How Do You Deal With A Noisy Neighbor?

How Do You Deal With A Noisy Neighbor?


Without a doubt, living in a rental community has plenty of perks. Many of them have amenities such as swimming pools, clubhouses, fitness centers, business centers, and so on.

With all these benefits come a few challenges too, such as fighting for parking spots…and the very real possibility of having noisy neighbors. Fortunately, most of us are able to take these things in stride as a trade-off of communal living. And most of the time, we can adjust (or block out!) loud music, barking dogs, and crying babies, especially if it’s only temporary.

But what happens when the noise becomes a nuisance and distraction which actually affects your quality of life? Although moving out might come to mind, there are other ways you can deal with a noisy neighbor which are often much less expensive – and a lot more convenient.

Here are a few suggestions for dealing with a noisy neighbor:

Nip the noisy neighbor problem in the bud while looking for a rental

Ask the rental agent. This is probably an area most often overlooked in the rental search process. The office staff or property manager is usually well aware of any ‘problem areas’ within the community. If you are up front about your needs, perhaps they have a vacancy in a quieter section for you.

Go high. Upper floor units are generally quieter, especially in regards to less overhead noise, such as people (or pets!) clomping around on bare floors and jostling furniture. If you’re fortunate enough to land an upper floor, take care that you don’t become a noise problem!

Handling a noisy neighbor after moving into your rental

Accept the noise, within reason. The reality of rental life is that we must learn to live among others. Expect that on evenings and weekends, when most people are home, are going to be typically noisier is general.

Speak to your neighbor directly. If you feel your neighbor is consistently noisy and exceeds any reasonable expectations (such as playing loud music late at night, every night), it’s probably time to take action. Although you may prefer to have management deal with the problem, your neighbor will usually appreciate your coming to them first. Believe it or not, they may not even be aware that their activity is disturbing you. Approach them calmly and diplomatically, and be specific about what is causing your concern.

Keep a record. If you’ve taken the personal approach to no avail, however, begin a paper trail. Keep a record of dates, times and the nature of disturbances so you have concrete evidence to take to the community manager.

Report the disturbances. Escalating the issue to the community’s management is a reasonable next step when the personal requests haven’t worked. Of course, this may make things a little awkward between you and your noisy neighbor, but always remember the communal living door swings both ways. Leases and community association by-laws usually contain sections on noise and disturbance.

There’s strength in numbers. If the noisy neighbor is disturbing you, then there’s a good chance that you’re not the only one who is being affected by the noise. Talk to your other neighbors. If they’re on board, then ask them to contact community management, too.


Have you ever had to deal with a noisy neighbor while living in a rental? What would you suggest to help someone in that situation?


Related Resources

rent.com How To Handle A Noisy Neighbor

Christian Stahl
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