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by Anonymous on February 14th, 2006

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How can I ask my neighbours to keep the noise down in the evenings without starting an argument?

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Answers. 17 helpful answers below.

  • by Alatea on February 14th, 2006

    Alatea

    I had this exact problem! Great neighbours except when the noise level increased to the point of insanity. We asked them to come over here just so they could experience the noise from this end and when they heard how loud they, their friends and the music was they apologised. We talked about it calmly and told them we valued them as neighbours
    but the noise level was unfair and made life miserable for us. Now when they have a party or large groups to their home they let us know in advance. You absolutely cannot solve this with an angry tone no matter how angry or frustrated you might be. Approach it in a kind way because often people don't realise how loud they are, especially if they've been drinking. Remember that you have to live beside them and in any community respect and understanding go a long way. They will appreciate your approach because it shows you care about them and that you only want a bit of quiet in the evenings.

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  • by frugalforlife on February 16th, 2006

    frugalforlife

    I have gone to neighbors with a big blanket wrapped around me and some kleenex in my hand. They seem to drop the noise down when they see someone is 'sick'

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  • by LynfromNM on February 14th, 2006

    LynfromNM

    Often neighbors don't realize that their noise is amplified in an apartment building -- it may not seem at all loud to the culprits. The best thing is a direct but polite approach.
    Here are two suggestions:
    1) At a time when it is noisy, ask the neighbor into your flat to hear what you hear. Explain that you have no desire to interfere with their lifestyle or preferred form of entertainment, and that you hope they can agree to turn down the volume after a certain hour, say 10 pm. Tell them you expect to hear SOME noise from an adjoining residence and you don't want them feeling as though they have to tiptoe through their lives, but that their music/TV/loud conversation keeps you from focusing on whatever you are doing. Tell them you would fully expect them to let YOU know if your noises become too pronounced as well!
    2) (tongue-in-cheek, but it could work!) Present them with a new music CD of a group whose music has been interfering with your sleep, saying, "I couldn't help but notice how much you like this music, and I saw this at the store today!" Maybe they will get the hint!

    Perhaps when they understand what you are hearing from the other side of the wall it will be resolved. Follow up by being especially friendly so that they don't peg you as a crotchety, impossible person.

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  • by Micheal on October 8th, 2007

    Micheal

    (1) Don't even talk to the neibhour about this. Because you don't know about those people. If you are constantly disturbed keep a record log and politely submit complaints to leasing manager / landlord.

    (2) Request the leasing office manager if they can get a chance to look into your report. and ask them what you should be doing if the situation continuous.

    (3) Don't even keep a trace that you are the one complainning. Definitely the landlord / leasing manager is not going to tell them that you launched the complaint. So just keep quiet and keep diong what you need to do.

    (4) In case if they behave very badly try to record the noise and capture all the details and document and submit it.

    (5) I think they need three complaints and if the situation get's worse call the non-emergancy Cops and let them know about the situation. Certainly cops can't do anything other than issuing a warning first time and they can issue a ticket if they do it again and third time they can be put behind the bars.

    (6) As soon as you called the cops the next day you inform the leasing office about the cops visit and make sure they are aware of this situation.

    One important thing whenever the cops comeby see if you can make a proof of what's happenning and ask the cops if they can witness the situation if cops get a call from the leasing office.

    inform the cops details ( take the cops card) and pass it to the leasing office and let them know the cop who came by is ready to witness the situation.

    Rest apartment leasing people will take care. They formally launch the legal letter through the attorney asking them to leave the property in two weeks or in four weeks. Eveything get resolved. You and your family is in peace and the neibhour also learnt the lessons without knowing who taught it. Overall it works out good for all.

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  • by Anonymous on April 11th, 2006

    Anonymous

    If you live in an apartment, contact the landlord and file a complaint. I would not make physical contact with your neighbors, unless you know that they are not drug addicts. you never know whats taking place behind someone's door. if you live in an apartment and the landlord refuses or does not take any action, then call the police.

    Each person has a lawful right to their personal space and the right to live in a normal, quite surrounding. noise, violates that right.

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  • by jwmbiz on March 4th, 2006

    jwmbiz

    If you're afraid of confrontation you could hire some big scary-looking guy to go over to the neighbors' house and do the talking for you. Or you could call the police anonymously.

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  • by shontaye frye on February 16th, 2006

    shontaye frye

    You can go next door and say to them politely your making alot of noise and i would appreciate if you would please keep it down.

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  • by Answers101 on February 16th, 2006

    Answers101

    First, go over to your neighbor's and kindly inform them that their noise level is bothering you in the evenings and if they could please turn it down lower because it is bothering you.

    If you're kind and polite in your request, then they should be willing to turn down the noise.

    If, however, they refuse to honor your request, then the only alternative is to call the police and inform the police that your neighbors are "disturbing the peace."

    Some cities have a city ordinance where you cannot make loud noises after a set period of time. For instnace, after 10 PM.

    Good luck with your neighbors and I hope they're willing to honor your request.

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  • by Anonymous on February 15th, 2006

    Anonymous

    The pictures were falling off the wall. the floor vibrated and we thought we were being attacked. BOOM BOX. a new neighbor moved into a house behind mine. he installs stereo equipment by day and boom boxes by night. after three days, my wife had had enough. not knowing whether our new neighbor was a drug addict or dealer, my brave wife knocked on their door. she introduced herself and explained the noise level and disrupting our life. to my surprise, my neighbor apologized and its been quite ever since. fortunately, this worked for us, but it was very unsafe. bottom line here is, call the police and let them handle this situation. this is why they are there. noise pollution is a violation of the law. most of the time, a warning is sufficient.

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  • by bostjan64 on February 8th, 2012

    bostjan64

    Chloroform.

    [warning: chloroform may be illegal in your locality, please check with local authorities first]

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  • by Anna_V186 on February 8th, 2012

    Anna_V186

    From personal experience i do not recommend trying to talk to your neighbors directly. we've had 2 instances over the last 2 years when the noise from the neighbors was excessive and disturbing and we very courteously asked them to turn it down. Couldn't hurt if you're nice about it right? WRONG. We had 2 different sets of neighbors respond to our polite requests by turning up the music and noise. I dont understand that, but it has happened twice now, both times we were left either seeking litigation to get us out of the lease early or the lanlord was agreeable to not holding us to the 30 days notice given the situation. Both times the noise got so much worse after we went to the neighbors that we wished we had not had direct contact with them. Different people are from different cultures, and what would be a polite request that would be easily agreed upon in our mainstream culture was perceived as an insult/personal offence by these people from a different culture and they proceeded to retaliate by turning the noise up.

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  • by RedJohn on February 14th, 2006

    RedJohn

    If all else fails, you may find some comfort in municipal noise bylaws. Most communities have restrictions that come into effect at night (e.g., after 23:00) that limit loud noises. Noise bylaws may include a maximum permissible noise level quantified, usually, in terms of sound pressure level in dBA, slow-averaged (e.g., not to exceed 70 dBA). Many communities do not establish a numerical limit, but use subjective terms such as "reasonable" to describe acceptable noise levels. These are open to interpretation, but they are usually interpreted by the person responding to the complaint. Don't abuse the by-laws and don't expect the police to come at the drop of a hat - they usually have better things to do than answer noise complaints - but you can expect some form of response after a complaint has been laid. If you are already at the stage of making a noise complaint, you are probably also beyond reasonable words with your neighbour. It happens.

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  • by donniegirl on August 11th, 2006

    donniegirl

    First ask them what they have been doing, and then they might get the point. If not, politely say, I would appreciate it if you could try to keep it quieter at night because_____________(reason).

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  • by Anonymous on September 13th, 2009

    Anonymous

    Hi

    My neighbours start making noise at 2am in the morning, they are nearly always drunk when this happens and they get very confrontational with each other, so I would dread to think what they would be like with us.

    I am writing a letter to them which says
    "Hi
    We appreciate the fact that you want to enjoy yourselves and that occasionally everyone gets carried away in the moment. However we would be very great full if you lowered the volume of your noise especially on week days as we have to be up early in the morning.
    Many thanks
    your next door neighbour"

    Hopefully this will work. If it fails than I will be making a full record of the noise and passing it to the local housing association, and also to the police. I've just started a uni course and really can't be doing with the noise or the hassle.

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  • by RSmith on September 17th, 2008

    RSmith

    A note posted under the door has worked for me, helps to know their names, had an issue over a dripping tap which was resolved.

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  • by RSmith on September 17th, 2008

    RSmith

    Speaking to your neighbour sometimes works unless you have teenagers nearby, I have noticed from several flat moves that the average teen videogamer wakes up at 11pm, games until some silly hour i.e 5:30am in the morning then spends till mid-afternoon in bed.

    usually a smoking gun is the flashing computer monitor if you go outside and look up at the window plus any noise.

    Spending daft amounts of money on rent does not stop you living next door to a neighbour from hell as I have already found.

    I have already tried a polite note thru the door to which **** off was the response, hormones no doubt.

    I have Tinitus which means I pickup on un-natural sounds i.e video gaming, music when trying to sleep.
    I am not effected by footsteps,barking dogs,cars,fridges etc.

    Any idea's? As there's is nothing like listening to rockets and machine gun fire all night 7 days a week. I can even identify the game as Quake, I doubt sound recording equipment would pick it up.

    2 months of tenancy left, I was aware something was wrong when I moved in, but thought it was the lettings reps mobile ring tone.

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  • by Funkycherry on January 16th, 2010

    Funkycherry

    Call the cops and report them every time eventually they will stop arguing. I did it when we had neighbors who always fought. And besides they wont know it was you who called the cops. And don't get me wrong my husband and I argue but we don't scream cause we don't want to bother our neighbors I assume they like quiet just like I do.

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