Whether you're living in a 2 bedroom apartment or a townhome apartment in Gainesville, it's important that your living space is somewhere you feel comfortable working, relaxing, and sleeping. Noisy neighbors or roommates can be annoying and majorly disruptive if you have a tight schedule or particular needs. Maybe they're playing their music too loud, or if you live in a pet friendly apartment, maybe their barking dog keeps you up at night. If your roommate or neighbor is keeping you up with loud noises, you don't just have to sit there and take it. Talk it out with them and try to work out the situation. If the noise persists and it disrupts your day to day life, you may have to go to a higher power such as your landlord or even law enforcement. To avoid such drastic measures, here are some tips at getting your noisy neighbors to quiet down.
Communicating Your Needs For Your Gainesville apartment
The first and most important step is always to practice clear communication. If you think your neighbor is making too much noise, don't suffer in silence; tell them! If you're lucky, the situation was just a misunderstanding, and your neighbor will quiet down after one warning. Remember to always be polite and courteous during these conversations, as you never know your neighbor's intentions until you hear their side of the story. Maybe they didn't realize their music was too loud, or they've been working on training their barking dog. In any case, your neighbor will be more likely to listen to your request if you remain pleasant.
What To Do If Disruptions Persist
If your neighbor doesn't get the memo after you ask them the first time, it doesn't mean they're a lost cause. Continue to politely request that your neighbor keep their noise levels down. At the same time, you may want to start preparing for the worst.
Document the instances that you're disrupted by your neighbor's loud noises. Write down what the sound was and what time you heard it, and keep a log. You can even gather evidence by recording the noises. That way, if your neighbor is denying your accusations, you have evidence if you end up needing to take the issue to your landlord.
Most Gainesville apartment leases have a "Quiet Enjoyment" clause stating that tenants have a right to enjoy peace in their own apartments. If your lease has such a clause, you're well within your right to contact your landlord about persistent disruptions. If your noisy neighbor won't listen to reason, contact your apartment and ask for a mediator to help resolve the issue, and show them your evidence. The "Quiet Enjoyment" clause means that your landlord will be able to force your neighbor to comply or they risk facing eviction. Always know your rights as a tenant!
If you've exhausted all your options, you can call the police on a non-emergency number (not 911!) to issue a formal noise complaint. It's strongly suggested that you try the other steps in this article before contacting the police. On the other hand, if you're hearing noises that sound dangerous or threatening, such as violent arguing or gunshots, dial 911 and call the police immediately. Safety should always be your number one priority.