Confronted the noisy neighbors tonight...

[Dr.Girlfriend]

I understand that side of it too. I also know a family very much on a 2nd shift schedule. The live in a house and it doesn't inconvenience anyone else. It works for them and that's totally fine.

If all this child did was run/make noise occasionally it probably wouldn't bother me. However, running nonstop from one end to the other, up/down stairs incessantly, banging, stopping is just not the same thing.

I do fully understand construction/insulation plays a part and that kids have energy, but the blatant disrespect from the parts and their immediate reaction last night, tells me they lack good parenting skills and have no respect for their neighbors.

When we moved into our apartment this summer, the next door neighbor was SO LOUD. Her bedroom was right up next to ours, and one night at about 2 a.m. she turned on some really loud techno music. We banged on the wall, she turned it up louder. We called the officer on call, and he banged on their door for awhile and nothing. I had to listen to LOUD techno music all throughout my apartment and even earplugs wouldn't help! It went on until I left for work about 9:30 a.m.

A few nights before she moved out, she got a phone call or something and was scream/crying JOEY JOEY JOEY over and over again, and then something about being 30 and she wasn't married and had no kids. Well, no wonder. Maybe if you were a little quieter!!

We're moving into a house in 3 weeks. Not soon enough!

 

[MouseJunkie]

I feel for you. We lived in an apartment while we waited for your house to be built. We had little kids, so we chose the ground floor and since it was a new complex, we chose an apartment where noone lived above. Things were great until someone moved in. It was only a couple of people, but we could hear every step and the TV. It drove us crazy! From what you described, it sounds like your apartment is not insulated for sound. I can't imagine a 3 year old running up and down the stairs is any louder than a large adult running up and down the stairs.

I know it would be a pain, but wouldn't it be easier to move to an upstairs unit than be miserable for a year! Good luck!

Would love to move upstairs, but I have a 10 year old Golden Retriever. Stairs are unfortunately not an option.

I know things will get better for a while then get increasingly beyond annoying again. I honestly will most likely see where they can move me. I'm still thinking it over.

 

[OK!]

I wish I could give you some useful advice other than talking to management to see if they can put in carpeting in the room above your bedroom. Maybe they have it already.

We had our share of obnoxious, noisy, disruptive neighbors like clothes flying out a window during an argument, children screaming they're going to help mommy while she physically fought with her boyfriend, smashing fists through windowpanes, pot smoking etc. All the while we lived upstairs and heard all the drama going on.

We had it and moved to a single family home which we rented for 5 years before we purchased our own. I hope you can get out of that living situation soon if it's giving you grief and there's no other solution.

That reminds me--week before last or so, I was tidying up or something and suddenly heard an enormous bang, so loud that it rattled the dishes in my cupboards. I also heard glass shattering and, because of the rattling dishes, was afraid the idiots next door had slammed something into the wall and broken some of my stuff. I flew to the front door and flung it open; standing outside was the very sweet Muslim lady who lives next door (on the other side), and she had 5 or 6 kids with her. She said, "Oh, I'm so sorry!", thinking I was upset with her kids talking and whatever right outside my door. I said that no, I was just wondering what that huge noise was because it'd scared me, but she didn't know, either.

I went back inside and looked out the dining room window, and in the park-type area (all grassy, with lots of trees) that's between the buildings, someone had thrown 2 console TVs (hence the shattering glass), a smaller TV, and some other stuff, like a dining room table. While I was looking out, I saw a couch hurtle past the window and crash on top of one of the TVs and snap a leg off of the table; it had come from the balcony diagonally above me. I didn't know if there was a major domestic dispute going on over there or what, so I called the leasing office several times, but there was no answer. Just as I was about to call the police, I heard voices coming from the area where the mess now was. It was workmen, picking up the pieces, putting them in a wheelbarrow, and carting them off. I'm assuming the tenants must've abandoned the unit and the workmen decided that heaving stuff off of the balcony was easier (and probably more fun) than carrying it down 2 flights of stairs.

I took a picture of it for funsies; I'll post it when i get home from class.

 

[MouseJunkie]

You know I'm just sitting here thinking as it is for the most part quieter tonight, that gee yes it can be done. So, that just goes to show yes they can exercise a little effort on their part to improve the situation.

 

[Vivianne]

You know I'm just sitting here thinking as it is for the most part quieter tonight, that gee yes it can be done. So, that just goes to show yes they can exercise a little effort on their part to improve the situation.

I truly hope you and your dog have a peaceful night's rest. Each day has it's own trials.

 

[MouseJunkie]

I truly hope you and your dog have a peaceful night's rest. Each day has it's own trials.

Thank you! Me too! Honestly, it's unerving for him too. I can tell;It shows on him. He's not exactly a spring chicken anymore.

 

[GraysMom]

DS is almost 3, so I understand your neighbor's kid's need for activity, but can't they take the kid to a park or outside after dinner to wear him/her down? Also, DS goes to bed by 8:30 at the latest. I can't imagine what kind of a bear he would be if he stayed up till midnight .

Since it seems like your neighbors are not open to changing their ways, perhaps you could videotape how loud it is (with you speaking off and on so the apt managers could see how loud they are compared to your voice)? Good luck getting out of there ASAP.

 

[MouseJunkie]

DS is almost 3, so I understand your neighbor's kid's need for activity, but can't they take the kid to a park or outside after dinner to wear him/her down? Also, DS goes to bed by 8:30 at the latest. I can't imagine what kind of a bear he would be if he stayed up till midnight .

Since it seems like your neighbors are not open to changing their ways, perhaps you could videotape how loud it is (with you speaking off and on so the apt managers could see how loud they are compared to your voice)? Good luck getting out of there ASAP.

That's kind of been my point too. I realize it's been colder and rainier at times lately, but now that it's not raining take them out for a short while. There's a play area litterally right around the corner, very close. Or why not try to engage him in something productive inside rather than letting him exert all his energy out above my head. I do understand he's a child with energy to burn, but I also don't understand not exercising a little parenting skills.

Maybe all of you could move in above me. You seem to have more sense than they do.

 

[OK!]

You know I'm just sitting here thinking as it is for the most part quieter tonight, that gee yes it can be done. So, that just goes to show yes they can exercise a little effort on their part to improve the situation.

Well that's good, at least. Hopefully they'll keep up their improved ways!


Oh, and here's the pic I said I'd post, the post-flinging-furniture-off-of-the-balcony pic:

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Reading some of the comments on this thread are really bringing back memories...

When we first moved to the city we lived on the bottom floor of a 3 level walk-up apartment.

The neighbours on one side of us used to fight very loudly almost every night. They were our best neighbours.

The neighbours on the other side of us were quite nice but they just couldn't cook. Every night at supper time we would hear the smoke detector going off every few minutes for about half an hour. We learned at that point to start stuffing towels under our door as the smell would quickly fill the hallway and start seeping into the apartment. Frankly it smelled like someone died in the hallway...several months earlier.

Then we get to the upstairs neighbours. There was one kid who was about 8 years old who would run around the apartment non stop jumping off the furniture from the time he got home from school until just past midnight almost every night. It was like living in a bass drum.

Then we get to the people above us on the top floor. There were about a dozen of them crammed into a 2 bedroom apartment. Amongst the 12 people was a child (approx 3 yrs old) who would stand on the balcony and literally scream at the top of her lungs for hours on end....every day.

We were very happy to finally get out of there and get our own place. The cardboard box under the bridge was much quieter and during the winter it was even a bit warmer.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Oh boy I feel for you. I lived in a 2 family home for 12 years. I had some great neighbors and some incredibly awful ones. One girl was an aerobics instructer and she would BLAST her excercise music at 7am so she could work out before going to teach. I work 2nd shift, so this wasn't good. She got SO mad when I nicely explained that I work nights and would appreciate it if she didn't have her music so loud so early in the morning.

Another guy was basically nice and quiet, but he smoked pot and it stunk up my place all the time. I closed my vents, but still could smell it. It was
awful!!!!!

Another idiot loved his base and while the music maybe wasn't that loud, the base was turned up so high my walls shook.

I never had to deal with anybody with kids, but I finally had enough and moved into my own house and I LOVE it.

I really hope you can work something out with your lease, because from experience, it sounds like you won't ever really resolve this with the neighbor.

 

[Mickey~Mouse]

yes, I have been there all to often myself! But from experience, If you complaint to much to the office, it gets to the point where they are not going to listen to you anymore, AND you will be considered "one of those pains!" I know, I went thru this, a couple of years ago. A young mother with a child she hit, I called police after the office would do no more, and the more I complained the WORSE it got for ME, to the poinit where she was stalking me etc...

So I understand where you are coming from, beleive me. I am going to recommend that instead of the office you call the police~out of concern for the Child. seriously...I would keep a calander log of EVERTHING! and if you do call the office, put it in writing and keep a copy for yourself. I cannot stress this enough. Apartment offices will "yes" you to death and turn around and joke about yoru issue. The only way I got rid of my loud, child beater was for the fact that after a year she starting making threats at the office, saying she was going to kill them! and I had hundreds of dollars worth of damage to my car etc! not to mention court! Now I am not saying it is going to come to this, but really you do not know!!

Good luck!

document...document!!
file a writen complaint and if it comes to it, you have proof that they interferd with your "quiet enjoyment"! and the office WILL have to do something legally!

oh I moved and found a unreal place that is and end unit and has no one above me or below! the ones on the side I cannot hear!!

 

[MouseJunkie]

Yes, and that's exactly what I don't want to do too, complain TOO much. However, two things come to mind: If I can stand living below their noise, then who else is going to be able to unless they can't hear. This apartment would be unrentable and lost revenue for the complex at least until they leave. So, it is in their best interest to resolve the problem. It's honestly such an easy fix. Put them on the ground floor. Why would they have a 3 year old that they know is that high strung with energy to begin with upstairs. Honestly, it's just a poor choice on the parents part and it would be nice if the leasing offices would exercise a part in helping who goes upstairs and who doesn't.

The thing is many times, apartment complexes charge less for upstairs apartments, when honestly it should be the other way around. It is the ground floor people who get all the darn noise! Seriously!

 

[Heidict]

I feel for both of you in this situation. I know what it's like to have noisy neighbors either above me or next to me. Sitting there, getting angrier and wondering why people don't have a shred of commen sense or decency.

However, I feel for the family also. My DD is almost 2 and she is non-stop most of the day. A couple of times during the day she starts on running laps. Throught the kitchen, down the hall to the bedroom, back through the kitchen into the living room and dining room, screaming and laughing the whole time and it continues for a bit. Of course, she expects us to chase her while she is doing this. I can't imagine trying to keep her "calm and noiseless" all day and I wouldn't be able to relax, constantly worrying if she was disturbing anyone else. When I'm home I want to relax not be stressed.

We recently moved and one of the things that we were adament about was that we have to live in a house. We didn't want to worry about bothering neighbors with her energy and noise or about ending up with neighbors that wanted to be noisy late at night when we she was sleeping. She is normally sound asleep by 7.30 or 8 and I could just imagine my blood pressure going through the roof every time someone woke her up. I love my privacy and I just don't think I could ever go back to living in an apartment again.

I'm sorry you are going through this. I know that it can be hell. The most important thing is to document what is happening. Continue to communicate with the management office and hopefully they will take what is happening seriously and you will get some more peace and quiet.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Yes, and that's exactly what I don't want to do too, complain TOO much. However, two things come to mind: If I can stand living below their noise, then who else is going to be able to unless they can't hear. This apartment would be unrentable and lost revenue for the complex at least until they leave. So, it is in their best interest to resolve the problem. It's honestly such an easy fix. Put them on the ground floor. Why would they have a 3 year old that they know is that high strung with energy to begin with upstairs. Honestly, it's just a poor choice on the parents part and it would be nice if the leasing offices would exercise a part in helping who goes upstairs and who doesn't.

The thing is many times, apartment complexes charge less for upstairs apartments, when honestly it should be the other way around. It is the ground floor people who get all the darn noise! Seriously!

I feel for you, but this would be discrimination and illegal.

 

[dcgrumpy]

I feel for you, but this would be discrimination and illegal.

ITA.
and as far as poor planning on the parents part. Sometimes you don't have a choice.cWe started in a 1st floor 1-bedroom and were put on a waiting list for a 2-bedroom. Finally after 2 years one became available but it was a 2nd floor apartment but we weren't about to become picky. The last apartment complex I was in charged $100 more per month for an upstairs apartment becausee it was a little bigger.

Unfortunately you sometimes have to deal woth noise when you're in an apartment. I wouldn't expect kids to be running and screaming but they are kids and can't be expected to sit still all day.

I had problems with the tenant downstairs because of my kids. From the time we moved in I asked if she could hear my kids downstairs etc.. Every time she told me no she never heard anything from them. After living there for about 8 months she starts banging on my door yelling that my kids are so noisy all of the time that she can't hear her telivision. The next day she went to management and told them next time she heard the kids she was going ot call the cops.

If she would have just said something from the beginning I would have made sure they were quieter. Honestly though I'm not going to have my kids tiptoe and whisper in their own home. The way she went about it just pissed me off.

 

[MouseJunkie]

I realize that would be discrimination. I just wish there was a pc way to do, but there really isn't. It's just kind of one of those things you wish would happen.

I don't expect their kid to tiptoe and not be a kid. I'm really not that unreasonable. I just don't expect to hear constant running, stomping, yelling, screaming, dropping big objects on the floor, and jumping off furniture all night. Yeah, it makes you really fume after a while and I do think the parents CAN control some of it.

Honestly, had they been the slightest agreeable the other night, I'd probably be less pissed about it now.

I did do a little investigating today. Apparently, Elvis does bark in the morning when I leave, but according to the gentleman (who lives next door to my noisy neighbors) I spoke to who home all day, it's not in excess. He by no means barks all day. I told him we moved from a house to an apartment and he replied that Elvis is settling down and is getting used to it. He said it doesn't bother him at all and this is a pet friendly community.

So maybe in some ways we're even. It's still very frustrating though. The difference is if Elvis was barking all day, I'd take measures to keep that from happening whether it be doggy day care or the dog whisperer. It's just a little consideration for your neighbors.

You know what let the child run all day long when I'm not hear. Perfect resolution!

 

[poohandwendy]

I just don't expect to hear constant running, stomping, yelling, screaming, dropping big objects on the floor, and jumping off furniture all night. Yeah, it makes you really fume after a while and I do think the parents CAN control some of it.

I would bet that what you hear sounds waaaay bigger than what really is going on upstairs. If I were you, I would be pushing the landlord to install some sort of soundproofing, so that BOTH of you tenants can live peacefully.

 

[MouseJunkie]

I would bet that what you hear sounds waaaay bigger than what really is going on upstairs. If I were you, I would be pushing the landlord to install some sort of soundproofing, so that BOTH of you tenants can live peacefully.

That is very possible. I just wonder if soundproofing really works though. It'd be worth a try. I still plan on talking to the office to see what my options are. I'll do that when I go to pay my rent.

 

[dcgrumpy]

You're probably right PW. We have all wood floors in our house and when I'm in the basement it sounds like everyone is stomping around the house.