Apartment Living: Need Help Coping

mca · 03-19-2010, 06:56 AM

My wife and I moved into an apartment in November 2009. We will likely be there until November 2010. It is my first experience living so close to other people since my college days in the dorm.

The first few months were fine. However, four weeks ago a young lady (21 or 22) moved into the apartment above us. She came down from Illinois and her parents were here to help her move in. From what I could gather from her father, this is the first time she has lived on her own. Seems like she graduated high school and then attended school to become a dental assistant.

Initially I thought this was a cool situation b/c she would be working 9 to 5 and she wouldn't be throwing parties. After all, she doesn't know anyone.

Then her entourage arrived. Three friends from Illinois suddenly show up just days after her parents left. Two guys and one girl. It appears as though one of the guys is her boyfriend.

So, long story short ... they are loud as hell upstairs. I have been very tolerant until last night. At 2 am her douche boyfriend rolls in drunk and rowdy. I awoke to a loud bang (sounded like a table was knocked over or something). Then I hear stomping and her lab puppy running around barking.

It was the last straw. My adrenaline soared. I got dressed, went upstairs and knocked on their door. It required three tries to get them to answer. Finally her boyfriend opens the door and says "WHAT?" ... obviously defensive and confrontational. He had his chest all puffed out and looked like he wanted to throw down.

I kindly and calmly explained that they needed to be more aware of the fact that people lived below them. I asked that they be more respectful in the future. He seemed rather uninterested in what I had to say ... he repeatedly said "ok, ok, ok".

I honestly don't see them making efforts in the future to be more quiet.

So my question is this ... what can I do to help me sleep through the night? When I run the HVAC (fan only) it is enough white noise to drown out anything above me. Running the HVAC all night is too costly though.

Do noise machines work? What about ear plugs? Anything else I can try?

Thanks,
Craig

BReif61 · 03-19-2010, 07:05 AM

Mention it to the landlord.

masraum · 03-19-2010, 07:10 AM

molotav cocktail!! Oh, wait, your living space is attached.

Hmm, yeah, talk to them again, especially when they are sober. Tell them that you'd like it to work out well, but you won't put up with any crap.

legion · 03-19-2010, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BReif61

Mention it to the landlord.

Yep, landlord probably thinks one, single girl is living there.

mca · 03-19-2010, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BReif61

Mention it to the landlord.

The entire complex is managed by a single company. I can talk to the on site manager and at least let him know that there is a problem.

I am willing to bet that the girl's parents don't know about her boyfriend living here. They stated that her move to Charleston was to "start over" ... probably leaving behind bad influences.

krystar · 03-19-2010, 07:27 AM

there's gotta be something in yer rental clause about loud noise after 10pm. complain to landlord.

audiman08 · 03-19-2010, 07:33 AM

I agree that going to the landlord is probably the best way to go. It makes your complaint official, and I'm sure the landlord doesn't want to lose your rent over a rowdy neighbor that may or may not pay their own rent on time.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Also if the "entourage" is staying with her that likely is a violation of the lease as usually they specify the number of people who can "live" there. Long term guests are not allowed.

At my old building (6 units) some law students moved into one of the units and had loud parties. I rarely heard them but everyone else in the building complained to the landlord. They were tossed after a few months. The other factor is that most of the other tenants were fairly long term (one had been there for 20 years) so that figures into things as well.

I avoid having upstairs neighbors at all costs. Only top floor apartments for me if I can manage.

legion · 03-19-2010, 07:36 AM

When I last lived in an apartment, the apartment management company could have cared less about disruptive tenants, so I was forced to call the police every time the drug dealers downstairs got rowdy.

dtw · 03-19-2010, 08:31 AM

I had kids renting the townhouse next to me. There were like four guys in that, plus at least two part-time girlfriends. Then all the dogs moved in. The dogs crapped all over my yard and they never picked up after them. Tried being diplomatic - there was one guy who actually was on the lease and he was cool about it, but he couldn't get his roomies to shape up. When I approached any of them, they were snarling little pricks about it.

Ended up tipping off the HOA about the dogs. Both the number of dogs in the house and the crapping on the yard were covenant violatons. HOA didn't even bother to cite them, they just called the owner of the house and said "we thought you'd like to know what was going in your property".

24 hrs later, never saw another dog in that house, and the kids were perfectly behaved little (snot-nosed) angels.

mca · 03-19-2010, 09:28 AM

Let's say that I have no case.

Do those white noise machines work?

m21sniper · 03-19-2010, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mca

My wife and I moved into an apartment in November 2009. We will likely be there until November 2010. It is my first experience living so close to other people since my college days in the dorm.

The first few months were fine. However, four weeks ago a young lady (21 or 22) moved into the apartment above us. She came down from Illinois and her parents were here to help her move in. From what I could gather from her father, this is the first time she has lived on her own. Seems like she graduated high school and then attended school to become a dental assistant.

Initially I thought this was a cool situation b/c she would be working 9 to 5 and she wouldn't be throwing parties. After all, she doesn't know anyone.

Then her entourage arrived. Three friends from Illinois suddenly show up just days after her parents left. Two guys and one girl. It appears as though one of the guys is her boyfriend.

So, long story short ... they are loud as hell upstairs. I have been very tolerant until last night. At 2 am her douche boyfriend rolls in drunk and rowdy. I awoke to a loud bang (sounded like a table was knocked over or something). Then I hear stomping and her lab puppy running around barking.

It was the last straw. My adrenaline soared. I got dressed, went upstairs and knocked on their door. It required three tries to get them to answer. Finally her boyfriend opens the door and says "WHAT?" ... obviously defensive and confrontational. He had his chest all puffed out and looked like he wanted to throw down.

I kindly and calmly explained that they needed to be more aware of the fact that people lived below them. I asked that they be more respectful in the future. He seemed rather uninterested in what I had to say ... he repeatedly said "ok, ok, ok".

I honestly don't see them making efforts in the future to be more quiet.

So my question is this ... what can I do to help me sleep through the night? When I run the HVAC (fan only) it is enough white noise to drown out anything above me. Running the HVAC all night is too costly though.

Do noise machines work? What about ear plugs? Anything else I can try?

Thanks,
Craig

Run a fan by your bed. The constant hum will drown out most noise.

If that doesn't work, go upstairs and kick the fkin snot out of him.

My rule for apt's is to ALWAYS rent on the top floor.

TGTIW · 03-19-2010, 10:47 AM

Have you tried gently head-butting the neighbor in the chest?

stomachmonkey · 03-19-2010, 10:55 AM

Take a day off from work when you know no one will be home.

Break into apartment.

Find her computer.

Spend day in gay chat rooms ranting about the ***** you live with.

Download lots of porn, preferably chicks with dicks.

Forget to log off.

For the dog start pissing and crapping in the elevator/stairwell.

mca · 03-19-2010, 10:57 AM

Man ... this OT forum is guns a blazin.

Although I tower over the guy and I used to be able to bench 335lbs when I was his age ... I bet his sawed off, meat-head body could put up a good fight. He looks like a crazed wrestler.

Sure, I still work out. But I use 50lb dumbbells now. That ain't much.

Dueller · 03-19-2010, 11:24 AM

Find out her parent's address. Send them a letter.

Buckterrier · 03-19-2010, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mca

Let's say that I have no case.

???? Unless you live in the projects you HAVE a case.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGTIW

Have you tried gently head-butting the neighbor in the chest?

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL Now that's funny.

Tishabet · 03-19-2010, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGTIW

Have you tried gently head-butting the neighbor in the chest?

Well played

Brando · Brando's Garage

I have to agree with m21sniper... Rent on the top floor!

My last apartment... Luckily we were all mature adults about the noise. The worst we had was a drunken unruly lady come in and I had to escort her out at the end of my rifle!

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Maybe you could rent Denis for a day...