Noisy neighbors

[LilyWDW]

Hey all... I have some really horrible new neighbors in my apartment complex. They have the base of their music turned way up when they are home on weekends. This is seriously ruining my ability to enjoy my own home. Something about that thump thump thump of base is just so annoying... even painful. It sends me into panic attacks and I have to leave my house.

The apartment is doing what they can on their end, but it hasn't stopped and it has been like 2 months of this. So we (myself and the people who live above the jerks) are trying to gather evidence. But base does NOT pick up well on my phone so I can't seem to get a good recording. Any suggestions on what may work? I am seriously close to breaking my lease and finding somewhere else to live. These episodes of panic can last way longer then the music.

I have bought some really nice bluetooth sound cancelling headphones and they helped a little bit on Saturday, but my anxiety was already elevated. And I can't sit in my apartment all day with these things on (and I shouldn't have to). So I am doing what I can on my side. And yes, I attempted to talk to them (twice) but was then called raciest because of it.

 

[LuvOrlando]

That's terrible. I can tell you the apple noise canceling are eerily quiet and might be cheaper than breaking your lease. You can call police who can hear what you do but that might just provoke them and they'll leave it on when they go out and all, I'd worry about provocation if your request went ignored. When is your lease up?

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

My grandma yelled at someone to turn down the bleep bleeped stereo or she'd jamb it up his bleep. Then some young guy from another apartment yelled and I'll hold you down while the nice old lady does it. That solved that one.

 

[tvguy]

The apartment is doing what they can on their end, but it hasn't stopped and it has been like 2 months of this. So we (myself and the people who live above the jerks) are trying to gather evidence.

I would argue that the apartment isn't doing all they can. If other tenants are complaining, the management has to take action. That would be an automatic 30 day notice at every apartment complex I know of.

 

[dez1978]

I feel like the apt manager has some responsibility to actually act on it. If you and other neighbors are complaining, they should actually do something about it. Idk what, but surely there is something they can do legally. Do the apt leases have a clause in there about noises or being bothersome to others?

 

[Kennywood]

Find some Slim Whitman music on Youtube and crank up the volume!

 

[Lilsia]

I am so sorry that you are dealing with this. I don't understand why so much of the new music has so much bass to it. Even in my car, where I have the bass turned all the way down, some songs are painful. It really does hurt a person's ears who are sensitive to it. That is what some people do not understand, it causes a great deal of pain to some. I see nothing but problems from your new neighbors, especially since their go to for your music complaint was calling you a racist. Sadly, that is probably what they called the management also so they probably won't be any help. You might have to find another place.

 

[RedAngie]

How far away is their apartment? If above, below, or next door, start banging on the ceiling, floor, or walls when you know they’re asleep.

 

[LilyWDW]

That's terrible. I can tell you the apple noise canceling are eerily quiet and might be cheaper than breaking your lease. You can call police who can hear what you do but that might just provoke them and they'll leave it on when they go out and all, I'd worry about provocation if your request went ignored. When is your lease up?

I got the newest Sony noise cancelling headphones so fingers crossed. They were the best rated ones I could find online. Hurt to spend that much money though.

My lease is not up until next Spring. I signed a new lease when the house hunting wasn't going well. If this keeps up, I will be asking to be moved or let out of my lease.

I would argue that the apartment isn't doing all they can. If other tenants are complaining, the management has to take action. That would be an automatic 30 day notice at every apartment complex I know of.

I don't fully disagree. They are trying to get some evidence so if/when they take it to court they have it for the judge.

This apartment is behind and below mine. So I don't even share a direct surface with them. Luckily I get along great with the neighbors behind me (so right above them) and they are putting in complaints now too. They didn't originally because they also had just moved in and were worried about causing problems. They will also b trying to get evidence as well. Hopefully since they actually share a direct surface they will have more luck. My phone just does not pick up that super low tone very well.

 

[prairie_girl]

What’s the noise ordinance? If it is within the legal times, as much as ot sucks, I’m not sure what can be done.

 

[emer95]

I’m so very sorry. I think it’s horrible when inconsiderate people are so obtuse and make it uncomfortable for people to live and relax in their own homes. I’m very sensitive to noise so I understand the panic attacks.
I have a white noise app on my phone, and I use it with headphones when there are dogs barking in my neighborhood, or people cracking gum, etc.
I don’t have any real answers for you. Just sympathy.

 

[tvguy]

I don't fully disagree. They are trying to get some evidence so if/when they take it to court they have it for the judge.

I guess it depends on state law and how the leases are worded. A friend is office manager for a couple who own 400 apartments and complaints from all the neighbors would qualify as a nuisance and satisfy the requirements for a 30 day eviction.

 

[OneOftheB's]

This apartment is behind and below mine. So I don't even share a direct surface with them. Luckily I get along great with the neighbors behind me (so right above them) and they are putting in complaints now too. They didn't originally because they also had just moved in and were worried about causing problems. They will also b trying to get evidence as well. Hopefully since they actually share a direct surface they will have more luck. My phone just does not pick up that super low tone very well.

I would expect recordings with date/time stamps and a log of the incidents from the neighbors should be all the evidence they need. If this were my situation, I would send them a certified letter stating the issue, how long it has been going on, when you began contacting the office, how often you have contacted them, etc with verbiage that either it's corrected in 14 days or you will be looking to terminate your lease without penalty. If it's going on after your jurisdiction's "quiet hours" call the non emergency number for the local authorities and let the police bang on the door. That would be very good proof of the ongoing issue.

 

[KayMichigan]

The apartment needs to give them a warning and then evict them if they don't cool it. Unfortunately it sounds to me like they're scared to do anything.

If nothing is done I'd get a lawyer and tell the complex you're moving because they didn't take the proper action to provide you and the other residents with a decent place to live, and you aren't paying any penalties.

Good luck!!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

And yes, I attempted to talk to them (twice) but was then called raciest because of it.

Weird because my neighbor's kid plays his music quite loud the bass being the biggest issue and has since he got a car when he was in high school (he's in college now) But alas I'm not sure I could be called racist if I were to complain as we're both white *in fairness I know I played my car music loud too but I was always worried about the speakers blowing out so I kept the bass to a lower than it could be level.

My husband lived next door in an apartment where a guy played Christmas music quite loud for a long long time. He went over and asked him to turn it down and the guy was a uhm very interesting guy but he did turn it down a bit. But then my husband back in college days lived below a girl who loved to stomp like an elephant when she worked out (I think she was just doing a lot of aerobic and weight stuff) and when he went upstairs to complain she swings the door open (seemed like she knew exactly why someone was knocking) and just basically told him to deal with it. Luckily she toned it down after a while.

People can suck sometimes, I do think as far as the apartment complex it may take collectively a good amount of neighbors and repeated complaints. They may be either tied with what they can do or they don't want to evict someone that is paying rent still on a consistent basis even if it's disturbing others. Can you look at what your noise ordinance is? In my area I can make a noise complaint to the city online. Can you see if there's something that you can do for your area? And for you it's beyond just having to deal with run of the mill people, if it's affecting you this greatly you may need more course of action.

 

[Sinder]

Op have you actually gone to those neighbors and just ask them to turn it down?
N/m saw you did
Maybe its time to involve the police

 

[happily single]

Why aren’t you calling the police to report a noise nuisance?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Op have you actually gone to those neighbors and just ask them to turn it down?

She said she did twice

 

[Sinder]

She said she did twice

Yes I saw that after I posted.
I added to my post after

 

[prairie_girl]

What’s the noise ordinance? If it is within the legal times, as much as ot sucks, I’m not sure what can be done.

Everyone seems to be overlooking this. If the ‘quiet time’ for the city/county is say 8AM-10PM, I’m not sure calling the cops will do anything if it’s between those hours.

Does it suck? It sure does. I’m sorry it’s affecting you so badly OP.