Neighbours are someone you ‘ll need to cope with practically everywhere you reside. And, especially if you live in an apartment with a shared wall, those neighbours may be rather boisterous at times. Although a little noise here and there isn’t a major concern, there may be greater, more frequent noise issues that make living in quiet virtually difficult, such as a continually barking dog or weekly midnight parties. If the noise becomes unbearable, it may be necessary to submit a noise complaint with your landlord to resolve the issue.
When is best time to lodge a noise complaint?
It’s easy to become stirred up when you’ve been subjected to frequent, unreasonably loud noises from your noisy neighbours. Before you contact your landlord, take a few additional measures to see if you can address the problem yourself.
Quiet enjoyment clause
Check out your apartment contract to see if it has a quiet enjoyment clause. This clause recognizes that you, along with everyone else in your apartment complex, have the right to live in peace and quiet, undisturbed by a repeated or unreasonable commotion.
Apartment buildings may include their quiet hours in this clause, along with any other relevant rules for being respectful in regards to bothering others.
Noise ordinance laws
Check your apartment lease to determine whether there is a quiet enjoyment provision. This provision emphasizes that you, like anyone else in your apartment building, possess legal right to live in peace and quiet, free of recurrent or excessive noise.
Apartment complexes may include quiet hours in this clause, as well as any other applicable regulations for not annoying others.
Discuss with your neighbours.
Before you start complaining to your landlord about how annoying the loud music from next door is, go over to the neighbour’s house and talk it out. It might be scary, especially if you’re not used to confrontation, but it can occasionally clear the air. Your neighbours may not have noticed they were being too loud, so bringing up the matter with them directly may encourage them to be more aware of the noise and may address the situation without involving your landlord.
Inform your landlord.
If your neighbours still aren’t quieting down after you’ve spoken to them, you can inform your landlord. The proper noise complaint is issued in this situation.
What is the procedure for filing a noise complaint?
You should prepare a noise complaint letter (or an email) so that you have written documentation that you’re attempting to address the situation. Include the exact issue, how it affects you, any measures you’ve made to attempt to solve the situation, and your expectations for the future in your letter.
Make a mental point to follow up on your noise complaint if you don’t hear anything after a time. You don’t need to send a complete letter every time you follow up; simply a gentle reminder that you’re having issues that are hurting your living condition is sufficient.
What should I do if the neighbours continue to be loud at times?
If you’ve given your landlord a noise complaint letter and followed up, but no action has been taken to rectify the issue, you may need to take a few further steps. You can do the following:
- Locate and register a complaint with your local tenant’s association, if one exists.
- If it happens again, call the cops and file a noise violation complaint.
- Consult an attorney.
- Move out.
While these options are far from ideal, they are preferable than coping with loud noises from your neighbours on a regular basis.
Make sure you’re not “that person.”
No one wants to file a noise complaint, but it may be required. If you want to live a tranquil life, it’s not fair (or even legal) for your neighbours to continuously bother you with their loud sounds. Simply try to be as kind and reasonable as possible when dealing with a noise complaint so that you don’t become “that person” that everyone else despises for always complaining. Only register a complaint if the noise is continuous and interferes with your ability to enjoy your apartment.