Noisy upstairs neighbors, what would you do?

Question

Ok, I have been more than tolerant of my upstairs neighbor's loud music and partying. But lately, I have encountered a new, more annoying problem. He and his girlfriend have a very healthy love live. As a matter of fact, Everyone in the building can hear her, and Im sure the people across the street can too! (yuck)

Anyway, I'm the unlucky sucker who lives (and sleeps) below their bedroom.

Banging on the ceiling does nothing. (As if they could hear me over her screaming)...

So then, I left him a sarcastic but friendly little note, asking him to not do that during weekdays in the middle of the night...when normal people should be sleeping...

He hasn't responded yet, but he sure gave me the look of death this afternoon. I have also alerted the land lady.

So, my question is, what would you do?

If the problem continues, what do you suggest? I am unwilling to move...I will call the police, but by the time they arrive, Im sure he will be done with his activities.

Answer 1

I'm sorry but the only thing I can think of is to move. If this person is not willing to stop doing that and if the landlady is not doing anything, then just move.

Answer 2

I too live in an apartment. We have had our share, or more than our share of bad neighbors. I always tell the landlord. They write a letter of warning to the people. If they keep doing it and especially at least 2 neighbors complain they are evicted. Also I live in a city with a notice ordinance so if I can hear the music I can call the police and they are here in about 5 minutes and give them a warning. That usually scares them. If the police have to come a second time, there is a fine. You don't have to put up with this. Just keep telling the landlord. You are paying good money to live in peace and quiet. If the landlord does nothing, you can sue the landlord.

Answer 3

You did the wrong thing by irritating your neighbor. He/she probably has more time than you to harass and annoy you than you do. Also, the police will not help you. Your land lady probably can't do anything, either, other than move you to a new room, if she's nice, which most aren't.

LOUD white noise in the bedroom may help. Seeing as how you're a professional, accomodating person, you may want to try a white noise generator. Also, sleep as far away from the lovers as possible.

Also, talk to your doctor. Tell h/er what you've told us, and that you're having problems sleeping, and s/he will probably not have a problem with prescribing you something to get you through the next few weeks.

These are the kinds of situations that you have to deal with when you're sharing a wall with someone else. Noise violations are almost impossible to prove, and and the police will stop responding to your calls after a few times, bless their hearts. I've dealt with it before, and I'm not about to do it again.

Oh, by the way, feel free to take some of the above's advice, call an emergency number, and file a false police report. The police will then be more than happy to move you to a jail cell. I'm sure you're more intelligent than this.

Answer 4

I know what you mean, I have an upstairs neighbor that seem to think her kids can make noise from sun up to sun down, sometimes I can't think or sleep for the same problem, but anyway back to my answer. Call the police, after so many calls they'll get tired of the police coming and the police will get tired of coming for the same complaint. It's considered a noise violation due to everyone has the right to live in comfort.

Answer 5

You're best recourse is to call the police. Most rental agreements have a noisey neighbor clause in them. Most of them state if the police are called three times that the noisey tennant is to be evicted within 30 days.

Make sure you keep a record of when you call. If the landlord still doesn't do anything about it, then you have every legal right to violate your rental agreement and move out without notice.

If that clause is in there, then that's what you need to do so that you're landlord can't come back on you by moving out before your lease is up.

If that clause isn't in there, either move out and deal with the ramifications, or get some ear plugs....

Answer 6

Invite him to a friendly chat and explain politely but sternly how/why you feel uncomfortable. Do not shout at him but appear serious enough. If he does not want to come to your place, suggest a nearby pizza joint, or any quiet place for a talk.

If he flunks your invitation, adopt what I term the Petrone-method. Petrone is a character in Julio Cortazar's short story, The Disused Door.
When the screams are reaching fever-pitch, tip-toe upstairs (holding a creepy doll, any handy creepy visual object would do, or disfigure the doll). Hold it as if you are madly in love with it. Stand by their door and imitate the screams with the same pitch/loudness/intensity. Make sure you're only in your underwear not any night-gown. If they rush out, cook up some cock-n-bull story such as the screams were contageous and you've got this strange whatever phobia/mania (when folks scream the way they do)!
They are likely to detest you with all their gut but they'll sure get-the-hell-out sooner as it happened in Cortazar. It worked for me also in New York when I faced similar problem in my 95thW Str16th floor Apt.
But there may be a weird twist also as in Cortazar's story. What if its all been a figment of your own imaginations and you've been hearing imaginary screams! What if after they move out in disgust, you hear the same screams again at the same time of night!
Hence, be sure about it all before taking any action.

Good luck

Answer 7

What time do you get up ?Crank up the stereo with the speakers at least on top of the couch so the sound is muffled to the ones below and blasts it straight up. The closer to the ceiling the better. Do this at about 4:30-5:30 and play that Donna Summers song "Love to love ya baby!!!!

Answer 8

This is why I choose to live on the top floor of every apt I used to live in. You haven't a reason to complain, except for the music. You should move.

Get a noisemaker, too. I have them in every room of my home. It buffers out unpleasant noises outside the home.

Whatver you do, don't knock on their door. They might call police on you. If you start to yell and scream, it could be seen as threatening. I had a neighbor go ballistic once on a neighbor's door and he was arrested. Just move if you feel you're going crazy.

Answer 9

i unfortunately have a similar issue as you with some neighbors ive been tempted to do some very bad things to on occassion. my roommate gets upset and she goes upstairs bangs on their door then cusses them out. we did it one night we didn hear a peep from them all night i swear you could hear a pin drop when it came to the silence from their apartment. the noise clause can help, but i think the one that castle suggested could do you wonders its a little bit of an inconvenience, but if you do it a few times they might stop. if you have a portable phone or cell phone take it with you. to support your claim, and dial 911 for the noise issue and complain first. that way they know you called might not have been for emergency assistance but still gets the point across you dont appreciate the noise. or you could do like my roommate and cuss them out everytime you get upset. she always wonders how we get the neighbors who must have been raised in a barn.

Answer 10

yea i went through that. just pack up and move before you go crazy. your neighbor is trash. if your unwilling to move they will drive u nuts. u shouldnt have to deal with the distubance but dont waste time trying to have them evicted. it will take a long time and they will make your life hell until they have to move. calling the police will only influence your neighbor to damage your personal property (car tires or maybe something worse etc). you have to move.

Answer 11

there is nothing you can do man. lol. he probably likes his girl loud and he is sure as heck not gonna tell her to shut up when he is getting some to please you. i understand where you are coming from though. Thats gross. personally i cant abide any noise from any of my neighbours at any time. its just irritating. you could call noise control every single time anonymously although you kinda killed the anonymous thing with the note. too bad. get earplugs. although maybe telling everyone will embarass her. it would embarass me! good luck