Running Child Upstairs
Hello. I have been living in my condo for 5 weeks. Immediately upon moving in, I realized that the child in the apartment above mine runs the length of the apartment–whose layout is the same as mine– anywhere from a few minutes to as many as 45 minutes at a time. About two weeks ago…
Hello. I have been living in my condo for 5 weeks. Immediately upon moving in, I realized that the child in the apartment above mine runs the length of the apartment–whose layout is the same as mine– anywhere from a few minutes to as many as 45 minutes at a time. About two weeks ago after having to listen to that for 45 minutes, I went upstairs, introduced myself and politely stated that running for 45 minutes non-stop was jarring and that I couldn’t even hear my TV. The father asked me what he wanted me to do. I told him that the solution was up to him and his wife. I remained polite but clear about the noise being unnerving. He insists on my giving him a solution. I noted that in cases like this carpeting seemed like the solution. He said, “I won’t install carpeting. Anyway, I don’t think it will matter.†I told him not be so negative after pushing for a solution. He wanted us to agree on a schedule. I said, “It’s obvious I’m not home all week from 8 am to 8 pm. However when I come home, I’d like to be able to relax and hear my TV or just read.†He said, “That seems reasonable.†For the most part, there hasn’t been running after 8 pm during the week. The thing is, the weekends are unbearable with that child. I came home on Sunday night around 5 pm and by 6 pm I had to put in earplugs. Ditto for tonight. What would be my next step? He has said NO to carpeting. Am I being unreasonable? Should I stay quite about that noise? Should I just go to the condo association? Try with him again? I’d like to get along with my neighbors but it has to be a two-way street. The only thing, I am obviously the one in the weaker position. Thank you!
Father of 3 here the guy needs to carpet his apt.
And since we’re pushing buttons…. this is exactly why I would never buy an “apt” especially in a Browndo or new construction. How can one really say they own when he/she does not have absolute control of thier surrondings. That 100k down payment could of went towards a house.
Denton, I’d have that checked out.
“no one’s stopping you basementalicist. please PLEASE tell me you are not one of those newfangled dangling babies over sewers to pee and poop parents ive started seeing lately.”
Rob, pissing directly into the sewer is super-green!
insulating won’t help (very much)…you need to isolate the sound with a continuous resilient barrier (carpet, cork or rubber (the best outside carpet) sub floor on the floor side).
the architectural solutions are all contingent on preventing a sound path from developing vibrated sound through the structure/finishes –
a better solution is working it out with the neighbor…
classic brownstoner thread – hitting so many hot buttons. annoying kids! indulgent (or maybe incompetent?) parents! selfish childless neighbors! crappy (new? old?) construction! now if someone could only work in sublets, slumlords and street crime we will have hit all the high notes.
it really makes little difference whether the kid should be running, or why the kid is running, ’cause the kid *is* running, and all the self-righteous indignation everyone can muster isn’t going to change it. you can bet those parents aren’t reading brownstoner for our advice on how to raise their kids to respect (or drive batty) their downstairs neighbors.
when i lived in a condo, there was an 80% floor covering rule that existed expressly for situations like this.my formerly quiet upstairs neighbors became extremely noisy first-time parents and had to carpet their unit as a result. a similar rule exists in the bylaws of many coops and condos in NYC, so check your bylaws. if the rule is there, these people need to get rugs, carpets, foam mats, whatever. be nice and maybe they will handle it on their own initiative. if not, you have to get the board involved. if the rule isn’t there, you can take the issue to the board and try and have the rule added. just don’t suffer in silence cause that kid is getting heavier every day. 🙂
The board will do nothing, they cannot enforce anything that is not specifically spelled out in the bylaws.
Even then, you will have a hard time proving it is excessively loud. Especially since the OP mentions it is not occuring after 8PM. Most bylaws state that noise must be curbed after 10 PM.
The board of a condo is essentially powerless.
Why don’t they raise their kids in a tented backyard compound like every good god-fearing parent does. Won’t even know they are there.
something is wrong here. i have a small child, and they may run once in awhile inside but probably not with shoes on anyway in the apt. INSIST they put down rugs or carpeting. check the law / get your board involved.
Perhaps do some insulating for your own benefit also because we have lived below a child for almost 3 years and have never heard her, and we’re in a new condo.
northsloperenter- there is a difference between a one-off event or very occasional occurrence and repeated noise. A good neighbor doesn’t complain about the occasional parties of a neighbor. But if the neighbor has a party everyday, then it’s a problem. The same would apply to the noise generated by children. Your child rolling a ball one day is no big deal, as would the occasional noise that all children make (throwing or dropping things, for example). But if you think your apartment is your child’s substitute playground and you would permit him/her to make excessive noise on a daily basis, then you would be an obnoxious neighbor. There is no special treatment exemption for children’s noise. If my peace and quiet are being disturbed in an unacceptable manner, it doesn’t matter whether the noise is generated by children or adults. Again, I do believe in being understanding and avoiding battles with your neighbors, but I think it’s outrageous for people to assume that others should tolerate the excessive noise of their children, especially if they are the prevalent ill-behaved ilk.