You’re sitting at home reading a book, when the neighbor to your left starts blasting their music to compete with the loud music coming from the neighbor on your right. The sound is so loud that it’s upsetting the dog across the walkway, making it bark uncontrollably. To make matters worse, your upstairs neighbor is mad at the excessive noise, so they’re stomping around in anger.
While the situation above might be overexaggerated, certain parts of it could sound familiar. If you can relate, you are probably wondering how to deal with noisy neighbors. Whether you’re dealing with loud upstairs neighbors, a next-door neighbor’s loud music, or constant commotion from all sides, loud neighbors can really put a damper on apartment living. So, what can you do about noisy neighbors?
Determine if Your Noise Complaint is Legitimate
Are your neighbors getting a bit out of hand with their music? You have the right to be annoyed, but is it a legitimate complaint? Sure, it’s a disturbance to say the least, but every tenant has the right to enjoy and continue living out their routines and activities in their apartment. Noise is common in apartments —you just need to determine if the noise is a rule violation or not.
Unreasonably loud music played for hours on end is a valid reason to file a noise complaint. An upstairs neighbor walking in their home during the night is not. Every renter has the right to quiet enjoyment, and many communities include a “quiet enjoyment” clause in their lease agreements. Cities also have noise ordinance laws set in place to keep the area peaceful and quiet for all residents.
What’s a quiet enjoyment clause?
A quiet enjoyment clause is basically an acknowledgement that everyone in the apartment community has the right to live comfortably in their homes, free from unreasonable and repeated disturbances made by others. You’ll likely find the community quiet hours stated in the quiet enjoyment clause, which could be the same set of hours as your city ordinance laws. These are the times where you’re expected to keep the volume down in your home.
What are noise ordinance laws?
Noise ordinance laws are local laws that prohibit undue noise made by area residents. These laws generally go into effect at specified times during the day and night, such as 10:00 pm – 7:00 am on weekdays, and 11:00 pm – 8:00 am on weekends. Many cities also prohibit noise made over a certain decibel level; this can differ based on time of day and community zoning.
What you can do About Your Loud Neighbors
Once you have determined that your noise complaint goes beyond the occasional laughter, chair squeaking, and dog bark, you need to take action. Here are some things you can do:
1. Document the offenses
There are a variety of ways you can do this. The easiest way is to write the offenses down in a list. Note what you hear and for how long. For example, if your noisy upstairs neighbor’s dog barks from the time they leave in the morning until they come home at night, address it as such:
- February 28, 2021: Incessant dog barking. 8:00am – 5:45pm.
Continue to document the disturbances until you feel you have enough evidence to bring to the landlord or property manager. For something that happens regularly, like a dog barking or a neighbor’s loud music at night, record what you are hearing in your apartment for a few minutes each night.
2. Give a courtesy knock
A courtesy knock may help. Simply knock a couple of times on the adjoining wall to give your neighbor a head’s up. It’s a less personal way to ask them to pipe down, but hopefully they will get the hint quickly. Don’t pound on the wall – it can come off as aggressive and cause a neighbor dispute.
3. Talk to your neighbor
If a friendly knock doesn’t work, you can chat with them about it the next time you see them. They might not even be aware of the issue! Casually and politely bring it up the next time you see them on the way to the pool or in the breezeway. You can gently remind them of the quiet hours and city noise ordinance. Try not to leave a letter, as letters tend to come off as passive-aggressive. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your neighbor directly, many apartments have a courtesy officer on duty for this exact reason. Gauge the situation wisely and don’t do anything you’re uncomfortable with.
4. Contact the landlord
If the above hasn’t worked, take the documentation and recordings you've collected to your landlord and ask for help. They’ll need proof of the ongoing noise, so come to them prepared.
5. File a noise complaint
If the noise continues, you may try to submit a noise complaint at your local government’s office. They could even have the noise read with a decibel meter to help your case.
How to Make Your Apartment Soundproof
While there’s not much you can do about soundproofing the structure of the home, you can prevent noise from coming into your apartment by muffling the sound a bit. Start by installing thick, soundproof curtains on each of your windows. If the noise is coming from your side or upstairs neighbors, white noise machines can help drown out the disturbances – just be mindful of the machine’s volume. You could purchase earplugs in the meantime, especially for sleep.
When looking for your next apartment, talk to the landlord or property manager about a top floor apartment. Make sure you know what is above and below before you sign the lease. You don’t want to move in just to find out you’re living under the gym or above a late-night restaurant.
A Sample Noise Compliant Letter From Renter to Landlord
[Date]
Dear [Landlord’s Name],
I’m writing to request your help with an ongoing noise issue.
I’ve lived in [apartment address or unit number] for the past [amount of time] and have enjoyed my experience here. However, the past [however long the issue has persisted] has been challenging. My neighbor in [unit number or address] is making it difficult to live here. [Describe the noise issue. Give two to three sentences of detail and how this problem affects you.] I believe this type of disturbance is in violation of our community rules.
I’ve documented the infractions as evidence and have [list the ways you have addressed the issue with your neighbor]. No action has been taken on their part, which is why I’m reaching out to you for assistance. Please help.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
If you’re dealing with loud neighbors, know that you’re not alone. You have the right to be comfortable in your own home. If you need to reach out to your landlord, you can use this sample letter as a template and apply it to your own situation. Hopefully, these tips successfully equip you to deal with noisy neighbors so you can find your happy place again!
Frequently Asked Questions About Loud Neighbors
Can I call the police on my noisy neighbors?
If the noise is violating your community’s noise ordinance laws, you can call your local non-emergency number — not 911. Repeated noise ordinance violations may result in penalties like fines or a misdemeanor.
Can noise complaints get my neighbors evicted?
Your landlord may have grounds for eviction if you properly document the noise violations. Every renter has the right to quiet enjoyment, and your lease should state community rules regarding noise. If your neighbor is repeatedly violating the lease and your right to quiet enjoyment, reach out to your landlord using the above template.
Can I sue my neighbors for noise violations?
Yes, but it’s rare. In some cases, you may be able to sue your neighbors for nuisance. Consult with a legal expert before taking this route. Keep in mind there are steps you and your landlord can take before you start this process.
What if my landlord doesn’t solve the problem?
If your landlord ignores your attempts to get them involved, you can call your local non-emergency line and report the noise. This way, law enforcement can determine whether the noise violates local ordinance laws and document it. If this doesn’t work, the last resort is to try to break the lease.
Can I cancel my lease early due to noisy neighbors?
With documented proof of the noise violations and proof of ignored attempts to rectify the situation, you may be able to break the lease without penalty. Before you take this step, consider reaching out to a legal expert.
