Apartment living can have its perks (no long term commitment, somebody to take care of maintenance issues and spray for pests, etc.). But as many know all too well, it’s got a few drawbacks. One of these is the close proximity of neighbors – often who reside just on the other side of the wall. If you find yourself in a dilemma with a rotten neighbor, it’s best to be proactive. Read on to find out what you can (and should) do.
First off, consider changing your own environment
If the problem with your neighbor is loud noise, consider testing a few solutions in your own home before you approach him or her. This is especially a good idea to try if the noise that bothers you occurs infrequently.
Start off by making your own noise-canceling “white noise.” Play your own music, turn a fan on high, or run your dishwasher. If the noise is infrequent and you can easily drown it out with a little effort, it’s worth it just to avoid a potential altercation.
If your problem with your neighbor is a foul smell, purchase an air purifier. You’ll be breathing cleaner and healthier air as a result, and you may even be able to get rid of the odor that’s bothering you.
Second: Have a friendly chat
The next option is to approach your neighbor. Do so with a friendly smile and an unassuming attitude – your neighbor may not even realize he’s causing an offense.
Don’t treat the chat as a confrontation, but rather a conversation. Explain your concern in a non-accusing way. That means you shouldn’t start the conversation with statements like “You’re constantly annoying me.” Instead, go for something subtler that doesn’t put your neighbor in the hot seat: “Unfortunately, these walls are paper thin and I hear your television all the time.”
Oftentimes, neighbors simply don’t realize they’re making an offense. If you can afford them the courtesy of a polite request for change, they’ll do it more often than not.
In the rare case that your neighbor is confrontational and doesn’t take your request lightly, simply walk away. There are other actions you can take.
Third: Approach your landlord
If you have a neighbor who constantly disturbs your quiet time, let your landlord know. In some cases, landlords will be able to cite provisions listed in the lease that explain quiet time takes place during certain hours.
Other times, your landlord needs to know simply so he or she can enforce the rules. This is often the case when it comes to someone smoking in the hallway (a shared space).
In other cases, the landlord may take measures to reinforce your walls so sound doesn’t get through or revamp duct work to allow for cleaner air flow.
When all else fails, turn to the law
If all other efforts to make peace with your neighbor fail, take advantage of law enforcement. You shouldn’t hesitate to call the police if a neighbor ever threatens you or is conducting illegal activity.
You also have the right to sue your landlord if he or she does not resolve the situation. The case description would be “breach of quiet enjoyment.”
Ideally, your situation will never have to be turned over to the law. If it ever is though, you’ll need to have appropriate documentation. Should that day ever come, you can be prepared by documenting the times and dates of the offenses and keeping a log of your various attempts to resolve the matter.
Remember the benefit of the doubt
If you’ve been soured by a rotten neighbor experience, don’t let that color your opinion of all neighbors. Sometimes neighbors can be fantastic, helping you with everything from collecting your mail while you’re out of town to lending you eggs when you’re in the middle of baking. Remember to give neighbors the benefit of the doubt when you first meet them. They may even someday turn out to be your friends or future roommates.
