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An example, last night I turned on my tv and the lady upstairs started beating on her floor, loud enough to make my dog bark. She has complained to the office many times of loud music and doors slamming. I have lived in apartments all my life and have never had this problem. Do I have any rights?

2007-02-08 01:08:33 · 14 answers · asked by timhtlmgr@yahoo.com 1 in Politics & Government Law Enforcement & Police

14 answers

Some people are not meant to live in apartment buildings. You need to put up with a certain level of noise (noise of everyday living). This woman seems to be one of those people.
I would be calling the office to complain about her pounding on the floor. That is unusual and intentionally harassing noise on her part.
I am assuming that your TV is at a normal volume level.
I have been to these kind of calls as a police officer. What I have done is asked the person to put the TV/Music at the level they normally listen to it and then I go to the complainer's apartment and listen. If I believe that the noise is at a reasonable level, I tell the complainer they are out of luck and that they should consider moving to a new building with better noise insulation between floors. You need to keep talking to your landlord, and if you are a good tenant (that he/she will want to keep), you should be okay.

If the floor pounding continues, call the police. They will tell her to call the office instead of hitting the floor and hopefully you will be left alone. Of course, you could always move too.

2007-02-08 01:19:35 · answer #1 · answered by joeanonymous 6 · 7 0

Clearly, this is a bitter, lonely person whose only purpose in life is to make others miserable.

The fact that the Building Office probably knows this doesn't help you.

You have three long term options.

The first is to document everything you can and file a harassment complaint. For this to work, you really need other neighbors in adjoining units who will state under oath that you are NOT a loud and problematic neighbor.

The second options is, I kid you not, to try and befriend her, or at least become someone who is consistently nice to her. If you're someone she has tea with now and then who listens to stories of her past, she'll be less likely to treat you like crap by harassing you.

For this to work, she really needs to be acting out of loneliness and not outright hostility. If she's just lonely and she comes to see you as a nice person, she'll probably stop filing complaints. If she just hates the world, or hates you in particular, this is unlikely to work.

Finally, there's the rat bastard method. This will probably get you kicked out of the complex, but if her complaints have you on the verge of that anyway, it doesn't really matter.

Borrow the loudest sound system you can find. I'm talking massive speakers big enough for you to fit in. Make sure to borrow a sub woofer the size of a VW Bug.

Next, find the loudest, raunchiest and most perverse porn you can. The last time I did this was in college, and there was a guy down the hall who loaned me Horse ***** for this purpose.

Set everything up quietly.

Wait until you know she's asleep.

Turn everything up to max volume.

Put in ear plugs.

Turn it all on and hit "Play" on the porno.

Turn it all off in 30 seconds and get the obscene sound gear out of your apartment stat. You'll need the help of some friends to do this, preferably ones who live down the hall. When the police show up, all you should have in the room is a tinny TV and old, barely audible sound system.

Repeat the process randomly over the next three weeks.

Even if she never stops the frivolous noise complaints, you'll at the very least be contributing to her mental deterioration. If you're going to be reported, it might as well be for something you actually did.

2007-02-08 01:27:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 2

I am sorry for you, I had the same problem about 5 years ago. The old man upstairs, stomped on the floor and would come to my apartment to complain. At first I tried to be quite, but he still complained. Then I started beating on the floor back at him. Started going to his apartment every time he walked across the floor. I never called the cops but he did several times. They finally just started coming to the door saying "You know the drill". He started to calm down after about a week of me and my boyfriend going to his apartment and beating on the ceiling. He still complained but would wait until he caught me in the hall or at the mail box. Good Luck.

2007-02-08 02:09:26 · answer #3 · answered by betterwithage 2 · 0 0

Depending on where you live, meaning the city,will determine the noise bylaws. Most noise by-laws have a restriction of 11p.m. and not before 6 a.m. butg they differ. Check with the landlord and let themnow what is going on.However by turning up the noise whenshe starts stomping will only fuel the fire and might back fire on you if other neighboors start to complain. Do not drop to her level, check out your rights first.

2007-02-08 01:53:11 · answer #4 · answered by STEPHEN S 2 · 0 0

Video camera. Collect the sounds and noises, the screaming fits, the obnoxious commentary. Go to the police, in person and ask what you can do about it. If they say 'nothing' take it to the city council ask if one of them would like to live at your house for a week. I've had neighbors like that, rude and inconsiderate. Fortunately being a large male I can usually intimidate them into behaving. Do you remember Salvo tablets for the washing machine? I wonder if they still make those?

2016-05-24 06:22:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

This may be hard for you to accept, but if you want to try and solve this problem, your going to have to realize that your neighbor may be psychologically disturbed and in need of help in her life. I know it's not your job to help every unfortunate that stumbles across your path in life, but you could remain calm and attempt to communicate with her. Tell her what your doing to keep the noise down, even if your sure that the noises you make aren't any different from the noises she makes. If you take the time to get to know her somewhat, then she may realize your not a bad guy and will realize that your not purposely trying to agitate her.

2007-02-08 01:21:51 · answer #6 · answered by bobweb 7 · 3 0

Obviously she can hear you if she started beating the floor when you turned your TV on. Heck I wish I could punch my neighbors lights out (the ones above me) cuz the stomp around and yell and scream and bang all freaking night - they were up til about 3AM this morning doing that crap. i wish they thought a little bit more about other people.

2007-02-08 01:59:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

You have the right to turn the music louder when her stomping doesn't let you hear & enjoy your music.

I would also suggest you make your neighbor a friendly present. Some soothing tea and bubble stuff for the tub. When she stops clenching she'll be happier, so will you :)

2007-02-08 01:14:32 · answer #8 · answered by urbanbard7 3 · 1 0

Do yourself a favor, move out to a better place where you can be happy. Life is too damn short to have a jerk for a neighbor. They can make life seem like hell on earth and nothing you can ever do will change them into nicer people. Don't give them the pleasure of making your life unbearable, leave.

2007-02-08 03:51:14 · answer #9 · answered by SGT. D 6 · 1 0

I totally agree with true blue. I dont' agree with the answer of putting headsets on. You have the right to listen to TV at a normal volume and not have banging on the floor (whch to me is harrasement and needless loud noise, which they should be reported for).

2007-02-08 01:25:21 · answer #10 · answered by Rhonda M 1 · 0 1

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