I have lived upstairs from this family for 12 years. Over the past 3 years they have started complaining to us, the landlord, anyone who will listen, about ALL the noise we are making..honestly we are only living, we are not drinkers or drug users, we have 2 small kids. It has turned into harrasment. I wake up each morning tense at the thought of living. Moving isn't an option right now. I need some ideas to reduce walking noise, or reduce neighbor noise!
2007-05-02 05:28:35 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
dont wear shoes in your house. teach your kids to walk and not run. if possible have your landlord sound proof their ceiling. you shouldnt have to go out of your way to be quiet but being a little more considerate might be in order. if your landlord doesnt give you heck then i wouldnt even worry about it. some people are born complainers.
2007-05-02 05:35:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
If the complaints only started in the last three years, I have to ask what changed three years ago? You say you have two small kids, so I'm betting that you now have small ones running around? Is your apartment a wooden or concrete construction? Are the floors carpted or hardwood? Not knowing what you're situation is it's tough to give feedback.
Working with the assumption that it's a wooden construction or has hardwood floors, there are things you can do to be mindful of the tenants below:
Put down large area rugs if it's hardwood floor. This will definitely help with sound proofing.
Don't wear shoes in the house
Teach your kids to walk not run - this one seems unfair 'cause they are naturally energetic. However, I once had kids above me in an apartment with hardwood floor and the noise of them running back and forth for hours on end drove me nuts.
Ask the landlord to keep you in mind if a comparable apartment on the ground floor becomes available or even approach the ground floor tenants to see if anyone would swap apartments with you. I've been a building manager in the past and would only rent basement or ground floor apartments to people with kids for this very reason. If they had children after the fact, I'd approach them about moving to a unit on main floor once the kids got to the age where they were running around:-( Sorry I know that sounds harsh, but it was how I kept the peace and long term tenants. I was lucky in that the main floor apartments were larger so were attractive and appealing.
Unless you are truly in love with where you live, be OPEN to moving. I don't know where you stand on religion or spirituality, but sometimes just posing a question to the universe can yield some surprising results.
Play what I call the what if game. What if you and your family were to move to ...., What if you could find a three bedroom apartment in your price range...., What if you could find a new home where you could live happily and freely and feel embraced and welcomed by your neighbours....
I play the what if game when doing household chores or when walking the 20 mins to work and have had some VERY interesting results :-)
I feel for you really. If their complaints are the first thing on your mind when you wake, then something has got to give!!
Good luck :-)
2007-05-02 06:10:50 · answer #2 · answered by PAX 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you are honestly not doing anything but living then there isn't much you, your neighbors or your land lord can do.
This was an issue for my Father - in - law for years. the old man that lived above him rocked in a rocking chair ALL DAY LONG. It would drive you insane.
Ask your neighbors if you can spend some time in there apt one day while your children and spouse(?) are upstairs doing normal activity. Just so you can hear what they are complaining about.
If you can see and hear what the issue is, then it may be something you can do to prevent so much of the noise.
However, if the floors squeek, and the pipes rattle, then that is there problem.
Another suggestion that would be HUGE to implement, but worth a shot, ask them to switch appts with you. If you are below them, they shouldn't hear your noise.
Another suggestion would be to put down rugs, and maybe not walk with shoes on.
If the kids tend to get rowdy, then that might be something to try to address with the kids. Don't allow them to bounce balls or run, if they have a riding toy in the house move it to outside only.
try to talk to your neighbor that you really are not trying to do anything intentional. And tell them what your trying to do to make it a little more quiet.
And also tell them that because you have kids you have added noise, and that is something no one can really do anything about.
good luck,
2007-05-02 05:49:38 · answer #3 · answered by veronica 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rugs on the floors. If you have been there for 12yrs. I'm gessing that you had no children when you moved in. If you have been there for 12yrs. and the landlord is not saying anything to you don't worry. Live your life and when they complain again let them know that they are bothering you by their constant complaining about nothing. Some people just need to B---- about something. If your not making any noise but they are complaining about it durring the day there really isn't much that they can do.7am-9pm
2007-05-02 05:44:19 · answer #4 · answered by BrownEyedGirl 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There is always going to be noise when one lives on a lower level. If you don't have carpet, can you buy some inexpensive rugs that will soften the noise? Is there another apartment in this complex you could move to, away from the complainers?
2007-05-02 06:07:26 · answer #5 · answered by beez 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ask your landlord if you can move to the first avilable first floor appartment. Its really hard living in an appartment with small children. luckily we live on the first floor and are tucked away in a corner. Obviously your downstairs neighbor hasnt got any kids, either that or has got too much time on their hands and nothing else to worry about. Its hard to keep small kids especially toddlers quiet all of the time. they are kids and that is their home. If you ask to move to the first floor then your landlord will know that you are trying to fix the problem It will show them that you care.
good luck!!!!! and dont let it keep you from living your life.
2007-05-02 06:15:22 · answer #6 · answered by eightieschick70 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Pffft, ignore them as best you can.
That is apartment life when they take a lower level floor.
As long as the noise you are making is between 8am and 8pm they have no reason to go after you.
Perhaps talk with the landlord about your harassers.
2007-05-02 05:52:16 · answer #7 · answered by Terri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wrap your childen in foam and roll them from room to room. Or, ignore the guy and live your life as you see fit.
2007-05-02 08:28:11 · answer #8 · answered by tk 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋