenant and discusses the problem and gets their take on it, and hopefully the tenant says they will keep it down. This is an informal conversation that is documented in BOTH your file and the offender's file. You make a second complaint in writing, describing the second occurrence of the same problem. The manager sends a formal notice explaining the problem, when it occurred, and how and by when it needs to be resolved. This is a formal legal notice called "1st breach of contract". You make a third complaint in writing, describings the third occurrence of the same problem. The manager sends a second and final notice which is a "10 Day Notice to Vacate". This gives the tenant 10 days to vacate, and if they don't, the manager files in court and proceeds to evict based on the breach. In AZ, this is the basic set of procedures with any breach of contract. You may want to check your landlord tenant laws in your state for any variations. But in general, this is the way it's handled in most places. Obviously, you'll need to read your contract, and put a clause in your complaint that refers to the part of your contract which your neighbor is breaching. Now, if you happen to have poor management, and you feel that you just can't get any resolution, even after following these steps, you need to place a call to the manager's supervisor. Something in writing is always best.

Answer 5

This is why I never live on the lower floors.

They have the right to enjoy their place, just like you enjoy yours. I would nicely welcome them to the building and ask how many kids they have. You can joke that you can hear the kids through the ceiling and they sound like really energetic little kids. If you approach it in a kind, friendly manner, they'll be more open to considering you when their kids play. If it persists, you may want to go so far as asking for time limits (like, no running around before 7 am or after 9 pm) Other than that, you don't have a lot you can do. They're not required to have carpets or anything.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Ask them nicely first. Maybe bring up some new years cookies or something, and politely let them know that maybe they didn't realize how thin the walls are, but that you can hear them downstairs, and just wanted them to know.

When that doesn't work, and it probably won't, then you will need to resort to calling your managment company, and they will handle it for you.

I know how you feel. I went through this in my condo. UGH...except it wasn't kids. My neighbors just fought all the time, at all hours. I finally had to repeatedly call the police on them, until the boyfriend got arrested, and then they got evicted. It was not fun.

Good luck.

Answer 7

I used to live in an apartment. Everyone on the lower floor had the same issue with noise. One day, an upstairs tenant came down and heard her family upstairs and admitted they sounded like elephants. I think that the upstairs people are unaware. The way I would handle it is to very nicely call and invite one of them to come down and hear the noise when it is happening. Tell them "you probably are not aware ... and so I would like one of you to come down and listen while the kids keep playing"
It will be hard for them to poo poo your complaint after they hear it. If the noise continues after you ask nicely a few times... I would then try giving them their own medicine. I used to have horrible neighbors who told me "we aren't changing our lives for you lady."
They liked to party late at night with all their relatives from South America. What I would do is get up early the next morning and put my stereo speakers right up to the ceiling and blast music. Believe it or not, the inconsiderate creeps calmed down after that. They had to be inconvenienced before they would change their behavior. They would not be considerate on their own.

Answer 8

Try just asking politely, maybe they don't realize how much noise they're making. Kids are loud in the winter since it's harder for them to play outdoors. Is there a yard they can run around in? If asking politely doesn't work and you are their landlord, you can require them to quiet down or be evicted. If not, you can ask the landlord to speak to them. Good luck!

Answer 9

I've been through this more times than I care to think about. The end result is always the same - a feud. Grit your teeth and save your money as fast as humanly possible, and buy a house. Thats the only real solution.

Answer 10

My wife and I lived in apartments for the first six years of our marriage. Unfortunately, if they are unwilling to quiet down after a kind request from you, then you have to figure out what is more important to you: Peace and quiet in your apartment or your relationship with your neighbors.

Answer 11

Try speaking to them directly about the inconvenience. If that fails, then take it to the landlord.