Noisy tenant

[faithnlve]

What is the name of your state? vt...new neighbors are moving in upstairs. Last night I get home from work around 11:30 pm and six or more kids are throwing stones at building, crying, screaming, and running up and down stairs constantly. parents do nothing. My hubby says this has been going on since 9:30. He did not call police since the children were from quite young, and one of the mothers had a newborn in a car seat. Our bedroom is next to the stairs they ran up and down to get to this apt...and the hall area is cement and echos everything loudly. These people speak a different language were quite loud, so I have no idea if they were telling the kids to quiet down or not and I am thinking they are new to our country as well. How do I handle this noise issue? Should I wait until it happens again as my hubby wants me to do, or should I let landlord know of what happened? We are not sure if they were visiting since it seemed like alot of kids and people for one apt. We also have two young children whom were woken up late due to this noise. Thanks

 

[Alaska landlord]

I would wait and see just how many people are living in the apartment. I could be that landlord has no idea of how many have actually moved in. Many times foreigners just don’t understand that in this country we have occupancy regulations. Your LL may do something about over occupancy, but in regards to the noise, all he will do is politely speak to them about the necessity of keeping the noise down. Now, you know that will last at most a day or so. I would start thinking about moving as this keeping the noise level down business is something they don’t understand and will cause things to get ugly between you and them real fast. .

 

[faithnlve]

We are considering moving, but would have to break our lease. Once our lease is over with in September it is a likely it will happen. thanks

 

[OHlandlord]

Often people from other countries have different social standards from ours. They may think that speaking loudly is quite normal (and to them it may be). This comes up a lot when people unfamiliar with American customs move into a complex. To them it may be normal to have many family members living together, to speak loudly, to have different hours than what you do, to stand quite close when speaking with someone (which sometimes contradicts with your or my idea of personal space), to allow children to do different things, etc.

The LL needs to have a polite talk with these people if it continues. They probably are not trying to disturb anyone, they just don't realize that their normal actions bother anyone else. They may not understand that children are not allowed to do these things in your complex, that they need to be quiet after certain hours, or that a limited number of people are allowed to stay in their unit.

Try to be patient and friendly to these people. Think of it as a learning experience for you and them. By being polite and freindly to them, you will have a change to learn of a different culture and so will they. Do any of the members of this family speak English? Try chatting with them and casually mention that the children may get hurt if they are throwing rocks. If you appear concerned about their children's welfare, you have a better chance of making an impact on them than if you complain to them about the noise. If nothing seems to change their behavior, you may have to speak to the LL about moving. Good luck.

 

[enjay]

I wouldn't get overly worked up over people being loud on the day they move in. It's hectic, nerves are frazzled, generally there are a bunch of people helping the movees. If it is an issue later, bring it up to the landlord but there's a certain amount of noise to be expected in an apartment setting. Whether or not the people are foreign has nothing to do with anything.

 

[faithnlve]

My issue is not their nationality. My issue is common sense in anyone who keeps others up until 1:00 o'clock in the morning. Kid throwing rocks at building, yelling, screaming, running up and down the stairs. Our bedroom is against those stairs, and they were right outside our bedroom window. Just because they don't speak english, are purple with yellow poka dots, or any other excuse others can come up with to excuse their behaviour does not give them the right to act like this. Most human beings have a sense of consideration of others, while those that don't find excuses using their ethnic background. This is just wrong. Next thing you know someone will call me racial or prejudice. Funny, it reminds me of a friend who went to tennessee lately. She went to a cemetary of the civil war. Hundreds who died in that war were buried there. Side by side in peace were soldiers from the south and the "north". Anyways, if it does happen again I will go outside to talk to them, if that doesn't work, then I will be writing the landlord a letter. It's just my hubby wanted me to complain this time, and felt it should not of happened at all. Thanks again, Faith

 

[quincy]

Ummm - I am not sure I get your example of the cemetary. The soldiers from the North and the soldiers from the South are lying side by side in peace. . . . . . . .but only after blowing each other up into bloody bits. Hopefully, people can live in peace BEFORE killing each other. Peace just seems to make more sense that way.

 

[faithnlve]

my point with the cemetary is that out of respect whether they were against each other or not in battle, they now without choice are at peace with each other side by side.

I respect others boundaries, their peaceful rights in their homes, and have a consept of right and wrong when it comes to keeping my children's noise level down after 8:00 at night since I DO understand I have neighbors. I understand my hubby's point, and still feel if it happens again I will talk to the neighbor before the landlord, my hubby disagrees. He thinks its best to nip it in the bud the first time. Faith