Excessive Noise in a Co-op?
We live in a medium-sized co-op that has virtually no soundproofing between walls and floors. Sound travels readily between apartments and the board has instituted several policies that try to mitigate this problem. For instance, we’re required to have 80% of our floors covered in carpet and we have quiet hours (between 10 pm and…
We live in a medium-sized co-op that has virtually no soundproofing between walls and floors. Sound travels readily between apartments and the board has instituted several policies that try to mitigate this problem. For instance, we’re required to have 80% of our floors covered in carpet and we have quiet hours (between 10 pm and 6 am, you can’t make a lot of noise). Plus, the board sends out reminders about how to be generally respectful of your neighbors vis-a-vis noise.
For several hours almost every night and every weekend, our downstairs neighbor plays music with the bassline turned way up. She almost always turns off the music by 10 pm (the appointed quiet hours), but from approx. 6 pm to 10 pm 3-4 nights out of the week and most of the weekend, it’s extremely unpleasant to be in our apartment. Our floor shakes to the beat of her music and all we can hear is bass. We’ve tried talking to her about this, but to absolutely no avail. I should also say that, for some unknown reason, she doesn’t like us at all. Literally from the day we moved in, she’s been unpleasant and unfriendly, despite our regular attempts to establish a neighborly relationship.
I think it would help things quite a bit if she just turned down her bass. I don’t think the volume is excessively high, but the bass is driving us nuts. Even though her music is not being played after quiet hours, do you think this constitutes an unreasonable amount of noise? Should we go to a higher authority (eg the board)? Just wondering if others out there have had a similar experience and what they’ve done to maintain their sanity, while recognizing that we live in cramped quarters in the city.
I should add that I think it’s important that we all try to figure out a balance between living our own lives/expressing ourselves in the way that we choose and being respectful of those around us since we do live in a city, in very tight quarters. I don’t find comments like “put up or move” to be very helpful, nor “she probably doesn’t like you because you moved into the building and get all involved in peoples business.” Whenever questions about noise come up, I’m always shocked by how many people respond with, “this is the city, get used to it.” Sure, we’re all used to street noise, sirens, people arguing outside our windows in the middle of the night, etc, etc. But, people need to realize that not everyone likes the same music they like; not everyone wants to hear a toddler running back and forth, back and forth all day long (I write this as the mom of a toddler); not everyone wants to hear top volume arguments every night of the week from their neighbors; not everyone wants to be awakened every Sundy by booming speakers at 8 am from the church/mosque/temple next-door, etc. There needs to be some balance. I respect my neighbor’s love of loud music, but I don’t think it’s right that she’s able to play it every night of the week, for hours at a time (even if she is respecting the quiet hours), which means that I can’t ever have any peace and quiet in my own home (which is what I like). I’d really appreciate some more measure in people’s responses. Thanks.
that sucks jx, but after your last post it makes it obvious she is doing this to get back at you. im with what someone else said, who likes to annoy other neighbors? my first apt in nyc my downstairs neighbor left a card with 50 bux in it asking me to get a smaller stereo or headphones. i felt weird taking it, but i did. then i just didnt play loud music anymore. i had no clue he heard it. the people in my building now have loud sex for hours! that is even more annoying, but funnier i guess
*rob*
I agree with those who suggest that streber is mean-spirited. Living in NY does not mean that all one’s responsibilities as a neighbor and generally respectful human being go out the window.
streber — are you my downstairs neighbor??
I try NOT to get involved in people’s business unless absolutely necessary (i.e. it’s affecting my health and well-being). And I should add that this particular neighbor has been EXTREMELY involved in our business. The day we moved in, she came up asking (at 8 pm) when we would stop making noise. I had no idea about the lack of soundproofing and had no idea we were making ANY noise. From that point on, she came up or left a note about once a week about our perceived “noise.” Often, she claimed we were making noise at a time when we were asleep! Every time we drop something on the floor (which is rare), she bangs on her ceiling. So, streber, don’t make assumptions about who’s involved in whose business. I’m trying not to create waves, but I’m tired of being miserable whenever I’m in my own home.
You sound like a great neighbor, streber!
Soundproofing has to be done on the side making the noise to work, not the offendee’s side of the wall.
Arkady is right. It’s probably not even about volume but the way vibrations carry through the building. We have experienced that in both our old coop and in our house. I never understand why somebody won’t just invest in proper speaker stands and get the friggin speakers off the floors and away from the walls. Who actually enjoys knowingly bothering people? Plus the sound quality would be much better for her on her side.
“She almost always turns off the music by 10 pm”
Sounds to me that although this person is living in accordance with her own values, and not yours, she is being respectful. The co-op has quiet hours and your neighbor respects them.
She probably doesn’t like you because you moved into the building and get all involved in peoples business. This is a disease. When I’m listening to loud music, that’s what I want to be doing, not chatting with annoying neighbors.
You own? So, why don’t you soundproof your place? You moved into a building with people likely above, below, and on both sides of you. This requires patience and tolerance to live happily.
You are entitled to your peace and quiet at all times.
One, ask board prez over to listen to the noise.
Two, gently remind them that it’s their responsibility to enforce terms of proprietary lease which will include copy saying something to effect of first sentence.
Three, you, neighbor and board member sit down to discuss impact noise is having on your health and quality of life.
Four, only if that fails, start with the lawyers, cops and other stuff that will raise overall animosity level.
Good luck!
Is she actually a shareholder in your co-op? If not try speaking directly to the shareholder that she’s renting from.
As a last resort, call 311. In my personal experience the police have come out and the music stopped indefinitely.