New Rude Tenant Neighbors

[pdxPilot]

What is the name of your state? -- Oregon

Three months ago my favorite next door neighbors (J & E) sold their townhouse. They lived on the end unit. At that point I had lived in my house for 15 months and never heard a sound out of the neighbors on either side. I knew that J & E had some damage to their place and that the new owners would have to fix it up a bit. So I understood when work trucks blocked my driveway on a daily basis. I understood when the workers were pounding on the walls for three weeks straight. And when the new owner rented the unit out, I understood that the tenants were going to make some noise while they were unpacking and moving furniture and basically getting settled. But the noise hasn’t stopped.

They’ve lived next door for two months now… five or six adults (all under 25), a little boy and maybe an infant (I can’t tell if he lives there or it’s a partial custody thing or what). From conversations I’ve had with them, I know that there are seven people total living there full time. All of them are living in a three bedroom, three story townhouse. And that’s an improvement. At first there were eight people.

I’ve approached them twice in the past month. The first time I approached them, it was a one-on-one. Their TV was loud and they were running up and down the stairs. I rang their doorbell and one of them answered. I explained that I lived next door and asked that they turn down the TV and stop running up and down the stairs. The girl who answered said “Oh, OK, I’ll tell them.” They did neither. If they turned down the TV, it was imperceptible. And they definitely didn’t stop running up and down the stairs.

The second time I didn’t approach them. I wrote them a letter. I explained that every time they slam their doors or run up and down their stairs, not only can we hear them but it rattles everything on our walls. And that’s not nearly the worst of it. The noise is constant. All day long every day they make noise. One of the neighbors did come over and introduce herself after the letter. So I know that they got it. But the noise hasn’t gotten any better.

Just today I sent an email to the property management company expressing my complaint. I can’t imagine that the owners agreed to seven people and two dogs in a three bedroom townhouse. I’ve also let the homeowners’ association know what I’m doing. Next is to contact the owners directly.

The final step is to take the owner’s to small claims court and sue. I know that I have a right to peaceful enjoyment of my property. If it comes to that, what will I need in court? The noise is my primary complaint. But they also smoke on their back patio which means I have to close my windows if I don’t want smoke in my house. They pile their garbage up on the outside of their house instead of in the garage. They flick cigarettes over the side of their balcony. One of them has a dirt bike that he rides down the streets some times. I can live with all of these things. But should I document them as some sort of collateral evidence?

Thanks for your advice.