Loud noise in the apartments above us

By Tenant

“We are renting in a bottom apartment as we are an old couple and could absolutely not make it through a whole flight of stairs anymore. We were doing fine the first couple of months but when people moved in at the apartments above us, everything went to hell. They have children running around and they kept us up all the time. We already talked to our landlord and he sent the family a couple of letters but to no avail. We are an old couple and could not tolerate loud noises anymore. We just want peace.”


This was sent to me by an old couple who happens to be friends with my family for a long time. I happen to be a Landlord and they asked me for advice regarding this problem they were having. I felt like posting this to be able to help some people with the same issues.

Now first of all, problems like this are to be expected when renting an apartment, especially if it is a family-type apartment complex. Now how do you avoid these problems?

  • Before renting, make sure to clarify with the Landlord if he or the management is planning to rent out to families.
  • Make sure to point out your preferences (no kids, must have area rugs, etc. in the above apartments) to the landlord before you start renting. Put everything in writing and have the landlord sign it.
  • If you can still make it or if the apartment has an elevator, make sure to rent the top most units.
  • If you do have a written agreement with the landlord regarding your preferences and he still proceeds to rent the above apartments with families that have kids then try and confront your landlord.
  • If he still doesn’t do anything about it. File a complaint against them with mediation agencies such as the RPA and they will try to mediate and solve the problem on your behalf.

Edited on: Tuesday, March 5th, 2013 1:01 am

15 Responses to “Loud noise in the apartments above us”

My response: (We welcome stories, examples, explanations, answers and a touch of your personality)
 

Eliz

March 5th, 2013 1:20 am

That the usual problem with old couples renting apartments.


Rudolf

March 5th, 2013 11:40 am

Why don’t they just go to retirement homes? Renting at their age is a hassle for them with no one to take care of them.


Hai

March 5th, 2013 9:40 pm

I feel for them. They should have know beforehand that the apartments upstairs will be rented out to families.


Sarita

March 6th, 2013 7:40 am

Old people like that can be a hassle to families like us that have children, they run around complaining about everything.


Damion

March 6th, 2013 6:00 pm

You may want to move into single units. Nothing beats the peace of living in a single detached house.


Richard

March 7th, 2013 4:00 am

Go rent a place with an elevator and rent the topmost level. Then the people below would complain about you making the noise.(joke)


Lela

March 7th, 2013 2:20 pm

Noise is always to be expected when renting an apartment.


Marvin

March 8th, 2013 12:40 am

Try to request for some sort of insulation or noise cancelling pads from the landlord. That would hopefully lessen but not get rid of the noise.


Mickey

March 8th, 2013 10:40 am

Poor couple! Where in the world are their children? And why in the world are they renting? At their age, they should have bought a nice quite home in the country.


Rhoda

March 8th, 2013 8:40 pm

Send them to a home where someone is paid to take care of them.


Abel

March 9th, 2013 6:40 am

By some noise cancelling headphones, earplugs or whatever.


Niki

March 9th, 2013 5:00 pm

It is the family’s right to do whatever they want in their apartment as long as it is not excessive.


Jennette

March 10th, 2013 3:00 am

Nice post! Feel sorry for the old couple though,maybe they should move to a retirement home or something.


Osvaldo

March 10th, 2013 1:20 pm

Had the same experience and the landlord did not do anything so we had to file a complaint against them.


Benny

March 10th, 2013 11:20 pm

Maybe they should not have rented the apartment and rented a single unit instead.


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