Noise!! Why Can't Renters Respect Other Renters??? (room, utility, water)

[bluebelt1234]

Originally Posted by LoveBoating

Because, even though we have talked about this problem on CD (like a lot of folks on CD talk about their problems), we decided to just "put up with it" until our Lease was up. We have talked to the Manager of this Complex and we know what he says......"the sign in front of the Complex reads, Family Apartment Homes, so there will be noise". He doesn't want to understand our viewpoint on the problem at all. Last week, he asked me if we were going to sign another 1 yr. Lease. I said "no" to him that we may be moving out of the State, but will be definitely looking for a quieter Complex. He was not the least phased by what I said about "looking for a quieter Complex.
In other words, Management here loves getting the monthly rent money, but doesn't want to take on problems that residents have with other residents. Why have Apartment Managers if they don't want to do their FULL job???

I will be telling my manager the same thing when I move out. I called about another apartment yesterday. Hopefully, it will be quieter. My idiot neighbor this morning started using his loud blender during quiet hours. I guess it is a good thing I wasn't asleep. Then he has like 5 people living over there in these small studio apartments.

[himain]

LB-I hope you find something quieter this time. I know what you are going through because I have been there. I can't tell you how many thousands of dollars I have lost because of breaking leases due to idiot neighbors. Keep us posted and yes, your relief is around the corner.

PS-I'd still send a certified letter to corporate explaining the situation and the managers position, etc..

[kinkytoes]

Originally Posted by movingtohouston

Again as an adult with children, I have been in your neighbors situation. I tried to have my children be as respectful as possible to people who lived below us up to a point. I didn't allow my kids to run/jump/wrestle etc... when we lived on the second floor. Unfortunately the idiot who lived below us expected us to tiptoe across the floor. You couldn't set a box or bag on the floor without her complaining. You couldn't open the sliding patio door (made a lot of noise)without her complaining. So basically all we could do in our apt was tiptoe in the front door, go directly to the couch and sit down. Then we got to tiptoe to the kitchen (heaven forbid you accidently drop a pan) then tiptoe back to the couch. Then tiptoe to bed. Oh don't even think about showering after 9pm (pipes made a lot of noise) got a complaint for that too.

Now let me ask you would you like to live like that. We had no choice in the apt. we were given, we had no idea how thin the flooring was before we had moved in. We ended up never being home. I couldn't live like that. So you know what after 7 months of it, I quit caring. It didn't matter what we did, nothing pleased the people below us. Now I was raised to respect others, but what these people expected out of us was out of bounds. Thank goodness I live in a house now. Never ever will I subject my children or myself for that matter, to living like that again.

As for living on the third floor of apts. They do make buildings with elevators.

My husband is the same way. We used to live on the first floor, and he constantly complained about the noise. Even though we pay too much for rent, the complex we live in has cheaply constructed floors, and even walking will make noise for the people downstairs. I on the other hand am not so bothered by noise, but it used to wake him up and he was really pissed off.

We now live on the third floor, and he always reminds me to be quiet so we don't bother the people downstairs. Even though we have put rugs and padding in the kitchen, I notice that the floor creaks a lot. It's just cheap construction.

If you're sensitive to noise, you may need to move to a higher floor or to a house.

[cottercutie]

It's difficult describing to others at times the difference between hearing people walk or do normal activities and having someone ignorant above you who STOMPS and JUMPS.

I can sympathize with LB, if he has neighbors like us. Our lovely upstairs neighbors will run, jump and stomp all hours of the night. And I don't mean "normal little kid" stuff. I mean jumping so that our WALLS SHAKE and our lights FLICKER!!!!!!

The building itself is pretty well insulated. We barely hear anyone else except these folks. We hear them from the second they park their car, slam the front door OPEN and CLOSED... stomp UP the stairs (while yelling to each other), slam THEIR door open and closed............ and then proceed to stomp around and yell at each other.

There is normal and there is complete ignorance. We live below the latter. I don't see management really doing anything about it, either. They are supposed to have carpeting covering 80% of the floors, but I know they don't. I know they do have carpet in one room because it's the only room we don't hear them just walking in. Of course, the jumping and stomping we still hear. But one of them sustained an injury in the complex a few days before we moved in so I don't see management in a rush to bother them.

[kinkytoes]

Originally Posted by cottercutie

It's difficult describing to others at times the difference between hearing people walk or do normal activities and having someone ignorant above you who STOMPS and JUMPS.

I can sympathize with LB, if he has neighbors like us. Our lovely upstairs neighbors will run, jump and stomp all hours of the night. And I don't mean "normal little kid" stuff. I mean jumping so that our WALLS SHAKE and our lights FLICKER!!!!!!

The building itself is pretty well insulated. We barely hear anyone else except these folks. We hear them from the second they park their car, slam the front door OPEN and CLOSED... stomp UP the stairs (while yelling to each other), slam THEIR door open and closed............ and then proceed to stomp around and yell at each other.

There is normal and there is complete ignorance. We live below the latter. I don't see management really doing anything about it, either. They are supposed to have carpeting covering 80% of the floors, but I know they don't. I know they do have carpet in one room because it's the only room we don't hear them just walking in. Of course, the jumping and stomping we still hear. But one of them sustained an injury in the complex a few days before we moved in so I don't see management in a rush to bother them.

Well, to my husband, the ppl upstairs were making a HUGE amount of noise. It didn't really bother me at all. I have to say that noise is subjective. If you can hear them "stomping" up the stairs, I would say that you're also suffering from cheap construction syndrome. I don't think the drywall/plywood/metal construction of a lot of newer complexes (70's and up I would guess) is conducive to quiet.

I know the problem is real for you. I would recommend asking to live on a higher floor. There may be vacant units in the complex that you can move to. That may save your sanity. My husband was really angry and sleepless at times, but we managed to resolve our issue by moving. Believe it or not, some people may not mind what you would consider loud noises.

I also suspect that many complexes are used to this type of complaint, and aside from expensive upgrades, there's not much they can do to reduce the noise for bottom-dwellers. Please ask your mgmt company if you can move to a higher floor. If you ask now, there may be one available or you can make sure you have first dibs on available units. They want to keep you in the complex, so I'm sure they will be happy to help you find a quieter situation.

[b75]

Uh a blender isn't exactly a loud party. Put ear plugs in. You are being too picky. This is called normal living noises. The person may need to make themselves breakfast or something to go to work. They can't change their diet b/c you are a light sleeper.

Once again a loud party, screaming, yelling, loud music is rude & wrong. Cooking/cleaning & living is acceptable.

Originally Posted by bluebelt1234

I will be telling my manager the same thing when I move out. I called about another apartment yesterday. Hopefully, it will be quieter. My idiot neighbor this morning started using his loud blender during quiet hours. I guess it is a good thing I wasn't asleep. Then he has like 5 people living over there in these small studio apartments.

[b75]

A. the sounds are magnified downstairs so the child may not be doing anything more then daring to move during the day. The sound is magnified once again. Let that be a lesson to you to try to rent upstairs.
B. A toddler should not be restricted from normal movement b/c they are in an apt. Talk about an exercise in futility. Maybe you'd rather hear the crying, screaming & yelling that ensued every time the parents tried to get the 2 year old to somehow walk quieter (as if that is something within their physical dexterity) or just sit still for hours on end?

You are developmentally more mature than the 2 year old - you need to be the one to curb your behavior. I agree - it sounds like this apartment is not for you at all. It sounds like apartment living in general might not be for you; at the very least be sure to get an upstairs unit in the future & buy a good pair of ear plugs b/c you are obviously very noise sensitive. I say this as a childless professional who has rented for over a decade.

Originally Posted by LoveBoating

Well the stomping, running and jumping continues! I think this couple above us has really turned their apartment into a Playground for their 2 year old and definitely doesn't care at all how much noise they make!
Our neighbor across from us told me "kids will make noise"......well "dah" we know that, but apartment homes are not PLAYGROUNDS for kids to romp and stomp in...........houses are for that! This problem isn't this childs fault, however it IS the parents fault letting the child make so much noise KNOWING that we live right below them.
After we move out, the next tenants might not be so nice and go a lot further (police, corporate management) with the family. And we hope that does happen!

[cottercutie]

Originally Posted by kinkytoes

Well, to my husband, the ppl upstairs were making a HUGE amount of noise. It didn't really bother me at all. I have to say that noise is subjective. If you can hear them "stomping" up the stairs, I would say that you're also suffering from cheap construction syndrome. I don't think the drywall/plywood/metal construction of a lot of newer complexes (70's and up I would guess) is conducive to quiet.

I know the problem is real for you. I would recommend asking to live on a higher floor. There may be vacant units in the complex that you can move to. That may save your sanity. My husband was really angry and sleepless at times, but we managed to resolve our issue by moving. Believe it or not, some people may not mind what you would consider loud noises.

I also suspect that many complexes are used to this type of complaint, and aside from expensive upgrades, there's not much they can do to reduce the noise for bottom-dwellers. Please ask your mgmt company if you can move to a higher floor. If you ask now, there may be one available or you can make sure you have first dibs on available units. They want to keep you in the complex, so I'm sure they will be happy to help you find a quieter situation.

I don't hear anyone else that lives upstairs coming in and out of the common entrance, just these people. I'm not moving, why should I? We like our apartment.

There is normal noise, which we don't mind (yeah, we can hear them walk occasionally, no biggie) and there is noise which is over and above what is normal (jumping/stomping at 2 AM so that walls shake/lights flicker)

The building is relatively sound proof. I don't hear other neighbors on the sides of me (except plumbing in the bathroom at times). Nor have I been able to hear others coming in and out like I do these people.

Like I said, this is not normal living noises, this is plain rudeness. They have a pending lawsuit against the building (which is very small I might add) due to injury so they're not exactly caring about others right now.

I am aware of at least one other tenant who has complained about the way these people enter/exit the building.

This is not my first time in a building or in a place where people are above me. I've been in first floor apartments my entire life, I grew up in one. I'm used to apartment noise. I've lived in good buildings and poorly constructed ones. This isn't construction issues or "sensitivity". This is excessive.

[bluebelt1234]

Originally Posted by b75

Uh a blender isn't exactly a loud party. Put ear plugs in. You are being too picky. This is called normal living noises. The person may need to make themselves breakfast or something to go to work. They can't change their diet b/c you are a light sleeper.

Once again a loud party, screaming, yelling, loud music is rude & wrong. Cooking/cleaning & living is acceptable.

EXCUSE ME!!!! I don't think I am being too picky. My neighbor is playing movies extremely loud at 1:00 a.m. in the morning. I mean it is so loud that the ear plugs don't even work to get rid of the noise. Then he is also listening to music at midnight. I think if you had to wake up at 5:00 a.m. and you are hearing your neighbor making even more noise, then you might be a little picky too. I don't know about you, but most people are a little cranky after 3 or 4 hours of sleep caused from tremendous amounts of noise.

[Sum1Else]

Here is the thing I keep seeing, over and over, people can be rude and do lack respect for others.

Unfortunately, not all management teams are created equal. However, some tenant complaints are not reasonable either. Learn to complain effectively. Try not to call or go to the office when you are most angry. I know it doesn't always work but it can definitely help the situation to relax by breathing deeply and then talking to the management.

Most complexes want to have their buildings full of respectful happy tenants. They certainly don't want people being a nuisance to others. Most will work with you on complaints especially if you let them handle the issues and witness them first-hand.

Many people won't actually let the management do their jobs to fix these problems. Why? Because they don't TELL them it's happening! They just let it get to them until they decide that their lease is almost up or they are just going to move.

So, complain and do it the right way. Give management a chance to fix it and earn the money you pay! Know that you may have to try a couple of times but hopefully it will get fixed.


This said by someone that is tormented, occasionally, by noisy, disrespectful neighbors. lol