How do I get my neighbors to keep their kids from banging on the walls and screaming all the time?

Question

I live in a townhouse and can hear everything next door. I have never heard any of the previous renters - just these kids. I asked the parents if they could keep the screaming and stomping to a minimum because I hear it all the time and it's affecting my life. It starts at 6am and lasts until about 10pm at night. I work from home and am in graduate school. Talking to the parents didn't help. I honestly think it made it worse.

Just wanted to add a note based on some of the responses:
I own my house and they are renters - so me moving is not an option. I was definitely polite with them but often because they decided to have kids I'm rude if I don't to hear them.

Answer 1

....got porn?.....put that disk in point your speakers if you have it set up to a home theater towards the wall of the offending neighbors...or turn up the volume a little....push play and let them hear the sounds of love....while you step out to the store or take your shower......that's what my last crazy roommate did to our neighbor....surprisingly it worked.....good luck.....

Answer 2

You will have to handle this tactfully. You've done the first step. Made contact with the parents.
Now you must make contact with the Police.
Keep a paper trail on all events, occurrences and disturbances.
You should make an audio recording with a sound activated tape recorder.
You may also want to set a video recorder with audio next to the wall area along with pictures on the wall. The pictures will show if there is any vibrations.
You could always call 696-KIDS to start an investigation. Unfortunately when you start retaliation or pay back. No one is a winner.
If you do not get results with these tips it is going to be a long experience.

GOOD LUCK.

Answer 3

Well, first of all, any type of "revenge" is just asking for problems - whether you decide to involve the local police, bang the walls back or what have you. Honestly, repeat calling to the local police becomes an annoyance for them as you are wasting their time that they could otherwise be spending on REAL crime (therby making you the disturbance as opposed to your neighbors).

Also, How did you approach the parents? Depending on your tone, affect, attitude, etc., the noise from the children may very well be encouraged should you have been hostile, etc. These are very delicate situations and it's always best to approach them in a friendly manner. The parents may not have even realized that the children's behavior was a major disturbance, and should you have seemed "put off" they may feel resentful.

Children run, children jump, children cry, children make noise...it's just a fact of life. Although you are rightly frustrated, this is just what children do (also depending on age). That being said, it would also be difficult (and costly) for your landlord to attempt to evict a family with children.

The best solution is either wait it out until your neighbors relocate, or start hunting for a new place yourself. Depending on your landlord, if you explain the situation they may let you out of your lease early (especially since this will most likely become an ongoing problem for you).

So, end result, your best options are:

1.) Live with the disturbance.
2.) Live in constant war with your neighbor should you decide to retaliate (i.e. your car getting keyed, the noise getting even louder, unknown deliveries/servicemen appointments, etc.).
3.) Move.

Edited 2/20/07 to add:

If moving is not an option as you have stated, then the only alternative I can think of is to bang/create noise at the time you think the children have gone to bed (thereby waking them up). Odds are that their parents get annoyed as well and fully welcome the time their children fall asleep for the night. Although you may be be reluctant to cause more noise even later when they wake up, if you do it for a few days straight the parents will probably get frustrated and work harder to keep their children calm. However, please keep in mind that any form of retaliation may open you up for future attacks as well. It really is a difficult situation and I do hope you come to a good resolution! Good luck!

Answer 4

First step, contact the police. If they come out and take a report and warn your neighbors, then great; hopefully your neighbors will get the hint.

If the noise continues and the sound is loud enough to be captured on a sound recorder, then try going to your local Wal Mart, Best Buy, whatever and get an audio recorder. Each time you turn it on, speak into the mic and state the current date and time. The little tapes are very cheap and if the sound goes on as long as you say it does, then use a new tape for each day. Once you have a good few days to a week's worth of audio recording, take it to your local police station (don't call them, just go there) and present the recordings to them. Because you had previously contacted them for help, your information will be on file and will help make a stronger case. Your neighbors won't go to jail, but they'll more than likely be fined. After a couple of fines, the parent(s) I'm sure will quickly take note of the problem.

I've been in your shoes and it sucks! Granted I lived in an apartment at the time, but after doing what I just told you to do, not only was my neighbor fined twice, but after the 2nd time, he was finally evicted. I wish you the very best during this annoying and stressful time. Good luck!

Answer 5

hook up electrodes to the wall and when they start banging emit a shock until one day you get them and then they'll stay away from the wall or start calling them at really weird hours in the night and asking about bagels (from a payphone) join the jehovah witnesses and just constantly go to there door and ask them if they hear any good news for halloween smear blood alover your house and have some fake limbs hangin alover ther place have some really loud nasty sex and make sure yoiu dont skimp on the dirty talk start banging on the wall your self throw rocks at theri windows change their locksehehehe ty caution tape around theri yard when their not home and call the police about a distrubance from a pay phone and then watch and giggle make sure there s an ambulance too(pay the ambulance in advance)

Answer 6

Tune them out or get some earplugs- KIDS will be KIDS- For goodness sake --- you were one once!- What are the police going to do because the walls are thin and kids are playing Save your money and buy a house where the neighbors aren't so close!

Answer 7

Contact their landlord/realtor. Do the children appear healthy? Parents aren't causing the commotion are they? Maybe social services

Answer 8

Talk to their landlord about the problem. Tell him what you've told us. Tell him that the only recourse you have if he can't solve the problem is the police. He may want to know, they may be tearing up his place. Then again, could child abuse be possible?

Answer 9

call 911 and tell them it is 10 pm and your neighbor is too loud
they will make them quit
i had that story with my neighbor last two years
i called a police one night and that was it
they came and they warning them

Answer 10

Flamethrower or Claymore