How to deal with loud neighbors

We’ve all been there. You get home from a rough day at work and you’re ready to settle into your couch for some peace, quiet and relaxation. That is, until your neighbor turns on their stereo. The bass rattles your walls and the noise from people talking makes it even harder to relax.

You like your neighbors and want to keep a positive relationship, so calling your landlord right away doesn’t seem like the right move. So what do you do?

What to do about noisy neighbors

The first step in fixing your loud neighbor problem is talking to them about the noise they’re making. To avoid confrontation and coming off as rude or aggressive, take these tips into consideration:

Consider their situation. A lot of times, the noise interrupting your peace and quiet won’t come from disrespect. If your neighbor has a small child, a new dog or if their work schedule is different from yours, those loud noises might be out of their control.

Be respectful. You won’t get anywhere with your neighbor if you’re confrontational and disrespectful. In fact, you’ll likely only make the problem worse than it was in the first place. Be courteous, no matter how disrespectful their noisemaking may be.

Don’t surprise them. Catching your neighbor completely off-guard will put your conversation in a bad place to start. Avoid stopping them as soon as they get home from work, early in the morning or when they’re clearly in a hurry.

Suggest a plan of action. Whether it’s asking your neighbor to follow your apartment’s quiet hours or choose better times to play guitar, bring a plan. This plan should help both of you avoid more incidents.

Contact your landlord. If your discussion with your neighbor doesn’t have positive results, let your landlord know. The last thing a landlord wants is happy tenants who might leave. Also, they likely have more experience with loud tenants than you do.

When to call the police on loud neighbors

If respectful, polite talks with your neighbors about noise do not work, and it continues, you may need to call police. Here’s when calling the police is the right move:

When you notice illegal activity. If your neighbors are doing illegal or disrespectful things next door, it may be best to call the police. This can help keep you and your neighbors safe. If they’ve refused to quiet down after multiple requests. If the music keeps you and other tenants from sleeping or enjoying your home, your neighbors may be breaking “disturbing the peace” laws.

When the noise is out of control. Small noises that annoy you and other tenants are usually harmless and not worth calling the police about. The authorities may not act on small noises. You could also create tension with your neighbor for the rest of your stay.

When you’ve made written notice beforehand. After at least one in-person discussion about their noise, you may want to give them a written notice. Include a reference to your apartment rules, your lease, or local noise ordinances.

Letting the authorities know you gave written notice, with proof, will help. It shows the neighbor is ignoring the law and other residents’ rights in the building.

Protecting your right to peace, quiet and the enjoyment of your home is important — but that’s not all that needs protecting. American Family renters insurance can safeguard you from the unexpected when you don’t own your home. Get in touch with your agent to get the peace of mind you deserve.

This article is for informational purposes only and based on information that is widely available. We do not make any guarantees or promise any results based on this information.