Quiet Please! A Guide to Dealing With Noisy Neighbors in Apartment Living

Noise complaints are one of the most common neighbor issues you can experience, especially when you live in a student apartment complex.

It is inevitable. If you live in a student apartment complex, or any type of community living scenario, you can expect some noise from time to time. If the amount of noise your neighbors produce is hindering your ability to study or get to sleep on time, though, you’re probably at your wit’s end.

Luckily, there are lots of steps you can take to get your neighbors to quiet down and for you to get a good night’s sleep.

Read on for some tips on how to handle your noisy neighbors without alienating them. Remember, you have to live with or next to them for a while.

Set Reasonable Expectations

Before you get upset with your noisy neighbor and file a noise complaint with them, try to take a step back and ask yourself if your expectations are reasonable.

If it’s a Monday night and your neighbor is blaring music, you have a right to feel annoyed. If it’s a Saturday night, though, and things are little louder than usual, you might not have a very strong case for yourself.

Sometimes, it’s worth it to address the noise your neighbors are making. When it’s only a one-time noise issue, though, it’s usually best to let it go.

Invest in Earplugs

If you have an abnormal schedule — you’re part of the 33 percent of college students who take classes in the evenings and sleep later in the day, for example — it might be best for you to invest in a pair of earplugs.

That way, when using earplugs, you can get the rest you need and you don’t have to waste time pounding on your neighbors’ ceiling every day.
If you’re considering going this route, remember that wax earplugs tend to work better than foam earplugs.

If earplugs aren’t your thing, try some noise cancelling headphones or earbuds. You would be amazed at how well these devices work on cancelling out disruptive noises. Plus, if you connect them to your TV, movie watching is fantastic!

Address Noisy Neighbors Directly

Okay, let’s say your neighbors are regularly loud at unreasonable times and earplugs aren’t working. Now is the time to have an upfront conversation with them about the amount of noise they make.

Cooler heads will prevail in this situation. It might be tempting to storm upstairs or march next door when the noise starts. When tensions are running high, though, you’re unlikely to get the kind of reaction you’re hoping for.

Most people don’t set out with the intention of being noisy or bad neighbors, but if they feel attacked, they might double down and refuse to change.
Try to address your neighbors during the day when things are quiet.

Be specific about when they were loud and let them know why it was a problem. Offer to exchange phone numbers, too, so you can call or text them in the future and tell them to keep it down.

Most importantly, be cool. No need to go talk to your neighbor while you are “all fired-up.” 

Be Polite, But Distant

When you talk to your neighbors about their noise level, they might invite you to come and join them during their next party. Proceed with caution. 

This might seem like a tempting offer at first, especially if you’re new to the area and are trying to make friends. It’s not a great idea, though.

If you come over and party with your neighbors the next time, they’re being loud, that’s going to become the new expectation. You will now be the party friend.

If you’re enjoying their parties, you’re going to have a hard time making a case for why they should be quiet. Participating in the noisemaking could also backfire if you ever file a noise complaint against them.

Collect Evidence

When your neighbors continue to be loud, try to collect evidence.

Keep track of when they’re being noisy, what time of day it is, and what you’ve done to try and address the issue yourself. You might want to use your phone or computer to record the noise as well. Video and audio recordings are beneficial in this type of scenario.

Speak to Other Neighbors

It can help to talk to your other neighbors about the issue, too. See if there are other people who are aware of the sound levels. It helps to know that you’re not the only one who’s frustrated with the noise issues.

If multiple people in an apartment complex have complaints about a neighbor, it’s easier to address the issue with the landlord, too.

You may also find the problem is unique to your apartment. Other tenants may not be experiencing the loud noise levels. It is good to get a better perspective on the issue.

Speak to Your Landlord

Speaking of landlords, if all else fails, it’s a good idea to talk to them about the noise issue. Nobody wants to be “that person.” Sometimes, though, it’s the only option.

Bring your evidence to the landlord and explain the noise issue to them. If possible, coordinate with your other neighbors who have issues with the noise so you can all talk about the issue together.

Your noisy neighbors might not like you as much after doing this but remember that you have as much of a right as they do to enjoy your apartment.

Tips for Finding a Quiet Apartment

If you’re still searching for an apartment, or if you’re planning to move soon, there are things you can do to increase your chances of finding a quiet place to live.

Here are some tips to ensure your next apartment is as quiet as possible:

• Aim to live on a higher floor so noise doesn’t travel as much.
• Be clear about your needs and emphasize your desire to live in a quiet place.
• Do your research and find out how noisy the neighborhood and whether other tenants have complained about noise issues in the past.
• Check out the apartment complex at times when all should be quiet.
• Ask the landlord directly if there have ever been any noise complaints from past tenants.

When you’re talking to the landlord, it’s also a good idea to ask why the past tenants moved out and whether the noise level had anything to do with it.

Find a New Apartment Today

If you have noisy neighbors, these tips can help you to address the issue in a calm, reasonable way — a way that’s most likely to get results.

If you’re still having trouble with noisy neighbors, though, you may want to consider transitioning to a new, quieter apartment when your lease is up.

To learn about great student apartment complexes in the Davis area, we can help at Davisville Management Company (https://www.davisapartmentsforrent.com/).

Contact us today to learn more about our different complexes in the area or to schedule a tour. We’ll help you find an off-campus student apartment that meets your needs, whether you’re looking for something right down the road from campus or townhomes close to everything.