Rent to a Pianist - Crazy?
I have a prospective tenant for my top floor rental – a jazz pianist who plays at one of the swanky Manhattan hotels. She has a baby grand piano she would move in. The piano is set on top of carpet and she swears that she has never had a noise complaint from other tenants…
I have a prospective tenant for my top floor rental – a jazz pianist who plays at one of the swanky Manhattan hotels. She has a baby grand piano she would move in. The piano is set on top of carpet and she swears that she has never had a noise complaint from other tenants in her current building. She only practices in the apartment from 11-3 in the afternoons. Am I crazy for even considering this?? I’m only talking about noise at this point, sometimes I can hear people walking on the floor below me (vibration) so why am I even considering this tenant? Maybe b/c the sound of jazzy piano played well would not be so bad. What do you think?
Give the pianist a break. You could do much worse for tenants, like deadbeats or people who make noise late at night or pet owners. In addition to putting the piano on carpet, keeping the lid closed (and maybe with a cover) can make it unobtrusive.
Put whatever you need in the lease. And audition her at the hotel gig to see if you enjoy her playing.
I agree with Christopher, put everything in writing. You might also ask her to agree to meet with you after a month to discuss whether any other residents have complained about noise or vibration. If noise becomes a problem she should ensure that the lid of the piano is closed, and her particular model may have a practice pedal or a pedal that can be used to dampen the sound and vibration. Her practice times are 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., it is actually reasonable to make some noise at this time as opposed to 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. You might also consider the other occupant of the building and whether this is likely to bother them. If everyone else currently living in the building works outside their home, 9 – 5, they won’t even be home to hear the music.
My sister in law is a piano teacher, and teaches out of her house. They recently relocated to NJ (I know, I know) but when they were living in NYC, she taught in her apartment all the time, and none of her neighbors even knew she was running a minimusic school. She had a baby grand, and also put it on a carpet; the noise just didn’t travel.
I would think that a professional pianist would have less potential for noise complaints than a music teacher giving lessons to kids. Of course I guess it depends on what kind of building/floors, etc, but I don’t think it would be crazy to rent to her.
MM, why even bother.
I lived next door to a couple of concert pianists for many years. I loved it when they practiced – even the same phrase over and over was a delight to me. However, their landlady – who started out great pals with the couple – grew sourer and sourer about their music.
So you never know. Sometimes it’s like heaven and sometimes it’s hell.
Bars respecting their hours of operation in backyards or terraces, etc…? Thanks for the news! You might be living in an amazing location, because I haven’t had the chance to live near one of those places, I believe like more than 99 percent New yorkers!
honestly id rather hear bar noise than some wannabe classical musician playing at all hours of the day and night. and like someone else posted, they will NOT keep themselves to the allotted hours, because uh they dont have to since it’s not illegal. granted hearing that is fine, and loud, etc etc. but for the most part, most tenants will HATE it. ugh id rather hear a crying baby than some person playing the violin.
*rob*
Hey Rob,
Don’t you think that a bit more than 1 per cent New Yorkers might have a musical sense and would be able to make a difference between bar noise or whatever disrespectful conduct we have to put up with and somebody whose profession is a musical one? Playing between 11am and 3pm seems pretty normal and wise to me.
In any condo or co-op by laws, you will find a mention of musical activity.They usually don’t permit practising between 10pm and 8am. As for the rest of the day, as long as carpets and other devices to contain excessive noise are installed, musical activity is accepted.
MM!!!! i used to live under someone playing some kind of music. it didnt bother me. i was totally kidding in my original post! i thought it was obvious.
granted, if i was a landlord i wouldnt rent to a musician mostly for the fact that they are in general annoying, high maintenence, and probably cant afford the rent, but the music itself isnt bothersome. 🙂
*rob*