new apartment-- loud neighbors?

Question

How do I appropriately go about dealing with my neighbor's loud music. It's not so much the music that bothers me, but rather the bass that vibrates thru the walls. I have 2 small kids, have to go to school during the day, and just moved in... so I'm worried about causing conflict w/ my neighbors. How do get them to quiet down w/o ticking them off?

Answer 1

Slip a polite note under their door. If that doesn't work go and talk to your landlord and complain.

Answer 2

Have a talk with your neighbors and explain your situation to them. Since it's not the music volume that's bothering you, maybe they would be willing to turn down the bass. If there is a time that you and your kids are not home on a regular basis, you could tell them that you have no problem with the bass being turned up during those hours, but that you would appreciate it if they could keep it a bit lower at other times.

If they refuse to work with you, then keep a record of the days and times the incidents occur and report these incidents to your landlord. Be sure and let the landlord know that you tried to work things out with your neighbors yourself, but that they were unwilling to cooperate. If your landlord will not help, then you unfortunately have no other option but to call the police. However, the police will be more likely to respond if the incident is later at night; they will probably be unwilling to respond to a noise complaint during the daylight hours. (This will differ from city to city, of course.)

Good luck!

Answer 3

You can politely explain to them that what your situation is, and ask them if they can keep the sound turned down (or, if possible, use a headset to listen), but there isn't a lot else you can do. You might suggest that they put their speakers on top of some vibration-damping material (thick phone book works better than nothing), but if your apartment complex was constructed without much insulation, you may be outta luck.

You should also do everything you can to start saving to buy a house, because long-term that's the only solution to this problem and others like it.

Some solace for you: it could be worse. During the time my husband and I rented an apartment before we bought our house, we had neighbors who were dealing in cocaine, we had neighbors who put chemicals down their drains that came up into our bathrub and flooded our apartment (which we had to pay for!), we had a neighbor who was mentally ill and abusive to his family, and we had neighbors who vandalized the cars parked in the complex parking lot. In the general scheme of things, loud music isn't the worst thing a neighbor can do. Cold comfort, I know.

Answer 4

Tell the neighbor - politely - that you can hear their stereo. There's a good chance they don't realize that they are being too loud. Hopefully, after that things will quiet down a bit. Write down the date on which you confronted your neighbor - you never know when you might need it again.
If you receive a negative response, or no response at all, approach your neighbors again, but this time supply them with a copy of your lease. Chances are, there is a clause within the lease stating your right to "quiet enjoyment/environment." You might also give them a copy of your local noise laws. Sometimes there are fines for excess noise. You can find your local noise laws at city hall, a public law library or the public library. Give your neighbor one dated copy of the lease and/or ordinance laws and keep a second copy (these are good for your records if the problem continues.)
If you still have a problem, it's time to give your neighbors a letter informing them that you are willing to take the problem to the landlord, but wish that you could resolve it between the two of you (also keeping a copy for yourself for records).
If all of the above fails, it's time to tell it...no one wants to be the tattle tale, but we all have a right to live in a normal environment.
When you speak to the landlord, take copies of your copies (lol) and give it to them for their files. Most will calm down at this point when facing possible eviction.
I hope you get it taken care of in the early stages, versus the latter. Good luck, and take care! :)

Answer 5

Try writing a note to them first. They may not realize that it's that loud.

If that doesn't work, talk to the landlord and see if he will have a word with them. There may even be a clause in the lease about loud music.

If that doesn't work, see if your town has a noise ordinance and ask the police to enforce it.

If all else fails, find out when they are asleep and give them a demonstration of just how thin the walls are. I recommend Marilyn Manson or German industrial music.

Answer 6

I had the same problem, first is if its during the day you can call your landlord or manager and see if he can come and hear what your hearing. But let him know first. I wouldnt call police until you really have to because you still have to live next to these people when the police leave. Or do what I did a couple times, pound on the wall get your point across, they might not realize how loud it is in your place. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

I'm going through the same thing only they just moved in. I have the problem of them making so much noise while their having sex. My boyfriend and I have to get up and go to work early in the morning and they live upstairs over us and it sounds like they're trying to tear down the furniture. Me and my boyfriend are more romantic and we make noise but nothing compared to these animals upstairs! So we shout at them, get up and call them on the telephone, I ring their door bell and interrupt their sexual escapade because I don't care if they get pissed off. If they had consideration of others I wouldn't have to go off the way that I do. So in your case honey, if I were you, I would call the police on their tired @sses. First ask nicely and if they don't comply dial the non-emergency number at the police station and tell them your situation and ask the police not to give your name because I'm sure that you're not the only person being disturbed.

Answer 8

The best thing is to ask nicely, but this isn't easy especially if they are not nice people.

Maybe take a cake over and be neighborly... Appeal to them about your children's needs. Maybe they don't know that it is so loud.

In my experience most that play music like that regularly don't really care. You may have to take further action like calling the police, but be careful not to tick the neighbor off.

My neighbor plays the piano and I can hear it as if it was in my house. I was chatting with her one day and mentioned it. At first it took her by surprise and she became protective and she said she has to practice. I told her that was ok, but please don't play after 10p as it keeps me up at night. So far she has only played after 10p once for a short time. I still am annoyed at the piano, but what does one do.

Answer 9

Very tough one. First, let the landlord know. It's his/her responsibility to make sure you have a safe and generally quiet place to stay. That's partially what your rent is for. Stay on it as the landlord may tell them once and let it go. Call the landlord as the music is blasting and tell him to listen. Let him know that you cannot live in a place that has all that noise. If possible, you could approach your neighbor and let them know your children need their sleep and ask them to keep it down just a tad. If that does not help, you may have to move.

Answer 10

Complain to the apartment management.

If they do nothing, call the police.

Keep calling both places until they learn to keep the music down or move out.

BUT, this is only if its done during quiet time (which is like 8pm-8am or something like that).

Answer 11

Suggestion #1: Politley ask them to not play their loud music during certain times of the day. Try to comprimise. (i.e. "Do you think you could not play it between the hours of ___")

Suggestion #2:If you are scared to talk to them, becuase I know how some people can be itimidating, leave a polite note taped to thier door.

Suggestion #3:(only if #1 and #2 fails) Call the managment office.