How have you dealt with noisy neighbors in an apartment building?

Question

My upstairs neighbor used to be a single woman who was never home and couldn't tell when she was - she was very quiet. She moved out a couple of weeks ago and now I have new neighbors who I haven't seen yet but I sure have heard them! I'm assuming there are children which is understandable... I have children too but that's why I chose to live in a downstairs apartment. The noise is VERY loud. The staircase is right next to our living room area, which is where we spend most of our time. I'm trying to just get used to it but my children take naps and need their quiet time during the day. I don't want to be rude, it's their place too but I don't know how to deal with this effectively so if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

I can't pee on someone's doorstep! That's really funny but really disgusting and rude too and besides I can't aim. I think banging on the ceiling is rude too.

Thanks Cari F! Good luck to you!

I wish I could do that jpalmtree001 - but we have private entry. I hope you do it. Good luck with that I hope it works for you!

Answer 1

So funny you are experiencing the same thing I am. I just moved into a new apartment last week and the people above me sound like a herd of elephants.

Until I saw you question, I was prepared to just grin and bear it, but then an idea formulated in my head. I am not sure how this will work, but here goes.

At the next crash, bang, boom - you run upstairs out of breath with a look of genuine concern (as genuine as one can muster considering the circumstances), knock on the door and say "are you OK!!!" When the startled inconsiderate neighbor opens the door you say, "oh my gosh i heard a really loud noise and I just wanted to make sure you guys were ok" After loud and obnoxious neighbor tells you that either a. "something fell &/or b. everything is ok (to which you reply, whoo thank God. you really had me worried for a minute there - then properly introducing yourself if you have not already), he/she will probably be perplexed as to if you really were concerned or trying to convey a subtle hint. However, due to your charming performance and the fact that you did come all the way upstairs, he/she will have no choice to take your word as a concerned neighbor and it will be difficult to harbor hard feelings. He/She will no doubt be recognizant of the amount of noise that is made in the apartment in the future. Also, do not forget to end your conversation with the old "well please do feel free to contact me if anything..."

Answer 2

Are you sure you are not living in my home? I haven't seen you there before, but you are telling my story!! I have the same problem. I have opened the front door and exclaimed in a shocked voice, to the teenage boys pounding down the stairs after slamming their front door, that they are sure noisy. I have opened my front door and looked outside at the upstairs window when my neighbors have been stomping on their floor or vacuuming for the 5th time in one day (when they vacuum, it literally sounds like heavy machinery being scraped across the ceiling and it sounds like the roof will cave in). This has helped a little bit. I have wanted to knock on the door and speak to them or to leave a note for them asking them to be more quiet, but the mother is not home as often as the boys are, and the boys are boorish and impolite and things would probably get worse if I did that. I am going to try to speak to their mother when I see her in the parking lot (rarely) because she is actually a nice person. I wish you luck in handling your neighbors and I hope you will wish me luck as well!

Answer 3

If you are living in an apartment complex you need to speak to the landlord or the manager of the building. YOu take your complaints to them in a professional manner. Tell the landlord that the tenants in ( whatever apartment #) are being very loud in the late hours of the evening or in the very early mornings. My brother is a manager of an apartment complex and will not tolerate any noses after 10 pm to be considerate to all the other tenats. If this rule is violated more than twice.. then he kicks them out. When the tenant first arrives, he has them agree to certain rules of the building community. If you get no results from your landlord or manger of the building.. then you can go to the police and file a complaint.

Answer 4

This is an easy fix - call the landlord! I have had this happen in the past and have NEVER had any negative repurcussions (keyed car, etc.). They can be evicted for excessive noise and many will respond to this threat! I had a dope smoking idiot below me one time and in the summer the smell would waft from his deck (where he smoked it) into my open window. Calling the landlord did no good ("He manages a business, he can't be a pot head"), and I just happened to be dating a cop (with a specialization in drug enforcement). It happened when he was over and needless to say, it didn't occur again after his arrest. If people won't have manners, they need to be taught them! Good luck! It's frustrating but the landlords job is to ensure his tennants are happy!

Answer 5

I had noisy neighbors whose bedroom was seperated by a thin wall in my apartment building.

THey would let their three year old stay up all night playing video games on old game systems.

My remedy was to leave Nine INch Nails' "Closer" playing all day while I was at work an school on repeat with the speakers pressed up to and facing the wall.

They moved out the next month.

Then I moved because I hated the place anyways.

Answer 6

I work in a library, so I'm used to asking people nicely to keep their voices down. Your new neighbors probably don't realize how noisy they are. If you politely explain that your kids need some quiet time, they'll probably understand (especially if they have children, too). It probably wouldn't hurt to bring some flowers or some other treat, as a sort of housewarming/peace offering.

If that doesn't work, then I suggest you talk to your landlord.

Answer 7

I had a noisy upstairs neighbor, so I usually just sarting screaming shut the hell up and banging on the ceiling with a broom. It seemed to work!

Answer 8

Talk to them and given some indications and clues politely. If it doesn't improve, tell them directly but very politely with reasons. If it doesn't improve, you better be rude then - perhaps like calling police, talking to community leaders,etc.

Answer 9

Have pizzas delivered to their house, make annonymous letters to the landlord, report them to the police as drug dealers, flatten their tires, use a sling shot to shoot their windows out, No not really. Pray for them while you are sitting in your bed rubbing your eyes.

Answer 10

yes indeed. There were some next doors...things got worse when some dog or human started inexplicably urinating at their door step. Things gradually resolved.