I live in a second floor apartment in NJ. My downstairs neighbor constantly blasts music and stomps around and slams his doors deliberately. And I do mean deliberately, since he is pretty threatening. I have asked him twice to turn down his music, but neither time worked, and the second time, he told me to stop walking up and down the stairs. So, I contacted the management and they apparently sent him a letter telling him to stop. It didn't. I called the police, it didn't stop (they never seem to really help). But now he's starting to threaten me and my boyfriend, who doesn't even live here. Is there anything I can do to get out of this lease (which is up at end of May) based on these threats? Can I legally keep it but not live here? I fear for my safety (and basically everyone else's) and my health (since I'm epileptic and the stress of this isn't helping me). I have a cosigner on this lease, so I don't want to just up and ruin his credit too. Any way out?
2007-03-03 03:16:38 · 6 answers · asked by Katie K 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
File a police report about the person threatening you, also get a restraining order. Get a copy of the police report to show your landlord, also show him the restraining order.
Tell him that you want to move as it is unsafe for you to live there, since the guy has already been threatening you. If he won't let you out of your lease, call a lawyer and see if you have grounds to be able to get out of your lease since you are no longer comfortable living there with the threats. He may have to let you out of the lease since you have a right to be able to live peaceably, without being threatened.
Call a lawyer and ask them you can get a free consultation and ask them. There are also free services for tenants, legal advice, look in your phone book it maybe in the front portion.
I made my neighbor behave him self by using a video recorder, him and his friends and family kept walking across my front lawn. It made me nervous since he was walking past my windows, as a woman it was uncomfortable to me. The guy also would sit in his truck and smoke drugs right in the middle of the day, the police couldn't catch him. One day his wife and her friend started walking across my lawn, I came out of my house with my camcorder on and said "do you realize that what you'r doing is illegal and I could have you arrested for trespassing"! They stopped doing it all and they appoligised to me, no more problems.
Good luck, I know how that can be. I will keep you in my prayers.
2007-03-03 04:35:17 · answer #1 · answered by Cindy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to record what is going on and present it to the landlord along with copies of the police reports and other correspondence you have generated thus far. You need to read our lease, it should have a clause for "quiet enjoyment" and you could force the landlord to either do something about it within 30 days or you will cancel the lease based on that clause. I would also keep a recorder on you at all times to document any threats made and present them to the police should such occur. This will hold up in court on harassment or assault charges. Documentation is the key, start gathering...
2007-03-03 03:32:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have lived near some very rude neighbors, but since I am a big guy, I can usually intimidate them into turning down their music... I used to have trouble sleeping at rendezvous (we sleep in canvas tents) and a lot of the guys snored VERY loudly, and I couldn't sleep... I mentioned this to my youngest brother, who was in the Army/National Guard. He recommended that I buy myself a pair of earplugs to use while sleeping, which worked great!(kind of strange feeling at first though...) You didn't say whether this jerk was doing this as you were trying to sleep... you might also try to use headphones to get by during the other times... just get through this until either your (or his) lease is up... good luck!
2007-03-03 03:28:14 · answer #3 · answered by buckaroo_57 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I feel for you. Here's what I would do. Ask your landlord if you can buy out of the lease. Usually that doesn't cost much more than a months rent minus the security deposit. I wish you the very best of luck!
2007-03-03 03:25:41 · answer #4 · answered by synchronicity915 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your land lord is required by law to provide a place of reasonable safety and quietness. I would push your landlord harder to make this happen, if he cant do this you have every right out of your lease, check your local renters laws for how to do this. But you need to leave and protect yourself
2007-03-03 14:46:31 · answer #5 · answered by laura n 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since he is threatenting you, you may be able to get a restraining order. If you do, he may be unable to legally live in such close proximity to you. This would force him to move out or risk arrest for violation of the restraining order.
2007-03-03 03:24:48 · answer #6 · answered by Homer J. Simpson 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋