Calmly approach your neighbour with your issue. If you have never actually met in person or spoken to one another, make it a point to introduce yourself. Say, “Hi, I’m Mary. I share the wall with you and live next door. ” Broach the topic of noise bothering you, but do so as respectfully as possible to be careful not to offend them. Say something like, “I’m not sure if you’re aware, but the walls are really thin here so I can hear a lot. It kind of keeps me up at night. ”
For example, if you are a college student, explain to your neighbour that you need peace and quiet to study late at night. Be honest and say something like, “I’m not trying to ruin your night, but it would be amazing if you could try to keep it down between the hours of 10 and 3. Those are prime study hours for me. ” Another way to confront your neighbours about their noise is mentioning the household members they might be interrupting. Be sincere and say something like, “Hey, I have a baby and even though I love rocking out, it’s hard to get my baby to stay asleep with all of the noise. Can you please, please keep it down? My sanity will thank you. ”
Stay away from using blaming language such as “you are” or “you need to”, instead focus on how you feel and convey that to your neighbour. [3] X Research source Do so after the loud party though, never try to have a rational conversation in the midst of the loud noises happening. Avoid coming to your neighbour with an angered or disgruntled attitude. If you feel like you’re too irritated to have a productive, mature conversation, save the conversation for a later date when you’ve calmed down some.
Look into the rules of the apartment complex and/or residential area you reside in. Ask that your neighbours be respectful of any courtesy hours that might be enforced. If you are unsure of how to come to an agreement with your neighbour on your own, use the development’s rules as a guideline for how to resolve the issue. [4] X Research source
Take time to compose the letter. As with your initial contact, be polite and factual. State the result you are looking for with your initiation of complaint. Keep a copy of the letter as part of your written record of the actions you have taken to resolve the problem.
Careful notes of your actions can help your case if the problem becomes an ongoing one or you need to make a formal complaint later. Dates and times will be useful to write down as well as copies of any tangible forms of conversation (texts, emails, letters).
If your building doesn’t have mediation procedures, talk to your landlord or super about the noise complaints. The super or landlord will act as the middle man and notify the neighbour of the complaints they’ve heard anonymously, sometimes with an official reprimand. [6] X Research source
When you call 311 or your local non-emergency line, let the dispatcher know where you are exactly. If you are in an apartment complex, give the complete street address including the apartment number. Be prepared to give info about your entry code if your community is gated as well. [8] X Research source Give a brief description of what is going on. Tell them what is currently happening. Say something like, “I’m trying to file a noise complaint on one of my neighbours who is having a party that is not in accordance with our community rules. ” If you want to remain anonymous to protect yourself against any potential retaliation, tell the operator that you don’t want to be contacted by the officers sent to the scene. The officers will contact your neighbour regarding the complaint, but will leave you out of it and not reveal your identity.
911 should be reserved for emergency situations, not a thump or two. Call the cops if there’s a loud party going on or if there is a band playing at all hours of the night. [10] X Research source It is integral that the cops be called only in situations where the noise will still be going on at the time of their arrival. If not, contact 311 or your local non-emergency line, for non-emergency noise complaint situations. [11] X Research source
Sue your neighbour in court for money damages or as a court order for the neighbour to stop the noise, or “abate the nuisance”, which is what it’s referred to in legal terms. [13] X Research source It might be difficult to sue for noise damage because determining damages is pretty subjective. If you still want to give it a try in small claims court, use your log that you should have been keeping from earlier steps. Show that there is excessive and disturbing noise on several occasions caused by the neighbour you’re suing. Show that you have asked that he or she stop being noisy on several occasions and it hasn’t been resolved. Show evidence of police involvement and your interactions with your neighbour that have remained ineffective to resolving the issue of noise.
On the street you plan to live on, check to see if there are basketball hoops, skateboard ramps, or other equipment that create a lot of noise or cause kids to congregate loudly in one area. [15] X Research source Avoid streets with a bus stop, intersection with stop signs, a club, an empty lot, or a halfway house near it. In other words, avoid busy locations with heavy commuter traffic.
Gauge the landlord’s willingness to accommodate your personal preference. If he or she tries hard to place you somewhere quieter, this will be an important indicator of what the landlord is willing to do to make sure you feel comfortable. If you hear buzz phrases like, “This is a young building”, be prepared to be surrounded by a few college parties. If that is a dealbreaker for you and what you’re willing to accommodate in a living space as far as noise levels go, it might be wise to pick somewhere else to live.
Invest in a pair of noise-canceling headphones or a white noise machine to reduce the volume of noise your place might be absorbing. Another way to absorb sound and reduce its impact is by installing bass traps or other sound-absorbing materials onto your walls.
