Bad Neighbors

Started by DanielN1 • 15 replies • 1623 views

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DanielN1 (California)
Posts: 3

Posted:

The owner of the unit above rented to a young couple with a 2-year-old boy who runs and jumps every minute is is awake. This is all in a laminate-floored condo, I might add. They had the boy when they moved in and we told them there were already noise issues because of the floor, but they moved in despite the warnings. I haven't filed a formal complaint yet and have told the couple that we can hear the boy when he runs and jumps, so they are aware of the situation. I don't know how far to push this as I don't want to have hostile neighbors on top of us. Any suggestions?

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Daniel,

Since you stated that there were existing noise issues you may want to look into the varied ways available to diminish the amount of noise you hear. Yes, this will be an expense but it may keep you from having hostile neighbors.

An internet search on "how to soundproof existing ceilings" or "soundproofing a condo" will provide you with some options.

LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099

Posted:

Daniel,

Check your declaration. Many condos forbid hard flooring on upper units for this very reason. The laminate flooring in the unit above you may be a violation.

JohnB26 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,569

Posted:

yep, i agree, you sound like a REALLY bad neighbor

you can thank your creator no-one complained about YOUR playing when you were little

if the structure which you VOLUNTARILLY purchased and in which you VOLUNTARILLY live is of such shoddy construction that a child playing makes objectionable noise

either

soudproof/modify the structure

or

bring a lawsuit against the OWNER of the 'offending' unit

or

move on down the road

or

eat the offending child

in any event

take action and quit yer bi*#^&ing

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By DanielN1 on 11/03/2013 7:21 PM
The owner of the unit above rented to a young couple with a 2-year-old boy who runs and jumps every minute is is awake.

Umm... yeah, thats whats kids do. Just wait until she has 4 kids. If you choose to live underneath someone, you can expect normal noise like this unless you have concrete floors between the units. Its not something you can add, the building would have needed to be designed this way. You can try and complain to the actual owner, and maybe she can limit running, but there will still be noise. Get used to it.

AnnH5 (Florida)
Posts: 304

Posted:

Be nice and be patient. If the noise is truly that loud, record it. Then speak to your upstairs neighbors about it and explain how you understand little children love to play but that the jumping is loud. Play your recording so they understand just how loud it is for you. It might not eliminate the jumping but maybe they will be more apt to correct their child when he does it. The parents may not even realize just how loud it is for you until you share it with them.

JohnB26 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,569

Posted:

SteveM9,

you are soooooo polite

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

Got a problem with that? LOL Yeah, I'm from Massachusetts, can you tell?

We don't step on eggshells in order to not hurt peoples feelings. We just tell it like it is.

JohnB26 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,569

Posted:

no no no

you really WERE much more polite than i was ! (i suggested to eat the offending child, a la Johnathan Swift)

i guess i'm just so blunt and sarcastic in general that sometimes i fail to comunicate

A famous American diplomat once defined diplomacy as:

"Sending someone on a trip to hell in such a manner that they look forward to the first step."

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

Ahh, I get it. Sarcasm is very hard to discern in text format. Not your fault.

JohnB26 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,569

Posted:

ps. i'm originally from the Bronx

JohnB26 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,569

Posted:

pps. which explains everything

CwlW (Delaware)
Posts: 7

Posted:

When I lived in a high raise condo in another state, one of the condo rules was, if a unit had wood/laminate floors, I believe it stated that either 80% or 90% of the floor had to be covered with an area rug, to include all hallways.

I would ask you, does this family have area rugs laid down on the floors, especially rugs in all the areas where they walk, i.e, hallways, open walk areas etc.? Don't know for sure just how much this may help the situation where you live.

FionaC1 (Washington)
Posts: 93

Posted:

I do NOT understand people with little kids who don't understand the issues like this, purchase a condo, with no where to play etc.. mindless.

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

So everyone in a large city should not have kids and should move to the suburbs? You have a very small view of the world.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

I was once told condos were for the newly wed and the nearly dead.

Some condos have pools, exercise rooms, tennis courts, bike/hike paths, golf courses, etc. Wish I had those in my building/back yard when I was a kid.

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