Zen Tenant's Guide To Dealing With Noisy Neighbors
Apartment living comes with some compromises. Unlike private dwellings, where you are likely to have a good distance between you and your next door neighbors, apartments are much closer, and renters are frequently subjected to noisy neighbors.
How can you deal with a rowdy neighbor who keeps blaring music during quiet hours? We have put together several things you can do to live a life free from noisy tenants. So, let’s dive in!
Set Reasonable Expectations
Before you get upset with your noisy neighbor and file a noise complaint, take a step back and ask yourself if your expectations are reasonable.
California law generally defines noise complaints as being valid when the noise is excessive, continuous, and unreasonable. This means that the noise must go beyond the normal and expected sounds of everyday life. If it’s a Monday night and your neighbor is blaring music, you have a right to feel annoyed. If it’s a Saturday night, though, and things are little louder than usual, you might not have a very strong case for yourself. Sometimes, it’s worth it to address the noise your neighbors are making. When it’s only a one-time noise issue, though, it’s usually best to let it go.
Be Diplomatic and Try to Talk to Your Neighbor
Sometimes, the best way to solve a problem is to talk it out.
That is why it is important to bring up any noise problem with your neighbor before taking any actions that might worsen the situation. In some cases, the noise during quiet hours may not be as big of an issue as you think, and you could find a way to work it out together.
With that said, you should talk to your neighbor first to avoid being perceived as a “bad” person and causing friction between the two of you. The most important thing to keep in mind when addressing the problem is to make sure that the other person knows that you are doing this because you care about them, not because they are a bother to you. Be specific about when they were loud and let them know why it was a problem. Offer to exchange phone numbers, too, so you can call or text them in the future and tell them to keep it down. Most importantly, be cool. No need to go talk to your neighbor while you are “all fired-up.”
Document Excessive Noise
When your neighbors continue to be loud, try to collect evidence.
Keep track of when they’re being noisy, what time of day it is, and what you’ve done to try and address the issue yourself. You might want to use your phone or computer to record the noise as well. Video and audio recordings are beneficial in this type of scenario.
Speak To Other Neighbors
See if there are other people who are aware of the sound levels.
It helps to know that you’re not the only one who’s frustrated with the noise issues. If multiple people in an apartment complex have complaints about a neighbor, it’s easier to address the issue with the landlord, too. You may also find the problem is unique to your apartment. Other tenants may not be experiencing the loud noise levels. It is good to get a better perspective on the issue.
Speak to Your Landlord
Speaking of landlords, if all else fails, it’s a good idea to talk to them about the noise issue.
Nobody wants to be “that person.” Sometimes, though, it’s the only option. Bring your evidence to the landlord and explain the noise issue to them. If possible, coordinate with your other neighbors who have issues with the noise so you can all talk about the issue together. Since every renter has the right to quiet enjoyment, many apartment communities include this “quiet enjoyment” provision in their lease agreements or and/or community rules, both of which are signed by all tenants prior to moving into the apartment. The quiet enjoyment provision usually specifies the hours during which the renter must be silent or not disturb the other tenants in any way. Sometimes it could be the same as the city’s noise ordinance laws.