the downside to apartment living

[mickeym]

I've lived in this apartment/townhouse since June, 2006. Nearly five years. Both units to either side of me have always been occupied (minus the time to paint/clean/etc in between rentals). We've had good neighbors, and not-so-great neighbors. But never anything like what we have right now, in the unit "E". We share a common wall, the wall with the staircase. The wall that our cable outlet is on are at opposite ends, so essentially the length of two living rooms. I can hear their television/stereo right now -- with my television on. o_O

I'm not sure exactly how many people live there: I know for sure there's a woman and two grade-school aged kids. There's another woman I see in/out occasionally, but I don't know if she lives there, or if she's a friend/relative/babysitter/etc. Those three people that are there regularly? Make more noise than did the single guy who routinely had groups of guy friends over for BBQ, ballgames, etc. Boggle on THAT for a minute.

These kids jump/bounce/run up and down the stairs, banging on the wall. I can hear them every single time they pitch a fit, or cry, or whatever. I can hear their mom every time SHE yells at them.

I could complain to management, I suppose, but they're not doing anything like wild parties after hours. So the kids are throwing fits--kids do that. I'm just boggled by how much noise they seem to generate.

I really want my own house again. *sigh*

Comments

[fuskeez.livejournal.com]

Well, you *could* complain to the management. I know we have in place certain clauses in our Rental Agreements that state that tenants shouldn't make any noises that disrupt other tenants. That would include playing music or their television too loud, and any kids jumping around too much.

Obviously I use the "kids will be kids" for people who may be a little touchy, but I've also LIVED in apartments where some kids are just little hellions and I don't want any of my tenants dealing with that. Also, if parents are yelling so much that others can hear it, that's something that I don't tolerate.. once in a while is one thing, but if it's a regular thing, OH NO THEY DON'T.

So, I don't know, you could check out your Rental Agreement and see if anything like that is in there and then maybe you'll feel better about reporting it to the manager. You deserve peace and quiet!

[embroiderama]

Ugh, that sucks. I'm lucky that where I'm living now I'm in a duplex with only my landlord above me, but even with that he sometimes plays his TV so loudly that I can understand all of the dialogue. And this is an old enough place that the ceiling/floor should be pretty sturdy. I agree with talking to your rental office because at least maybe they could talk to your neighbors and make it clear to them that people can hear them too much.

[jamesinboots.livejournal.com]

Noise is noise, whether it's kids or parties. I'd complain, but I'm cranky if I don't have quiet when I'm trying to sleep. :D

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Kids do do that, yeah, but being able to hear the TV that loud is insane.

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Oh yikes. Surely you could still complain about excessive noise?

[jolinarmalkshur.livejournal.com]

I feel for you hon. The house next door to us is a rental, young mother with 2 small children. The TV and stuff is not so bad but the sheer volume of her voice when she's screaming/swearing at the children (frequently)is a different matter. As are the dubious gentleman(and I use the world gentleman very loosely)callers. One of which I had to call the police to remove last year after he terrorised the poor children. I also called the property management company and let him know but he didn't seem that bothered *shrugs*
The occasionaly drunken woman on the other side of us however, is fairly entertaining at times!

If I were you, i'd keep a log and let the management know whenever there are occurences of ridiculous noise. It can't hurt to try.

[maerhysetc.livejournal.com]

i could have written this minus the kids part. -smh- i feel you.