noisy neighbors

erikka

We've been having a lot of problems with the people in the apartment next to us. (edited to protect the guilty) Recently he decided to start having band practice in his living room--we're talking full drum set up, the whole works. And he has a lot of people over on weeknights who hang out in the hallway. I've knocked on their door so many times that they don't answer anymore. So I called the super, who said he'd speak to them, but he recommended that I call the police.

I don't want to escalate things--the last thing I want is to feel unconfortable in my own home and have to worry about my shady neighbors, but it's getting f-ing ridiculous. BAND PRACTICE IN YOUR LIVING ROOM? Is that shit even legal?

Have any of you have noise problems and how have you dealt with them?

alafairnadia

maybe try stopping at their apartment early - before the madness and drunkenness begins. tell them that you'd really appreciate it if they'd stop the noise and be more considerate. most people when confronted (while sober) with their bad behavior will back off. if they get belligerent about it, right then, just tell them that you're going to talk to the super and landlord about the problem if they don't cut it out. I wouldn't warn them that you'll call the cops.

are other neighbors bothered by their behavior? if you can get multiple people to call the super, he may be more inclined to talk to them.

next time it happens, call the cops and write a letter to the landlord.

rose

That's crazy. I can't believe he thinks he should be able to have band practice in his apartment. My brother used to practice the drums in the basement when we were growing up, and you could hear it through the whole house. Some activities are just not suited to urban living.

I would write a letter to the landlord describing the situation in detail (with dates and times when this stuff has gone on) and demanding that the landlord take action to address the problem.

sarajean8

That sounds terrible!

When I was living in Manhattan I had a similar experience with my frat-like neighbors. They used to blare their music/bass SO loud and we couldn't sleep at night (for weeks). We went next door numerous times and after a while they refused to open the door, and turned UP the music each time. We were in a building without a super so the only option we had was to file a noise complaint with 311. The cops actually came and told them to turn it down!

However another time, the same guy next store (who would set his stereo-alarm to BIG BAND music on full blast) went a away for the weekend-- all day the music was playing and then it reset again, and went off again at 5 in the morning. We called the cops again and this time they came over, banged on the door and the other roommate was home and claimed he didn't hear the music that was blasting out the apartment. After ridiculing the roommate's comment, the cops went in and unplugged the stereo, and needless to say we didn't hear from them too much after that.

whyfi

Subject: Re: noisy neighbors

erikka wrote: I don't want to escalate things--

He's already escalated things far enough. You've tried tried diplomacy, call the cops.

erikka

I've started keeping a log of times noise was above acceptable levels, and what was done to remedy the situation (e.g., knocked, called super, etc...). The problem with the neighbors surround their apartment: edited for anon. The landlord is basically said verbatim "the only time you'll see or speak to me is when you show up to sign the lease." Hence, I went to the super, who I think has spoken to them in the past with few results.

I think I am going to write a letter stating that I really don't want to, but if they continue to be loud I will be forced to call the cops. But here's the real question--will the cops even show up? Do they give a shit? Are they gonna tell me they've got better things to do?

stacey

I think keeping a log of everything is a good idea. You should also write a letter to them sending a copy to the owner as well as the super. Let the owner know that if he does not get involved you will have no alternative but to get the police and the DOB involved. I know it really sucks about the cigarette smoke

Now the devil in me says:
are your circuit brakers in each individual apartment or do you have access to the ones for that apartment? If you do I would switch off the electric everytime they start making too much noise. Or you can make lots of noise once they quiet down - bang some pots and pans or ask willregister soon to make a record of his infant's crying and play it on a loop at the highest volume for a while.

idlewild

Light a bag of dog shit in front of his door then ring his doorbell when he's not playing. As an aside. I do believe there is a noise restriction aka quality of life law that forbids this kind of stuff after 8pm. Check with 311.

erikka

Idlewild wrote: Light a bag of dog shit in front of his door then ring his doorbell when he's not playing. As an aside. I do believe there is a noise restriction aka quality of life law that forbids this kind of stuff after 8pm. Check with 311.

Their door is three feet away from ours in a carpeted hallway--then my apartment would smell like like someone took a dump while chainsmoking

jack krohn

Go to a 99-cent store, buy a small garbage can, fill it 3/4 of the way with water, and then tip it against his door. Maybe a river running through his hallway will send him a message.

brooklyn aphrodite

I have had similar noise problems with our neighbors - but we're the only two apartments in the building, so it has definitely turned into an us vs. them situation.

Example: Yesterday my roommate stayed home with the flu, but was woken after 20 minutes of banging around/stomping late in the afternoon. When she poked her head out of our apartment to see if everything was okay, the neighbor said she was just using her granny cart, stomped to her apartment, turned, and said "noises DO happen" before slamming the door.

Not even two weeks ago this same neighbor's cat was run over and killed by a car in front of the house. When we heard the commotion downstairs, the neighbor was in such shock she couldn't decide if she wanted to see/pick up the body or collapse into tears.

So despite her evilness in the past, my roommate and I physically took care of the body, got her a shovel from other neighbors because she wanted to bury him in the backyard, and offered to keep her company until her boyfriend/husband came home.

Days later, the mixing techno beats began again (7:30 on Saturday morning, anyone?) as did slamming the doors, and hearing every step in their apartment as if they were stomping petulant children. And of course the run in with her yesterday...

The landlords don't want to get into the tattle-tale he said she said thing, so we're left to our own devices.

I've adopted the MEAN PEOPLE SUCK mantra for now. I refuse to stoop to their level and become bitter and rude like them. We've told them numerous times to their faces and through letters that if we're doing something that bothers them, to let us know. (Her response was: We're all adults, we don't need to be writing essay letters. Her next note to us was about a month later, addressed "Dear Tenants.")

But talk to me again in a few weeks...I might have snapped by then.

brooklyn aphrodite

NEW ADDITION!!!

Just came home from work. In the pouring rain. See neighbor at front door having walked the dog. She turns to look back at me as she hears me open the metal gate. I'm not 10 feet away from the door.

She goes inside.


Closes door.


And locks it.


PRICELESS.
Maybe she reads this forum.
If you are, perhaps we can ask the nice folks on this site to recommend a doctor to take a look at that stick up your @$$

anonymous

I can't believe how some people will allow themselves to be taken advatage of because they are afraid of confrontation. Stop being so "nice" and call 311. The city cares about your health and well being. A few complaints will result in a ticketable violation- costing your neighbors and your landlord enough $$$ to force them to act. Plus, the Bloomberg admin. hates live music and has changed parts of the noise code to incorporate their peace & quiet initiatives. There's no need for this to continue.

brooklynjack

I did find this:

http://www.tenant.net/Rights/Noise/noise1.html

makes for some interesting reading.

erikka

BrooklynJack wrote: I did find this:

http://www.tenant.net/Rights/Noise/noise1.html

makes for some interesting reading.

Thanks Jack--I appreciate it. Basically, I will escalate things, but unfortuately if it comes down to it, it'll be impossible to evict these people based upon noise complaints. If anything, it'll let me break my own lease which I have mixed feelings about....

linusvanpelt

erikka wrote: [quote=BrooklynJack]I did find this:

http://www.tenant.net/Rights/Noise/noise1.html

makes for some interesting reading.

Thanks Jack--I appreciate it. Basically, I will escalate things, but unfortuately if it comes down to it, it'll be impossible to evict these people based upon noise complaints. If anything, it'll let me break my own lease which I have mixed feelings about....

It probably shouldn't have to come down to eviction. With persistent calls to 311 and/or the police, you can eventually make things difficult for the neighbors, and maybe more important, your landlord. From your description, your landlord is the type who just wants to collect his checks and not be bothered about anything. So... maybe if he realizes the noisy tenants are more trouble than they are worth, he will decide not to renew their lease? (Mind you, I don't know what type of building you're in and what laws therefore apply.)

If you want to move anyway, OK, but it should be the musical neighbors not you that have to move when it comes down to it.

By the way, have you ever actually talked to them? (I see from your posts that you've knocked, but unless I missed it, don't see if you've ever spoken and what they said if so.) Good luck.

erikka

linusvanpelt wrote: [quote=erikka][quote=BrooklynJack]I did find this:

http://www.tenant.net/Rights/Noise/noise1.html

makes for some interesting reading.

Thanks Jack--I appreciate it. Basically, I will escalate things, but unfortuately if it comes down to it, it'll be impossible to evict these people based upon noise complaints. If anything, it'll let me break my own lease which I have mixed feelings about....

It probably shouldn't have to come down to eviction. With persistent calls to 311 and/or the police, you can eventually make things difficult for the neighbors, and maybe more important, your landlord. From your description, your landlord is the type who just wants to collect his checks and not be bothered about anything. So... maybe if he realizes the noisy tenants are more trouble than they are worth, he will decide not to renew their lease? (Mind you, I don't know what type of building you're in and what laws therefore apply.)

If you want to move anyway, OK, but it should be the musical neighbors not you that have to move when it comes down to it.

By the way, have you ever actually talked to them? (I see from your posts that you've knocked, but unless I missed it, don't see if you've ever spoken and what they said if so.) Good luck.

YES, talked multiple times. The polite knock. The not so polite knock. The "hey, it's midnight REALLY PEOPLE C'MON ALREADY" knock. Until recently they were always sort of acknowledging in an eye-rolling, okay we'll turn it down a bit sorta way. They're aware of the situation and I think they percieve me as being too "sensitive" over their noise--their living room is my bedroom and the amp shares a wall.

Hey, you know--talking noise, carts moving, walking--it comes with the territory. A five memberband with a full drum kit is where I get a little less understanding. I think I am one of those people who are so hypermindful of the noise they make affecting those around them that I forget that not everyone is so considerate.

Strangely enough, we moved in on the exact same day as they did, and I don't remember seeing no goddman amplifier.

Honetly, at this point, I'm just curious if the cops will show up when it comes time to call them, or if they'll come two hours later when he's finished, and I'll look like a big chump.

linusvanpelt

erikka wrote: Honetly, at this point, I'm just curious if the cops will show up when it comes time to call them, or if they'll come two hours later when he's finished, and I'll look like a big chump.

Oh, they'll come two hours later, so you have to be persistent and call as soon as the noise starts, so that you can eventually get lucky. Don't worry about looking like a chump or let the police embarrass you out of calling again... while it is reasonable for them not to give this the same priority as an armed robbery in progress or whatever, you are only asking them to do their jobs.

Clearly you've got that common NYC problem, neighbors-who-think-they-still-live-in-a-dorm-itis.

drano

Keep after them, and don't feel bad about it. Use the police.

If all else fails, leave them an upper decker.

escap

Erikka, that really sucks, I think I would have already snapped by now and started making it my daily mission to make their lives miserable in whatever way possible.

I wonder if you have grounds for withholding rent? Doesn't your landlord have any responsibilities with respect to this kind of issue? Not paying, or consistently paying late, etc., would get his attention, and it would be really hard to evict you anytime soon. Make the landlord's life as miserable as yours and maybe get off his ass. It's too bad you can't get organize with some of your neighbors (sounds like you live in a wacky bldg btw), or else you might be able to exert some real pressure on the landlord. Confrontation is all well and good but it puts you in a very awkward position; it's really the responsibility of the bldg manager to take care of this kind of thing. Relying on the cops is, unfortunately, not an alternative I'd be very optimistic about.

In the mean time, have you considered keying your neighbor's car, slashing his bike tires, painting a swastika on his door, or finding out where he works and hiring hookers to show up at his job loudly demanding the crack he's promised them?

drano

Remember, the "Bill me later" box on magazine subscription cards (or anywhere else) can be very handy in certain situations.

carnivore

I highly recommend this book for your predicament:
http://www.amazon.com/High-Tech-Harrassment-Even-Anyone-Anytime/dp/1569801134/sr=11-1/qid=1163082337/ref=sr_11_1/002-1472679-0372858
I consider it my bible and I read it every night before I go to sleep. :twisted:

sarajean8

erikka wrote:
I think I am going to write a letter stating that I really don't want to, but if they continue to be loud I will be forced to call the cops. But here's the real question--will the cops even show up? Do they give a shit? Are they gonna tell me they've got better things to do?

Like I said in my earlier post I had cops come twice for my unruly neighbors. The cops were VERY accomadating and friendy and basically told us that it is ALSO their responsibity to respond to situations like this-- it's basically "our tax dollars at work". Call 311, not 911.

erikka

thinking twice about noise complaints: http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2006/11/08/details_emerge.php

yikes!

drano

Carnivore wrote: I highly recommend this book for your predicament:
http://www.amazon.com/High-Tech-Harrassment-Even-Anyone-Anytime/dp/1569801134/sr=11-1/qid=1163082337/ref=sr_11_1/002-1472679-0372858
I consider it my bible and I read it every night before I go to sleep. :twisted:

Reminds me of this little beauty:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/79be/

It works like a charm...um, so I've heard.

erikka

Drano wrote: [quote=Carnivore]I highly recommend this book for your predicament:
http://www.amazon.com/High-Tech-Harrassment-Even-Anyone-Anytime/dp/1569801134/sr=11-1/qid=1163082337/ref=sr_11_1/002-1472679-0372858
I consider it my bible and I read it every night before I go to sleep. :twisted:

Reminds me of this little beauty:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/79be/

It works like a charm...um, so I've heard.

OH MY GOD--someone used that at my friend's apartment, causing his already mentally-instable landlord to come out in the backyard in the middle of the night and yell "BUMBACLOOOOOOOT!" over and over at the top of his lungs.

Good to know what that sound was after a whole summer of it driving them crazy.

drano

OH MY GOD--someone used that at my friend's apartment, causing his already mentally-instable landlord to come out in the backyard in the middle of the night and yell "BUMBACLOOOOOOOT!" over and over at the top of his lungs.

Good to know what that sound was after a whole summer of it driving them crazy.

Awesome. You can't leave us there erikka, we need more detail on this story, like:

- Did he/they ever find it?
- Why Bumbacloooot? How long did he do that for?

carnivore

Drano wrote: Awesome. You can't leave us there erikka, we need more detail on this story, like:

- Did he/they ever find it?
- Why Bumbacloooot? How long did he do that for?

It was the name of his sled. :twisted:

erikka

Drano wrote: ]

OH MY GOD--someone used that at my friend's apartment, causing his already mentally-instable landlord to come out in the backyard in the middle of the night and yell "BUMBACLOOOOOOOT!" over and over at the top of his lungs.

Good to know what that sound was after a whole summer of it driving them crazy.

Awesome. You can't leave us there erikka, we need more detail on this story, like:

- Did he/they ever find it?
- Why Bumbacloooot? How long did he do that for?

Never found out--it just disappeared one day, which is why I was suprized when you linked to that. IThe chirping went on for a whole summer and would start around 3 in the morning, originating from what seemed like the backyard, but could have been anywhere since there was so much open space. Landlord was Jamaican (I think? see here: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bumbaclot), hence his choice of curse words, and his breakdown took place after about two months of the chirping every single night. According to my friend it was really LOUD.

So yes, it works. It will drive your enemies batshit insane. And unfortunately it's out of stock

drano

Hmmm...it may have been a more amped up version with a timer or something - in my experience the basic model "chirp" is fairly constant, although it does vary the interval a bit in order to frustrate waiting on the sound in order to locate it. A timer and louder sound...nice additions, but then it may start to get expensive for something you probably won't get back.

findcate

wow, that is a nightmare. Definitely call 311 every time they do this, and call the police--you have drunk people in your hallway? that's crazy!!...Is there something in your lease that says you have a right to peaceful enjoyment of your property as a tenant? You shouldn't have to move -- moving is very expensive as well as being a pain in the arse.

It sounds like your landlord needs to be convinced that taking action is actually in his best interests. If he wants a hassle-free building then he should take action. No sane person with a job & steady income is going to tolerate the noise & drunk people in the hallways. If he wants to run a flop house with unreliable tenants, then that's another thing...Maybe you could send him a letter to that effect with your log and noise complaints filed with 311/poice. You could suggest he should give them 72 hours to find somewhere else to practice, else they will be evicted. I don't know, there are alot of LLs on this site--what does a landlord do in this situation?

It's not like you're asking your LL to hang your curtains for you...you don't have the leverage to make your neighbors stop because they don't show any normal decency or consideration for you and they don't respect the super. You need your LL to take action.