This guest post was written by Rocket Lease. Rocket Lease provides online rental applications and credit checks for landlords. Read more posts like this one on their rental blog.
Noisy neighbors are one of the most common complaints about apartment living. While it can be a problem in nearly any apartment, it is an especially big problem in college. Simply put, college students, on average, and the lifestyle that goes along with college can be very loud. Luckily, there are several things that you can do to deal with noisy neighbors on your own.
1. Understand the rules. The simple fact of the matter is that you have to be understanding of your noisy neighbors while you are in college. College apartments are generally not as nice and walls not nearly as soundproofed, so your early bedtime might need to be pushed slightly back. However, it is also important to understand your apartment building’s noise rules such as when the quiet hours are. Generally these hours are from around 11 pm to 9 am. If there is noise during these hours, you have reason to be mad.
2. Meet your neighbors. A good preventative measure for noisy neighbors is to actually meet your neighbors before they start being noisy, such as right when you first move in. When your neighbors can put a name and a face to you, they just might be a little more careful with their level of sound.
3. Try toughing it out. If your neighbors are the kind who are silent as mice during the week and loud on the weekend, then it might be worth it to try and tough the noise out. Try out a pair of good earplugs and see if that helps. If the noise is still unbearable through the ear plugs, then you have more than enough of a reason to go over for a talk.
4. Talk to your neighbors. If your neighbors have been creating too much noise or being noisy at too late of hours, it is important that you go and talk to them. Simply telling them what your problem is and suggesting a solution (such as asking them to be quiet after midnight) is a great way to go. It’s best to approach them in a friendly manner rather than a mean, angry, and menacing one.
5. Write a letter. If things keep up and your college neighbors are still keeping you awake, then you should write them a formal letter addressing your problems. Yeah, it’s formal, and it might feel goofy, but getting a letter in the mail can be all it takes for many people to quiet down. Furthermore, a written letter will serve as evidence of excessive noise if you do need to contact your landlord.
6. Keep a journal and contact your landlord. If all else fails, contact your landlord. They will be able to issue an official warning to your neighbors. It is a good idea to keep a journal of all the hours in which your neighbors are excessively loud to offer as proof to your landlord.
It can definitely be a bummer but sometimes college apartment living can just be plain noisy. The six tips above are all ways that you can deal with neighbor noise.
