Is there a polite way...?

Question

...to ask neighbors to turn down their music? I live in a row home that shares an driveway/alley with another block of homes, and on the weekends, all day, all night, we hear very loud hip hop, rap and hispanic music. Some is actually enjoyable, but for the most part, we have to shout to each other to be heard, the glasses in the cabinet vibrate from the bass, and we miss a lot of what we're trying to hear on the TV. I don't want to start a racial war or a bad-neighbor thing, I just want some peace and quiet, especially on the weekend when ALL OF US have worked hard all week (including, I assume, our musical neighbors). Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

call the cops. they don't have to tell your neighbors it was you that called and complained. maybe that will make them realize how loud the music is

Answer 2

I would go, introduce myself, tell them you hear their music, and say "I like your taste in music, but the weekend is my one time for quiet. Is there any way we could work out some quiet times?"
If it doesn't get better, complain to the landlord or call the police. Do this as a last resort, though. I lived in a duplex and one night when my husband and I had spent 2 hours reading with the TV and radio off, the police knocked on our door and said one of our neighbors had reported a domestic disburance in our place. We were confused and they finally left. We now joke that the only thing we were fighting was plaque(we had brushed our teeth before they came...maybe we gargled too loudly).

Answer 3

Absolutely. I have this same problem with my upstairs neighbors. Yes, your neighbors have a right to listen to their music, but they have to be respectful of those around them. You definitely should not have to put up with other people's noise to the point where you can't even hear yourself inside your own home.

The first time, just knock on the person's door and say, "You may not realize this, but I can hear your music loudly inside my house. Would you mind turning it down?" If your neighbors are decent people, that should do it. If they refuse or ignore you, check out the noise pollution statutes for your neighborhood and warn them if they are in violation. If that doesn't work, call the police. I know that's a step no one wants to take, but you have to be able to live your own life, too. Good luck!

Answer 4

Well I have had that problem before. My downstairs neighbor would get home late and then blast The Doors all night long. So finally I went down there and asked him very nicely if he minded turning down the music because it was so late. I got the door slammed in my face without even one word spoke to me. Then he turned it up louder. Well, the next night I had a knock on my door and it was the guy downstairs. He apoogized to me and we became great friends after that and hung out all the time.
Moral of the story.......there is no telling what might happen. Even if you are polite.

Answer 5

maybe you could wright a letter to them saying how you want to stay a good neighbor but that some times the music needs to be turned down a little an maybe send the note with a small box of candy so that they know that your trying to be nice

Answer 6

I would first go over and politely ask them to turn it down, and tell them why it's bothering you. If that doesn't work then I would wait until till the next time they have the music playing and then call the police because you don't want them to be angry at you and retaliate.

Answer 7

Your neighbours aren't thinking about you. Call the police. They should have some type of loud music ban after 11 pm like they do out there in the midwest.

Answer 8

Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Get to know them over a little bit of time and then bring it up casually. Therefore they'll see you're a cool person so they won't see it as racial. But if you have never spoken to them and then you march over there and ask them to turn their music down...that'll be rude.
OR
Call the police for "disturbing the peace"...and they'll never know who did it. Or would they?

Answer 9

Unfortunately, there is no way to ask a neighbor to turn down the music and expect there not to be hard feelings.

They will feel you are limiting their freedom to do as they please and they may play it louder and longer. It is not worth taking the chance. If possible, tune out or move out.

Answer 10

Slip a typed note under their door asking politely to turn down the music. If that doesnt work, type out another one threatening to call the police (or landlord if you are renting) if they dont turn it down.