What can I do about a neighbor who plays his music very loud all hours of the night?

Question

I live in DC and I have a neighbor who lives in the apartment next to me, and he has parties from Sunday throught Saturday (I am not joking about this). These parties somtimes lasts unitl 5 or 6 am.His music is so loud that it causes his speakers to vibrate and the vibration comes through my bedroom walls, and I can't sleep during the night. I have spoken to him several times and have asked him to turn the volume down; he would turn the volume down for awhile, but afterwards he would turn the volume up again disturbing my sleep. I have gone to the landlord and complained, even though the landlord would speak to my neighbor about this, he would still play his music very loud. Last weekend, I called the police and filed a complaint, the police came to the apartment building and asked him to turn the music down. He did turn the music down and I could hear him making rude comments towards me. I am tired of waking up in the morning with headaches because of lack of sleep.

Answer 1

Keep calling the cops. Over and over and over. The cops will get ticked off enough to make sure it doesn't happen again. Take your police reports to the landlord. There is likely a clause in your lease that states you can be evicted for breaking noise ordinances. You can get this guy evicted. If the landlord won't do it, go to the Housing Authority or similar local agency.

Also, line your adjoining wall with a thick drapery to mute the sound.

Answer 2

In addition to continually calling the police, I would try and talk to other neighbors. If it's bothering you, it's probably bothering other people too. If your landlord thought that several people in the building are bothered by it and possibly were threatening to move, he might be willing to take action. Type up a calm letter to the landlord and get other people to sign it saying that this person is really disturbing your peace. If other people do not want to do it, you at least should start to DOCUMENT by sending you landlord a written letter. This is how it works. People start to get scared when they receive FORMAL documents. Type on a computer with your address, date, their name and address and a formal letter that you are formally informing them of the problem and requesting that the problem be resolved. Send one to the guy and one to the landlord. You are requesting that the problem be resolved within 5 days. Keep copies of the letters. Send both of the letters certified mail, return receipt requested. This is inexpensive. total like $2. Believe me, you will see action. You might even put in the letter that you have "been advised by counsel" to formally request that this issue be resolved in 5 days or you will be required to take further action. Don't state what the action will be. (Further action can be that you will cry, they don't know that:)
Landlords do not like guys like that a-hole who is making other tenants have problems.
Then I would not just call the police. If nothing is done. I would GO DOWN to the police precinct and ask to talk to the captain. Tell him that you have called the police umpteen times and this guy is really ruining your life. Show them the letter. If you have a letter from other tenants, show them that. See if they will talk to the guy.
As a last resort, or maybe as a first, you can talk to a tenants rights organization.The District of Columbia Housing Code (DCHC) is enforced by the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs' Housing Regulation Administration (HRA). The HRA publishes the "Tenant's Guide to Safe and Decent Housing," a 30-page booklet summarizing the D.C. housing code and its partner, the Rental Housing Act of 1985, which is the city law covering rent-controlled apartments. To obtain a copy, visit the Housing Regulation Services Center in Room 700 at 614 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20001, telephone [phone], or send the office a self-addressed, stamped envelope to receive the guide by mail.

Answer 3

I went through this too with a neighbor. Most cities have a noise ordinance. I asked my neighbor several times very politely to please keep it down. After the 2nd time it was like he blasted it more on purpose. So, I picked up my cell phone and stood outside his door and phoned 911. The dispatch officer could hear his music, the police came immediately and told him that either he turned it down and kept it down or he could be arrested for Disturbing the Peace and his stereo could be confiscated. Not sure what the laws are in your particular city but you can call your local police department and ask. Good luck to you.

Oh, by the way, after the police visited, I never heard another peep out of my neighbor, lol.

Answer 4

Is there a law in DC about making noise after 10 pm? I would continue to call the police every time. Either the police will get fed up with the guy for having to go his place and actually give him a fine that he will have to go pay, or he'll get tired of the police and start to keep his parties more quiet. If that doesn't work then perhaps it's time to move.

Answer 5

I had that problem once in and apartment I lived at. I asked him several times as you did and a week or two would go by and back at it. I finally went upstairs and entered his room, pulled his stereo out of the wall and threw it out the window. Then I went back to bed. The dude moved out the next weekend and never said a thing to me. I would not recommend this and would say keep calling the police as most others have. My approach was not a smart move and i am lucky there were no repercussions. It is one of those things that i look back on and say damn i was lucky, He knew where I lived...
If you are wondering no I did not have to pay for the window, it was my lucky day...He never reported me for it and i actually think he felt as if he deserved it. I had 2 small children and my wife in our apartment and he knew it.

Answer 6

Pay someone to cut his electical wires...bu tdon't make it look obvious. make it seem like it's an electrical defect or something.

I would be so pissed if I were you. And best believe there is no reasoning with this guy. If it were, he would realize that he was being the neighbor from hell.

I say communicate on his level.

Do you know any really really really big dudes, that can go over there and ask him nicely...but let it be known that they don't intend to be so nice if they have to come back again.

Some guys are jerks to women but are respectful to another man......PUNKS!!!

You know the type!!!

Answer 7

1) Keep calling the Landlord EVERY time this disturbs you. He'll get sick of getting phone calls at 2 am.

2) Keep calling the cops. Eventually they'll have to do something about it.

3) Invest in some wax earplugs, they're supposed to be the best.

Answer 8

If it continues call the police again and again and again. Complain to the landlord again and again and again. Eventually he will get kicked out. Also get some other tenants that live there and complain too. Good luck.

P.S. You could move out. But that is the last alternative.

Answer 9

Well he is obviously ignorant. I would just keep calling the cops when he does this at unreasonable times of the night. Also, it would not be a bad idea to confront him about this and find a happy medium. He clearly is not respecting you, and should take others into consideration.

Answer 10

I would continue to call the police. Maybe play your music loud in the mornings while he's sleeping off his party and see how he likes it.