24 hour horrible construction noise - do I have any rights as a new tenant?

[michelea]

I found a rental home in Arizona and moved here from out of state prior to viewing the house. I've lived in AZ before, so was comfortable with my knowledge of the area. The area is safe and the house is nice. However, my landlord failed to disclose to me that I was the first house on the block and that new construction was going on all around me. I'm woke before 4:30am and the construction goes on until the sun sets at night. There are literally 20-30 homes being built around me. I'm self-employed and work at home. I'm finding myself completely sleep deprived, I have no privacy whatsoever (construction is happening on homes within 200 feet of me - workers are on roofs right next to my backyard). This is a nightmare. If I was owning the home, it would be worth it in the end. However, I'm just renting. I can't imagine paying rent to live like this throughout the duration of my lease. This is the most horrible thing I've ever experienced. They even work on weekends. I haven't been able to sleep past 4:30am in more than a month and I'm not sure how I'm going to handle another 10-11 months like this. Do I have any recourse? I had no idea to ask my landlord about something like this - should they have disclosed something as important as this, or am I basically out of luck here?

 

[Alaska landlord]

Earplugs or noise reduction gear.

 

[JETX]

Do I have any recourse?

Depends. Contact your local construction permit office and ask them if there are any local rules as to hours that construction can occur. Most jurisdictions have them.

Also, you could contact the landlord in WRITING (certified RRR) about a breach of your 'right of peaceful enjoyment'. Unless your owner is the builder, I doubt he has any control over the situation, but it could help formally establish your concern if needed in the future.

I had no idea to ask my landlord about something like this - should they have disclosed something as important as this

Not required.

 

[Gail in Georgia]

You didn't happen to notice the big pieces of equipment and the construction going up around you when you looked at the place?

As a landlord I sorta assume that potential tenants will look around outside as well as inside the place. I'm not obligated to tell any renter about such things.

I suppose the good news is that there seems to be some sort of deadline to get these houses up (otherwise there wouldn't be that 4:30 am to sunset, 7 day a week schedule) and that this construction should end soon.

Gail

 

[Alaska landlord]

It is the applicant's responsibility to check out the neighborhood. Your landlord has not breached any part of the agreement. We don't babysit or provide instructions on what to look for when renting. The assumption is that you are an adult and capable to weighing out the disadvantages of renting in an area where there is ongoing construction.