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September 6, 2007
I can't take my neighbor any longer
I have a horrible neighbor who insists on turning his tv and radio on full blast and then leaves for days on end. my floors vibrate and the sound has pushed me over the edge. constantly. I have tried writing a note, making suggetions, complained to the board, the management company and more recently the police. it stops for a second but then he's like a little boy and slowly starts adding volume until we are right back to it being so loud I can't think anymore. the super has cooperated to some degree but I don't think he will accomodate this any longer. Irony is I've never met the jerk, he's never around. Does anyone have any suggestion (short of choking the loser)?
Comments
I'd really need a little more info (coop or condo? brooklyn or manhattan? number of units?) but a few things right off the bat. And, of course, you should be calling 311 at this point instead of the noisemaker. Also, if this person goes away for days at a time, won't the police either break in or at least leave a note for this person?
I'd also suggest getting a lawyer to write a letter to the board saying that the amount of noise is equivalent to constructive eviction and that if they don't take action against this noisemaker you'll sue. And then do it, or at least start the case.
This is a problem I had for many years, which was only solved when the noisemaker moved. The problem did linger however, because then when I sold my place, all my complaints about my former noisy neighbor were turned over to my buyers, and I had to explain the situation.
Good luck. I know how unbearable this can be.
Posted by: guest at September 6, 2007 9:40 AM
Sorry to hear this. Had a similar issue with a famil of four living above me. Children running all day every day in a tiny apartment, from 6:30 every damn morning. Not illegal - but bloody inconsiderate nonetheless.
Suggest registered letter to the board as above, citing the reduction of your quality of life, lack of sleep and health problems your neighbor's inconsiderate action is causing. Good luck!
Posted by: Johnny at September 6, 2007 10:32 AM
johnny, are you serious...what would you like them to do, shackel the children?
Posted by: guest at September 6, 2007 11:04 AM
Thanks. these are great suggestions. the police actually told me they can't do anything unless they actually speak directly to the person (they state that they can't write a summons to an apartment...) they also told me to keep calling them until they do speak with him directly. The letters are a good idea, just don't think anything will actually matter. I'm open to hiring a hit man! Just kidding brownstoner...
Posted by: boog at September 6, 2007 11:11 AM
11:04, I just asked them for common courtesy. Specifically, to stop playing soccer indoors. Not run and scream above my bedroom until 7 am versus the 7-day a week standard of 6:30. Also asked them to put carpet down. They did, but that process took nearly two years and heavy involvement from the co-op board.
Posted by: Johnny at September 6, 2007 11:43 AM
sometimes what we think is rational courtesy falls on irrational deaf ears and coop BS.
Posted by: boog at September 6, 2007 11:56 AM
A letter from a lawyer might get you more results than a letter from you. Shouldn't be that way, but it's true. Oh, and this letter should state that if the Board doesn't do something about it, you'll start withholding your maintenance because of the unlivable conditions.
Posted by: guest at September 6, 2007 1:06 PM
OP - I had a similar issue and tried everything. The only thing that worked was this: when you hear him at home, if your building has a buzzer, literally press it for 5 minutes - non-stop. Then stop. Then do it again. He will appear, I promise. His neighbors will go to his apartment to see why his buzzer is going. Then get up and do it at 3 am. Or when you're off to work, The point is, until he feels as out of control and frustrated as you do he will not stop. There might be a point where he tries to ask to have his buzzer disconnected, this is where your super can help if he refuses to do it.
Sounds very aggressive, I know, but it worked for me.
Posted by: guest at September 6, 2007 3:27 PM
Oh, the other thing that works (but it is rather extreme) is to call the police and say you think that there is a domestic violence dispute going on. Police have to, by law, respond to DV cases. The neighbor will be mortified and the police will hear the music and mention it.
But the buzzer should do it.
Posted by: guest at September 6, 2007 3:30 PM
There's a special place in hell for losers like this. We have a chronic noisy neighbor too. It took months of complaints, it took threats to sue, but we made a little progress and it's acceptable most days now. But I agree the only way it entirely goes away is if you move or the dude moves. Get a lawyer to write a letter. It will cost about $500 to $1,000 in attorney fees but it's worth it.
Okay about the children running upstairs - why is it people think there are only two options in life, letting children do whatever they want or "shackle the children" as 11:04 says. Good parenting is not just letting your kids have fun at all times and never telling them no. (Though that seems to be people's only definition of parenting duties these days.) Parenting is about raising a child to be a good, productive person and a responsible member of society. Period. Sometimes that means letting them have fun, and sometimes that means this thing called discipline and consideration towards others. Children are children only a fraction of their lives. What do you expect them to do and be as adults if they are never taught about being an adult? Absurd.
Posted by: guest at September 6, 2007 3:38 PM
Contact your Board in writing... in our co-op
if there's a repeated noise complaint it's verified by a board member and then the offending shareholder is sent a "notice to cure"...
Check your houserules... your neighbor most likely is in violation of the houserules and the proprietary lease.
Posted by: bren at September 6, 2007 4:24 PM
thank you to all of you had some constructive suggestions. Here's my response to some of these: tried the buzzer thing (not often enough apparently) he never answered, ever... withholding my mnt is not an option, that just backfires on you in the long run, and my coop consists of a bunch of "what do you want us to do" kind of people. I did think of reporting that I smelled smoke so the fire dept would have to break open his door but I don't want to do that to our beloved firefighters!
sadly enough, this has pushed me over the edge and it looks like it will be me who will be selling and movng. anyone wanna buy a coop???!!!
Posted by: boog at September 6, 2007 4:30 PM
I would tell the board you are getting a lawyer. Then i would offer them suggestions if they want to keep it from getting out of hand:
If you get a lawyer and the board is willing to work with him, he can do the work on the board's behalf.
PS If youre selling, I'm in, but I think you can break the guy's spirit.
Posted by: slick at September 6, 2007 4:48 PM
Good Luck trying to sell it in this crappy market!
Posted by: guest at September 6, 2007 4:49 PM
Here's a suggestion for you or anyone else with a terrible neighbor problem: there's a show currently casting for Court TV called Neighbors 911 - you could apply to be on it. The show will send a mediator (a former no-nonsense Green Beret) to your home to mediate the problem between you and your neighbor.
Each side of the dispute will be paid $1500 to appear on the show, and in addition one side could be awarded up to $3000 in damages. What have you got to lose? There's a good chance this can help resolve your problem. And it would beat selling your apartment!
For more information or to apply, contact LizLewisCasting@gmail.com.
Posted by: ldftgreene at September 6, 2007 5:33 PM
I'm not familiar with co-ops, but can you just pay your maintenance into an escrow account, much like you would do with a rental? Then, you have the money set aside, ready to be a paid at a moment's notice when the problem is resolved to your satisfaction.
I'd also like to commend 3:38 for a thoroughly reasonable response to the running children issue. Used to live under a similiar situation...when we asked the mother and father to show some courtesy for their neighbors by reigning it in to normal hours, you think you were asking them to put their children on leashes.
Posted by: bhguy at September 6, 2007 6:03 PM
hey, I like the mediator suggestion from ldft...thanks!
Posted by: boog at September 6, 2007 6:07 PM
What's hilarious is these parents actually think they will be able to control their children and keep them off drugs and alcohol once their children are teenagers. Right. Never tell your kids "no" for years, then suddenly tell them "no" all the time. Yeah that's really going to work.
Anyway, don't sell yet, OP. Try at least writing the letter to the co-op board. Also considering measuring the noise. An attorney would ask you to get the noise measured first anyway. Al Fierstein. We used him to measure a neighbor's music. Here is his website:
http://www.acoustilog.com/index.html
Not cheap, but his recordings can be used in court and he does expert testimony. He also gives you a full written report you can use to present to the coop board to prove the noise is above legal limits. I think he's around $1500 for one day's recording and twice that for a full week's recording. But ask him. He's a nice guy.
We and another friend too, had to get noise measured, to get anything done about it.
Posted by: guest at September 6, 2007 6:50 PM
I'm afraid to say that I am a new landlord and rented out our garden apt which we renovated by exposing beams (very low ceilings) so there is very little noise insulation. WE have two children who are so loud in the morning (after 7am) for various reasons- and believe me, I am a true believer in old fashioned discipline and try desperately to reign it in (not much you can do with a shouting 1 year old). OFten children are just loud and kind of crazy no matter what the parents' discipline philosophy is. Just very hard to live in these close quarters conditions with families. Luckily her bedroom is in the extension and we are not above it. But I fear that she is quietly having a nervous breakdown about this issue. Luckily she's too much of a mouse to say anything, and being from the suburbs, has her air conditioning on at all hours which hopefully cuts the noise (we pay her electric, alas)
Funny that someone else suggested the court tv show. I suggested that to the angry neighbor the other day re: piano playing.
Posted by: guest at September 6, 2007 8:29 PM
We had the same problem in a coop on 8th Avenue. Our board did nothing, and we ended up selling. We made a lot of money, but miss the apartment we put so much work into. We did find something else though that was much better and now we all sleep soundly at night. Good luck to you.
Posted by: guest at September 7, 2007 8:32 PM
The parenting comments are hilarious...and clearly coming from non-parents.
Kids are loud. They wake up early. You can modify some of their behaviors, but not all of them.
Posted by: guest at September 8, 2007 4:14 AM
Children can be taught consideration for others... and I am a parent.
When families live over others or below them it's the parent's responsibility to contain "park behavior" in an apartment.
If kids are that antsy they need some fresh air.
Fortunately most families are aware of this, and make for lovely neighbors... I truly feel for those who are stuck with
thoughtless parents for neighbors.
Posted by: bren at September 8, 2007 2:38 PM
How about taking your kids to the park to run around? Gee what a concept taking your kids somewhere. Why do people have kids anyway? They can barely take care of themselves. It is pathetic.
Posted by: guest at September 8, 2007 2:52 PM
put poop in a bag and light it on fire outside his door and then ring the bell and run.
Posted by: guest at September 8, 2007 11:09 PM
LOL to the dog poop. i thought about that one too! I did contact the court tv thing. thought it was a civilized way of approaching things. well the ONLY downside they thought would prevent us from doing anything is the fact that I do live in a coop and there are probably restrictions regarding filming on the premises. while it would also behoove the board to do this I don't think they would go for this. they think this is a white glove building and it's really a black hole! at this point I'm running my fan to drown out the noise a little but not sure how long I can do this (especially as the weather gets coller). but sad enough my decision to sell has been made and will do so very soon. maybe like 8:32 I'll finally get a good nites sleep!
Posted by: boog at September 9, 2007 11:05 AM
And so, six months from now, we'll have another person on this forum asking the same question.
Many people here tried to give you constructive suggestions for dealing with this problem, but without trying any of them, you've decided they wouldn't work. Why did you ask in the first place?
Posted by: guest at September 10, 2007 9:38 AM
My guess is that this nutjob is thinking that this is some sort of security system he has hooked up that's going to work for him. Perhaps talking it over with him somehow will shame him in to lowering the volume. I actually encountered this one time with a guy who was travelling with a group of us for work. He left his tv on an insane volume then went out to party. Drove us all crazy. He was totally embarrassed when we busted him.
Posted by: guest at September 10, 2007 8:20 PM
Go into the basement and shut off the power to his apartment.
Duh. How could you people have missed that one?
Posted by: guest at September 12, 2007 1:12 AM
to 1:12 and 9:39: In almost 2 years I have tried all of these suggestions: speaking directly to him, writing a letter, going to the board, flipping his switch (this one I had to rely on the super since the room is locked and he's tired of me asking him to do this), calling the police, I spoke with an attorney and with the court tv person. short of resorting to some of the more violent or disgusting suggestions I am out of ideas because none of this has worked and that's why I resorted to this site. this man does not care and is beyond horrible. the board does not take anymore action and won't claiming they donb't know what else to do. this is why I am now ready to move.
Posted by: boog at September 12, 2007 9:09 AM
I just bought a new home in a manufactured home community a month and a half ago and am dealing with this same problem. I came to visit the house at varying times a good 10-15 times before purchasing the home, and even spoke with the community leader to make sure that there had been no previous issues. However, the day after I began to move in, the radio next door started pounding. Pretty loud if you're outside and my six inch walls filter it to a steady "whomp whomp whomp" which is oh so pleasant.
I went to their house to nicely ask them to turn it down but they couldn't hear me pounding on the door for a good five minutes. So I went to the backdoor, which the woman finally heard me, only to shout, "That's the backdoor stupid!" Duh, so I went around to the front again, had to pound another five minutes before she opened the door. I introduced myself and asked her to turn it down because it was bothering me, and she did. For that one night.
A month and a half later, I've called the cops 8 times, reported it to the community leader just as many times and no one is doing anything. The cops say it's not "excessive" despite the fact that I can hear it quite clearly in my house almost everyday a week from about 4pm to after midnight.
I can't watch tv or read or even sleep most days. The constant noise is driving me nuts. The problem of course is that I spent so much money to buy the house that I don't have money for anything else. I will try talking to the community leader again tomorrow, as well as the property owners and calling a lawyer. I think however, that I won't have money for the lawyer, and will probably end up selling my house.
Sadly, I can't get anyone else from the community to say they hear it too, because the radio is pointed at my house, and we are all pretty far apart (which I thought at the time would be a good thing, but is obviously not far enough).
Now I believe they have it on all the time just to bother me. And I'm running out of options. The former owner of the house claimed she only had one or two issues in the past, but however did not reveal this to me until much later, and several calls to the police.
Since I'm new to the community, I also believe that is why no one is taking me seriously. I'm a single white female who has two jobs just to pay the bills, and don't have much time for socialization. I guess I just feel like I'm going crazy from all this and running out of options.
Anyone else have any ideas?
Posted by: guest at September 13, 2007 3:19 AM
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