Community Chat

[ThinkingOutLoud]

How to handle the situation? I'd first try humor. With a smile just approach them and say "hi, how are you" really loudly and if they ask why you're yelling, respond with "oh, with how loud the music was, I thought you were hard of hearing since neighbors could hear it from many houses down." Then laugh briefly and say that you hope that's not a regular thing since there are people who work nights and need to sleep during the day. Then hand him some brownies and go.

If the noise continues and other measures are needed, they'll know that you first tried the soft approach.

[CatsyCline]

@bonnielu   please don't confront them in person or with a group. it was during the daytime on the weekend and it sounds like they are a few blocks away!   or are they immediately next door?   

my mother has lived in her house since 1960 and thinks she owns the street and she made things miserable for the people across from her house because they were "renters' which she looks down her nose on. she hollered at them from her yard and she was in Macys one time and went up to the owner (the original owners' granddaughter now owns the house) and complained loudly about the "renters".

sad for her now that she could benefit from nice neighbors looking out for her but noooo she burned that bridge. the folks renting now are part of the same extended family but i guess they know all about what went on before. they have a snowblower, if she had been kind to them maybe they would have been willing to help with snow removal sometimes.

[ThinkingOutLoud]

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@CatsyCline wrote:

@bonnielu   please don't confront them in person or with a group. it was during the daytime on the weekend and it sounds like they are a few blocks away!   or are they immediately next door?   

my mother has lived in her house since 1960 and thinks she owns the street and she made things miserable for the people across from her house because they were "renters' which she looks down her nose on. she hollered at them from her yard and she was in Macys one time and went up to the owner (the original owners' granddaughter now owns the house) and complained loudly about the "renters".

sad for her now that she could benefit from nice neighbors looking out for her but noooo she burned that bridge. the folks renting now are part of the same extended family but i guess they know all about what went on before. they have a snowblower, if she had been kind to them maybe they would have been willing to help with snow removal sometimes.

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This illustrates why a 'friendly neighbor' approach is best as opposed to confronting them negatively.

[Lucky Charm]

I've had to deal with loud neighbors at different times in my life. 

I hope I've never been thought of as a loud neighbor (day or night) because I think of it as being ignorant.

Sure your grass needs to be cut, but that only takes minutes really or perhaps spring cleanup includes a pressure washer.  Every once in a while you throw a big cookout and it can get a little loud, but usually everyone else is having one, too, because it's a holiday weekend.

But to be loud to the point you keep your neighbors awake if they choose to take a nap in the middle of the afternoon, or later in the evening really stinks, if you ask me.

Kids in a backyard pool always seems to be amplified as if someone right next to you can't hear you because their standing in water.  I don't get that....

Or dogs that bark and bark or worse, yap and yap and yap every time a leaf falls.

Loud music stinks--whether it's my kind of music or not, I don't need it loud inside my house thank you very much.

My home is my castle.  I want peace and quiet and don't want to have to live in the boonies to get that.  

We have a new neighbor with two small yapping dogs and when they go off barking, all I can think of is how happy their former neighbors must be that they moved away!

The good news is, we're moving.  I actually need hearing aids now, so not wearing them will help if it gets noisy in my new neighborhood.

[laluzdelmundo]

@bonnielu 

First things first.  Find out if there is a noise ordinance and how it is enforced. Proceed from there.

In the city where I live, the noise ordinance is 24 hours, no only after 10 pm business. The trick is getting through on the non-emergency line, and then actually having a police officer show up. It's kind of a roulette thing. 

Approaching somone directly in my neighborhood is generally not the way to go. Oh, and rental agents can be unhelpful. If you reach one and actually leave your name, they will get in touch with the renter and let's just say some unpleasantness can occur. Been there, not going there again.

[Imaoldhippie]

@bonnielu ...............if you are determined to do something about it just be prepared to open a can of worms.  Confronting them in ANY manner will most likely make them angry and defensive.  They can "repay" you in so many little ways and make your life a living h&ll.

Think long and hard before you make that decision.

[mimomof4]

You said this was Mid Day - your city Noise Ordinance would not be in effect because this is during the day.  

While you may not enjoy the music the neighbor is minding their own business and playing music during the day not overnight when people would be sleeping.  

In all honesty I find lawn mowers extremely annoying especially as someone trying to work from home during the day and talk on conference calls.  Or on a Sunday evening when I'm trying to enjoy a quite dinner on the deck - err neighbor starts the lawn mower.  I NEVER would consider complaining to my neighbors about the noise they are making if it is during daytime hours.  Your police would likely tell you the same thing.

[occasionalrain]

Assuming the they are renters, their landlord should be contacted by the affected neighbors. They are the landlord's problem to fix. 

[ThinkingOutLoud]

Had another thought after reading some of these comments. If you expect a negative outcome, that's what you'll get so approach it with a hopeful attitude/expectation.

[Flatbush]

I would not approach them,

Instead I would buy the best most effective ear phones that block noise I could find.

You might also use them to hear music you enjoy and help keep the noise out or at the very least, dull it.

I did this with the barking Dog next door. It went on for hours and hours. I went and spoke nicely and politely to him about it. He was rude and I never talked to him again.

I can really empathize and hope some of these many responses help you.