People above us are driving us crazy!?

Question

We recently moved to a really nice newly renovated apartment complex, and we pay a lot of money, but upon moving in we noticed that we could our upstairs neighbors WAY to much. They are the only ones that BLAST their TV, their rap music, they walk around with shoes on and it sounds like a heard of elephants is going to come falling through the ceiling.

Talking to them has done nothing. It is a teenager and his single mom, When the mom is home it is tolerable, but the kid just takes pleasure in being a pain and causing more noise. He even bounces his basketball on the floor....

Anyone else had this problem? Any suggestions to be equally annoying to only the upstairs apartment? My side neighbors are great and I never hear anything from them, so I don't want to start bugging everybody.

Answer 1

I haven't had this problem, because when I went out searching for apartments, I told myself that I would not settle for anything less then the top floor. And I've been where I am for just a over a year and I live quite nicely.

You could always try the old-fashioned broomstick banging on the ceiling trick. I don't know if that would work though.

Answer 2

First of all, I am so sorry that you're in the position. We had the same thing happen a few years back. The people above us had three little kids, and they ran, jumped, thumped, dropped what sounded like bowling balls---every morning at about 5:30 they would jump out of their bunkbeds and start running and screaming. It literally did not stop until about 11pm. They blared the TV etc. as well. We had several "conversations" with the parents, but they didn't speak English very well and just kept saying, "They're learning", meaning we won't tell them to stop. We contacted our apartment manager, and after we complained several times he came and sat in our living room for an hour. He then went to talk to the peeps with no response or change in behavior. After a couple of months, the apartment building allowed us to break our lease to move, AND paid our moving expenses and security deposit at a new place. I would suggest complaining to the manager, a lot. Nicely, politely, but a lot. Ask if you can move to a top floor apartment if they aren't willing to confront the family above. The police will get involved if the people violate a noise ordnance. Call during business hours and find out what the rules are both as far as the police are concerned, and your apartment complex. Then firmly ask that they be enforced. Remember, you are paying rent and your lease should even say something about your right to live in a certain environment. Good luck!

Answer 3

We recently lived in a new apt. complex but we were on the upstairs. I know that most people prefer the lower apt. but, honestly you hear less noise. I know the one night I was at the neighbors and we were being very quiet, but the lady downstairs came knocking on the door and said we were being loud. I am not saying that you your upstairs neighbors are not being loud I just know that sometimes they can just be walking and talking normally when to the people below it sounds loud.
I guess if it is really a problem and talking to them has not done any good you could always talk to the people in charge of the apt. This is a hard thing to deal with because you dont want to p*ss off the neighbors, because they can make life really bad for you.
Sorry if this was not much help.

Answer 4

I am sure it has happened to anyone who rents at least once in their lifetime.

the kid is not only ignorant to the noise but he is just rude and disrespectful.

there isn't really not that much that you can do other than talk to your neighbor.

however there usually are noise rights that after 9pm or somthing like that the noise has to get lower, call the neighborhood police and ask first out of curiousity, you don't need to give the name and address etc. if they say they can help, then tell you landlord that you will seek police help if the landlord does not fix the problem.


ps, my sister had this with the exact same situation, single mom, teenage son, I think the father was a truck driver and barely home.

she invited him downstairs when the son was home and the father was able to hear how loud it was, it helped sometimes but for the most part I think they just forgot.

Answer 5

What time of the day are they doing this?

Sorry but if it is during the day you cannot force them to stop their everyday activities.

If it is at night you could complain to the apartment office.

I've never gone to an apartment complex and not heard anything from the upstairs neighbors. It is expected that you will be hearing them moving about upstairs. Its all part of the apartment experience.

Answer 6

First of all, two wrongs don't make a right, so don't go out of your way to try to irritate your neighbor. If it's a punk kid making all this noise, then you retaliate, he'll just make MORE noise. Plus, it won't solve anything.

I'd just call the leasing office and file noise complaints. If the noise continues, keep calling them. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, you know!

If it's a matter of loud music, call your local police department and file a noise complaint. Cities have noise ordinance laws. If this kid's mom gets a whiff of the police being there, I imagine that'll put a stop to her son's behavior REALLY quickly. They'd never know it was you, either. For all they know, it could be their side neighbors calling.

Answer 7

Short of using the old fashioned method of pounding your broom on the ceiling...that didn't work either huh!
You could talk again to the mother and explain that you are not the only residents that are bothered by the commotion. If your neighbor would accompany you with this complaint that may help. Otherwise you will have to take further steps and ask your landlord to step in. The police are your last resort.

Answer 8

you need to formally send a letter to your landlord letting him/them know that this has been happening and progressing after you have spoken with the neighbor several times. let them know that you understand that having someone above will naturally mean that you will hear noises, but at the same time, you are entitled to live in the place that you are paying for. tell them that it is disrespectful, and inconsiderate for you to respect others, and not have them do the same. ( since you are the one living there, detail all the problems at whatever times they happen, and the dates you have spoken to them)

trust me they will not put up with a noisy neighbor with and in return losing you as a tenant.

let the them deal with it. they are the ones that are renting to these people. obviously your taking it into your own hands, have caused more disrespect on their part.

Answer 9

Definitely talk to the mother about her child. If that doesn't work, find out about the noise pollution laws in your town. If the neighbor's child is in violation of those laws, call the police.

Answer 10

Tell the mom how her son acts when she is not there and if she can't do something about it, you will be involving the landlord and/or the cops! Get the landlord involved. If that doesn't help, and it's noisy after whatever time of night your town has set as "quiet hours", call the cops!