Living next to, under or above the second coming of "Animal House?" Or, do you share a wall with a very Cujo-like dog? There's no need to put up with that mess. File an apartment Noise complaint and get your home back to something that at least resembles peace and quiet.
Apartment living is going to come with some reasonable amounts of noise. Unless your walls are ultra-insulated, you'll hear your neighbors from time to time as they go about their business and they'll hear you.
That said, there's reasonable noise and then there's the noise that makes you want to break your lease and move to the country. You know, the type of noise that accompanies stomping work boots, all-night ragers or endlessly howling pups. Whether this happens during your work-from-home shift or the overnight hours really doesn't matter. If the noise is keeping you from sleeping, working or simply enjoying life to the fullest, you need to make it stop. Pronto.
Common reasons to file an apartment noise complaint
When you have that many people living in close proximity, someone is bound to file a noise complaint from time to time. Here are some of the most common reasons that people file an Apartment Noise complaint:
- Too much noise after 10 p.m.
- Pet-related noise
- Loud music or television
- Excessively loud parties
- Excessive child-related noise
- Fighting/yelling (if you suspect domestic violence call the police immediately)
- Stomping or excessively heavy walking
Maybe you've tried a friendly conversation with the neighbor in question, only to have it fall flat. Or, maybe you don't have time or interest in that type of personal engagement. No matter! The next step to take is to file an apartment noise complaint.
How to file an apartment noise complaint
The process to file an apartment noise complaint varies slightly from one property to the next. The bones of the process, however, are generally the same. Here are some helpful tips to get it done the right way.
Check the lease
Remember that document that you and everyone else in the community signed before moving in? The lease contains everything you need to know about what types of noise are normal and what types are excessive. When in doubt, refer to the lease for answers.
Almost all leases include something called the right of “quiet enjoyment." This right holds that a tenant can reasonably and peacefully enjoy their home, without undue interference from either neighbors or the landlord.
So, the right of quiet enjoyment protects tenants from excessive disturbances, like a landlord that harasses the tenant on the regular or a neighbor who continually plays their music at top volume. It does not protect from standard noise, like quiet footsteps or the occasional bit of muffled laughter.
The terms of normal vs. excessive noise are out in the lease. Many landlords also include “quiet hours" in the lease. Often, those are from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., give or take.
Check your local laws
In some states, a breach of quiet enjoyment with no correction is grounds for a tenant to either withhold rent or break the lease without warning or penalty. Make sure to check your city/state's specific laws on this matter before you do anything drastic.
Keep a noise record
The minute you hear excessive noise, start keeping a journal. Hopefully, it'll just be a one-off incident, but if it isn't, you'll be prepared. Make sure to include all pertinent details, including:
- Date
- Time
- Type of noise
- Length of the disturbance
- Where the noise is coming from
- The decibel level of the noise. Try an app like Decibel X or Sound Meter PRO to document how loud the noise actually is.
- Comments and contact information from other neighbors affected by the noise
A detailed log of noise violations makes a stronger argument than just a vague “they're keeping me awake" complaint. It's always helpful to show a pattern in the case of repeat offenders. Also, landlords hear a lot of complaints, so the more specific you are, the better.
File the complaint
If you're not sure how to file an apartment noise complaint, simply ask! Email or call the property manager's office to find out the best way to document the issue in writing. Sometimes, there's a tab on the community's website for filing a noise complaint. Or, they might have you email a specific person.
Follow the given directions and be sure to include all of the details found in your log. Make sure to screenshot the complaint or print a copy for your records. In this case, a paper trail is a good thing! If you need help, use a sample complaint letter to format the grievances.
Follow up on the complaint
Now is not the time to back down. You pay a lot of money for that space, and it should be an enjoyable retreat from the outside world! If your initial apartment noise complaint didn't solve the problem, file another one. If you get stonewalled by management or feel that the offending renters just don't care that they're overly noisy, it's time to call in the big guns — the police.
Cities have their own local noise ordinances. Look up your city's rules specifically, then file a complaint with the police department if the offense falls within the parameters. Obviously, call the police immediately for fighting or another noisy issue that affects public safety. Often, a warning from the powers-that-be is enough to cause rowdy neighbors to straighten up, already.
Practice what you preach
Save your apartment noise complaint for those truly bothersome, repeat-offender neighbors. Whatever you do, set an example and abide by the “quiet enjoyment" rule, yourself. In other words, be the kind of neighbor you want to have, and hopefully, everything will settle down.
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