How to Deal With Noisy Upstairs Neighbors
Living in a community has its fair share of pros and cons. Communities such as townhomes, condos and duplexes have many advantages. They offer residents a sense of security since you have several neighbors residing in the same building and creates the opportunity to make friends out of your neighbors. The downsides of living in these shared spaces is that they attract all types of people, ranging from young professionals to new couples and sometimes rowdy college students. In almost every community, you will find a small portion of residents who often break the rules, especially when it comes to noise.
This group of noisy neighbors is notorious for throwing parties, playing loud music and stomping around the house, especially neighbors with children. They may create noise without giving consideration to what other residents feel. Noisy upstairs neighbors can really get under your skin and make your life unbearable, especially if you are a first-time renter.
Fortunately, you don’t have to remain miserable. Here are a few proven tips that help you deal with loud and sometimes unreasonable noisy upstairs neighbors.
Determine if you have a legitimate noise complaint
The noise that your upstairs neighbors are making might not be deliberate. So, it is always a good idea to determine whether or not your complaint is legitimate before taking any further action. If the neighbors are throwing a noisy party, then you have a right to file a noise complaint with either the property manager or the authorities.
Many neighborhoods have noise ordinance laws that prohibit residents from causing noise disturbance during specified times. The aim of these laws is to keep your area quiet and peaceful. There may even be a clause in your rental agreement that details quiet hours that all tenants must adhere to.
Soundproof your home
Another easy way of dealing with the noise coming from your neighbor’s home is to soundproof your rental home. With small budget improvements like installing full carpeting and thick, soundproof curtains in all windows, you can cancel out the noise and enjoy a peaceful night.
Try placing lush area rugs on the floors to prevent noise from coming in and minimize the sounds coming from your home as well. Installing ceiling clouds and acoustic fixtures like those found in auditoriums and restaurants can also help reduce noise coming from your neighbors.
Seal your doors and windows
Block noise from your neighbors easily by sealing all the gaps and spaces between doors, windows and frames. If you look carefully, you will notice that there are tiny gaps beneath your doors and along your windows. Although the spaces might appear small, they are big enough to allow noise and echoes to pass through into your home. You can seal these gaps using adhesive, insulation or even pieces of cloth.
Invest in noise-canceling headphones
As mentioned earlier, the noise coming from your upstairs neighbors might not be intentional. Therefore, it is always good to investigate the cause of the noise before taking any action. Your neighbor may be struggling to calm down a newborn baby who is colic or your home might have particularly thin ceilings and floors, hence the noise. If any of these is the case, then you should consider drowning out the sounds by wearing noise-canceling headphones or earplugs.
Rearrange your furniture
Another simple trick you can use to get the better of your noisy neighbors is to rearrange your furniture. Move heavy furniture like shelves or bookcases against the dividing wall to drown some of the noise. Try adding wall decor as well. Canvas art is good for reducing sound. Adding plenty of heavy pillows to your chairs, sofas and beds also helps absorb the excess sounds and echoes.
Approach your neighbors politely
You can always choose the diplomacy path. You will likely live with your neighbors for years to come so it is always nice to develop good relations for the betterment of the community. Approaching your neighbors politely and asking them to turn the volume down may just do the trick. You might just be surprised at how understanding and responsive your neighbors are. This is even easier if you’ve built a friendly relationship with your neighbors prior to approaching them.
Contact the property manager
If diplomacy fails, then you have no other option but to contact the property owner or manager. The owner or manager will most likely intervene since it is in their best interest that all residents feel safe, comfortable and living harmoniously as a community.
You may talk to the manager face to face or send them an email explaining your concerns. They will then warn the noisy residents verbally or in writing, but if no action is taken or you feel the response wasn’t sufficient, you can write a notice or termination letter informing the landlord that you don’t intend to renew your lease.
Too much noise can be distracting and disturbing creating an uncomfortable living situation and chances are, you’re not the only neighbor who feels this way. Everyone wants to feel at ease in their home and that includes enjoying the peace and quiet of your space at times. Applying the above tips can help you deal with noisy upstairs neighbors and maintain a happy living environment for both you and your community.
