Apartment neighbor issues

[MightyMouse]

So I got home from work around midnight last Thursday, and within 5 minutes, there was a knock at my door from my downstairs neighbor complaining that I was being too loud. Confused, I asked him what he meant, since I had barely taken off my coat (TV wasn't on; I wasn't on the phone; I didn't have any visitors).

He said that I was walking around too loudly and waking him up. He said the next time I woke him up, he was going to call the police. I asked him what his complaint was going to be, and he replied, "Disturbing the peace."

Not wanting to laugh in his face, I told him to go to bed, and I closed the door.

Couple things here: 1. I'm not completely up to speed on nuisance law, but I'm pretty sure I can't get in trouble -- let alone arrested -- for walking around my apartment. 2. If you're living in an apartment building, don't you have to expect a certain noise level? I'm not excusing loud TV/music or late-night parties, but with that many people in one building, you can't expect complete silence all the time. If you want that, buy a house out in the country -- or at least don't rent a first-floor apartment.

 

[Gutter]

 

[MightyMouse]

You know, give him a bit of a white trash stubble, and they sort of look alike.

 

[93Devil]

Do you wear your shoes in your place or do you take them off at the door? Try taking off the shoes and see if he still *******.

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

A dear friend who weighs no more than 125 pounds lived on the second floor, with a cop in the apartment below. He complained she was stomping her feet loudly at night. She was just walking normally. He figured out she was telling the truth (he also saw that she's a hottie), and he didn't complain again.

A lot of apartments are like that. Footsteps sound like foot stomps.

 

[MightyMouse]

Do you wear your shoes in your place or do you take them off at the door? Try taking off the shoes and see if he still *******.

I always take my shoes off when I get in. The guy's just nuts. Part of me really does want him to call the police, just for the entertainment value of it.

 

[dooley_womack1]

When it comes to neighbors, always try to find the good door.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

I'm willing to bet MM has hardwood floors, because I have hardwood floors and my upstairs neighbors have hardwood floors. Walking around in shoes or boots (my upstairs neighbors both work in warehouses so I hear boot prints a lot) is amplified. I've reached a point where it doesnt bother me anymore.

 

[MightyMouse]

I'm willing to bet MM has hardwood floors, because I have hardwood floors and my upstairs neighbors have hardwood floors. Walking around in shoes or boots (my upstairs neighbors both work in warehouses so I hear boot prints a lot) is amplified. I've reached a point where it doesnt bother me anymore.

Carpeted. Linoleum in the kitchen and bathroom.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

I'm willing to bet MM has hardwood floors, because I have hardwood floors and my upstairs neighbors have hardwood floors. Walking around in shoes or boots (my upstairs neighbors both work in warehouses so I hear boot prints a lot) is amplified. I've reached a point where it doesnt bother me anymore.

What he said. I just learned to live with it.

Tell the guy to get a pair of earplugs or noise-canceling headphones if it bugs him that much.

 

[TwoGloves]

Buy some tap shoes and a Shirley Temple movie and start practicing.

 

[Stitch]

Did this neighbor just move in? I'm sure he's had to deal with people upstairs before.

 

[MightyMouse]

Did this neighbor just move in? I'm sure he's had to deal with people upstairs before.

Within the last 6 months. I've been there almost 5 years and never heard a complaint. I've asked previous downstairs tenants if I ever made too much noise, and they all said no.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

Artie Lange wouldn't happen to be the maintenence man, would he?

 

[Baron Scicluna]

You're not being loud or obnoxious, and you have a right to walk around your own apartment.

Next time he threatens to call the cops, hand him a phone and tell him to do it right there.

Also, contact your landlord and tell him your neighbor is bothering you, just so you get your side of the story out to him first.

 

[Quiet Man]

I'm generally sympathetic to noise complaints, but some people just aren't capable of living in apartments. Many years ago now, my mother had a 2nd floor apartment in a 3 story building. Every time the stereo or TV was on, the tenants from below would pound on their ceiling with a broomstick. We were cognisant of this, and pretty careful about keeping everything at an extremely low volume - as in, we couldn't really even hear it volume. One time the guy came up to complain, and we showed him that the stereo was on '1' and explained that it was just the way the building was built - not much we could do about it. But we offered to turn it down a bit more since it was bugging him. Other that that one time though it was always the repetitive pounding on the ceiling with the broomstick.

One night I'm there lying on the sofa reading a book. My mom had gone to bed a bit earlier. No stereo on, no TV on, no noise period. The 3rd floor unit had some company over and I could somewhat hear them sharing conversation upstairs, but they weren't being loud whatsoever. Then from below, the broomstick banging begins. I let it go once, but several minutes later it comes again. I got up and proceeded to jump up & down for a couple of minutes straight. A bit childish perhaps, but I wanted them to know that I'd had it and that they could shove that broomstick up their asses. I started turning the stereo up to '2' whenever I used it after that.

Walking doesn't generally fall under even the most stringent 'disturbing the peace' statutes. Either there's something severely wrong with the way your building is constructed, or your neighbor is just a jagoff. I'm inclined to go with the latter.

 

[imjustagirl]

I started turning the stereo up to '2' whenever I used it after that.

That is the most pathetic-reading "**** you" in history. :D

 

[Uncle.Ruckus]

You expected something different from a guy with the handle "Quiet Man?"

 

[imjustagirl]

Well, my name's not "Loud *****" so I figured there was some leeway with that.

 

[Uncle.Ruckus]

I can't decide whether or not Loud ***** would be a good band name.