No surprise when you get home you just want to shut the door on it all. So, when noisy neighbors assault your ears with loud shouting, raucous video gaming and other disruptions, it’s enough to make you scream. But that won’t stop them.
Here are a few steps you should take when you have a noisy neighbor.
Know your rights as a renter
Your lease likely has a clause in it defining your rights to “quiet enjoyment.” This gives you the right to live in peace, and it gives you the responsibility to afford your neighbors the same. Noisy neighbors may not only be trampling on your rights as a tenant, but they may also be breaking the law.
Every community has a noise ordinance that prohibits loud, unnecessary or unreasonable noise. The police enforce these laws. You can find information online, at the county law or public library or by calling a city manager or the mayor’s office.
Most often your community or your apartment will have designated “quiet hours,” for example from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays and maybe a bit later on weekend mornings. Dog barking and motorcycle noise are also commonly regulated. Some codes also include regulations for noise decibel levels.
How do I get my noisy neighbors to be quiet?
Many studies have shown that excessive noise can affect everything from hearing to cognitive abilities to sleep and may also create other health issues. Your neighbor’s loud drumming could be more than just annoying.
Here are some strategies to get them to tone it down:
1. Ask nicely
Start with a knock on your neighbor’s door, and in your sweetest voice ask if the person could take it down a notch. Don’t go over there all riled up; that may just exacerbate the situation. Your neighbor may not even realize how loud they are.
2. Keep a log
If your initial ask goes unanswered and the noise persists, start documenting. Keep track of dates and times. You might even download a decibel meter on your phone. Decibel X is free and reportedly accurate. It measures noise from 30 dB to 130 dB.
3. Contact other neighbors
You probably aren’t the only ones with burning ears. Ask other neighbors if they are also bothered or if they’ve lodged complaints. There is strength in numbers.
4. Write a letter
Try your hand at a polite letter. In it, explain why you need your neighbor to turn down the volume, e.g., you get at 5 a.m. for work, and ask if they might be able to lower the volume on (fill in the blank) or finish up whatever task they’re doing by 10 p.m. At this point, you don’t have to point out the building’s rules.
5. Notify your landlord
If you need to escalate, it’s time to file a complaint with the property manager or landlord. Have your log on hand as well as any other information from neighbors. These complaints are the landlord’s responsibility. He or she can evict someone who is not following the rules.
What if your neighbors don’t listen?
First, if your landlord doesn’t intervene or isn’t successful, you can call the police—especially while the noise is happening, like during a raging after-hours party.
If nobody’s complying you may have to file a small claims lawsuit against your landlord for allowing the noise to continue. Make sure you’ve been documenting everything. Your lawyer will need to see your lease, which defines the house rules regarding noise; any letters you’ve written; and any notes you’ve taken to outline the situation. He or she will also need to know that you haven’t breached the contract in any way. And, you will need to show how the situation has damaged you.
Your last resort?
If you’ve exhausted all avenues and your landlord hasn’t dealt adequately with the breach of the “quiet enjoyment” clause, you could withhold rent until a remedy is found or you may even break your lease.
But this can be a risky move because each state has its own rules. For example, in California, if the landlord breaches the right of quiet enjoyment, tenants can move out and not have to pay any further rent. Their landlord is not allowed to keep the security deposit to cover the rent.
Learn to live with noisy neighbors
If you don’t think you’re going to win, invest in some great earplugs, turn on a white noise machine and start looking for a new place as soon as your lease is up. Remember, you can’t change other people’s habits — only your own.
