What Would You Do in My Noisy Neighbour Situation?

Hi guys,

Now I know it's very easy to say, just deal with it in these situations but my neighbour's noise is highly unusual.

Basically, I did two inspections of an apartment that one of my lecturers at Uni owned and noticed no problems so I moved in. My landlord and I are in a very friendly situation which is a great way for things to be. It was a situation where it's a lovely penthouse apartment in an affluent suburb, which I could afford whilst working and completing my degree at uni. I use it therefore for study, as well as business purposes.

I moved in in December, and was only rarely in the apartment until January as I was interning it up. Anyway, what has happened since then is beyond belief. I have 1 neighbour on my floor who have a baby, and I have not heard a single noise out of them even when it cries. In an apartment block, I accept that noises are acceptable. However, the person who lives in the floor beneath me is excessive. Basically, he was away when I did the inspections so I had no way of finding out, nor should it be such a problem.

He basically does the following. He sneezes 2-3 times every 10 minutes. When I say sneeze, again, I don't mind noise. It's just that his sneezing is so loud that it can be heard on the street some 20 metres away. He also sneezes up until 3am, and makes no attempt to stifle the noise. I am not exaggerating about the frequency. I left my iPad recording in the loungeroom and it could be heard loud and clear over the noise produced by my Robot Vacuum. I played it to the landlord, and they could not believe it. They've suggested I go to the strata.

Anyway, other than sneezing, he also starts whimpering like a dog, and screaming repeatedly in fits for 20 minutes or so. Again, it is so loud that it can be heard from the street. He also has a nasty of habit of yelling through his phone to the point that I can make verbal accounts of what he is saying. Again, I don't care for reasonable noise and I have to accept it when living in an apartment. But his noise is so loud that it inhibits my work, my study, my sleep, and upsets my dog.

Unfortunately, his neighbour is deaf, and the other neighbours are international students on his floor, who are too shy to say anything. Guests who visit my house often comment and think the level of noise is ridiculous.

It's almost like he has verbal ticks and cannot control himself.
I would approach him myself, but I have met him previously when the letterboxes were changed by the strata, and he did yell and shout abuse at me in relation to the strata not notifying him. I'm not inclined to approach him directly as a result as I'm concerned he's mentally unstable.

So I ask you, what would you do in my situation?

Edit: I also recognise it may not be possible for him to stop if it's a medical condition. I'd just appreciate him attempting to stifle the noise a bit, and to consider those who live around him.

Poll Options

  • 10
    Do nothing- it's part of apartment life
  • 4
    Leave a polite note outlining concerns before going further
  • 2
    Attempt to reason with him in conversation
  • 45
    Go straight to the strata and complain

Comments

  • I had a neighbor that I could hear their conversations through the walls, and they would have their TV on. Which would get louder and louder as the night went on.

    Do they own or rent too? If they rent you have other options. If they own, you'll have to take greater actions. Log and record as much as possible. Try to resolve it with them, directly or via the owners corporation. But you'll most likely have to go to VCAT to get any greater resolution.

    • I'm not entirely sure whether they own or rent.

      He is single and in his 50s-60s, seems to be on a Centrelink benefit based on the number of calls I hear to Centrelink, so I would presume he rents.

      At the moment, I'm honestly tossing up between the note route, and contacting the Strata organisation who control the building.

      I'm fortunate to have full support of the owner/landlord who is a lawyer (I'm a law student also), so I know I can't get anywhere with regards to the covenant of quiet enjoyment.

      Unfortunately, we don't have an equivalent of VCAT in my state!

      Thanks for your input.

      • +1

        Strata normally won't even talk to a renter and will insist all communication is from the owner.

      • -4

        Ok, firstly no one other than professors say therefore. Go buy pulp fiction, order a vodke and light him on fire.

  • +1

    It sounds like he is a real problem "child". We had a next door neighbour who was the neighbour from hell so I can sympathise; fortunately we could minimise interaction because it wasn't a flat but the situation only improved when he moved out about 20 years later. I doubt you will get anywhere with reasoning with him and I don't think the body corporate will do very much either. These sort of people have a huge sense of entitlement and, no matter what the body corporate says, they continue to do whatever they want. The only hope you have is that he is renting the place and the body corporate can appeal directly to his landlord to see if he can be moved out over time. (I would be surprised if someone on Centrelink benefits could afford an expensive flat - but he may have got it earlier on). Your other alternative is to consider finding another place yourself. You have my sympathy.

    • Thanks for your response. Glad to hear you resolved your issue!

      I had wondered a lot of that myself, but he's a bit of a hermit and doesn't go out, so he could be getting by.

      I think at this stage I'll see what the strata's willing to do. They are very proactive (even leave notes on cars parked in front of our bins the night before collection when on the street).

  • -5

    OzBargain: The place to go to whinge about your neighbours

    • +1

      Dear littletinyasianman.

      The word whinge refers to: 'an act of complaining persistently and peevishly.'

      Please feel free to enter my profile and find that I have never made a similar post at all. Also, if you consider this post to be peevish, there are thousands of other forums for you to waste your Sunday evening on. I've given you a short story, which you didn't have to read.

      As to why I made this post on OzBargain, it's because of a few reasons:

      Firstly, if I wanted a micro snapshot, I could have gone on to Facebook and heard from friends who are biased in my favour, and who don't have the diversity of background of OzBargain members. I thought that hearing from people, who share the common love of a good bargain or deal, as well as the social aspect of diverse discussions, might have valuable and varied views regarding similar experiences.

      Secondly, I posted to get a reasonable person's view as to what is acceptable neighbourly conduct. I know what I could do legally, but it's nice to hear other views to give you a reality check if need be. You can see from the wide variety of responses which are well thought out and reasoned, that some people are more than happy to share.

      Thirdly, you're first deal was posted less than a week ago. Please respect your deal post elders, and what they value from this website, rather than filling it with non-constructive sarcasm.

      Thank you for your interest and post nonetheless.

      • It was an observational, playful remark considering the many forum posts there has been regarding an issue with neighbours.

        I wasn't being malicious.

        I think you.. possibly need to chill out a bit?

  • +5

    I think your poll is missing option - Move out because you will not solve it.

    • Good point! I knew I'd miss one

  • +1

    So he wimpers and screams, multiple times a day, for absolutely no reason?
    I would say get the f out of that building, because he sounds like he's on the edge of a psychotic break, and you don't want to become the focal point in the narrative he's cooking up to explain why his life went down the shitter.

    That or he's torturing people. Either way not a person you want to live near

    • +1

      I do volunteer in mental health, so the thought had crossed my mind!

      • and you didnt pay him a visit, shame on you !!! how can you sleep at night knowing that you can probably help this guy ? j/k

    • +1

      Yep, he's cooking something alright. Heroin lab I guess, hence the sneezes every 10 mins. And those scream fits, that would be when he'd screwed up something on the mixer. :P

      Or else, add the OZB's fav option #5: OZBikies.

  • I am in a similar situation in Brisbane atm
    Moving in 2 months, will leave my notes in the letter boxes of the pricks when I do
    Management does nothing, Body Corporate doesn't give a toss
    Found it easier to ignore / wait until lease expires and ensure all future tenants are made aware of the complex issues

  • My guess is he is either:
    - without self control and/or awareness that he is loud enough to hear outside his apartment. If he had some sort of mental and physical impairment, then there might not be much you can do, especially if he's at the older end of the spectrum.

    • aware but doesn't give a toss

    I guess you have to try something to find out which one it is and take it from there.

  • +1

    The building must be cheaply/poorly built if you can hear such noises from your neighbor below.

    • It's actually not. The building was made in the 60s from very solid materials, however it simply is that he is so loud!

      • If it's solid then the sound must be getting transmitted through ventilation ducts, open windows etc.

  • I had a neighbour that was kicking soccer balls in the middle of the night and also vacuuming

    your local council should have details of the types of noise that can be played at certain times (I think mines was up to 11 pm)
    this has more info

    http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/noise/

    at the end I had to call the cops, they had a chat with him, but nothing much changed until he moved out lol

    good luck!

  • +2

    If you can't beat em, join em.

  • write a very kind anonymous letter with chocolate.. better being kind in these situations.. it just is a way of letting them know how bad it is..

    • I don't think it would be hard for the recipient to figure out who the letter is from in this situation given the neighbours described?

  • I think I work with this guy.

    Go on the offensive. Leave notes under his door which read "STFU". Hang some speakers over the balcony and play offensive music at him. We had a cracking tune in my old punk band called "(profanity) off idiot" I'd be happy to point you to. :-)

    Good luck. I've had some shocking neighbours over the years. The worst was a creepy pervert who would stare at our kids all day and night. We moved out of our home for 2 years and rented until the nutters split up and sold.

  • I am facing similar situation right now with a smoking neighbor. your best option is to find the agent of his apartment and send them a letter. Google/domain is your friend. you will be able to find the history of the apartment.

  • Some of these comments make me thankful I don't live next to any of you guys. If he sounds like he is in distress and it is really bothering you be a human being and go and offer him some warm soup or food. It might just be what he needs and you never know you might just save somebody's life.

    Can't blame some of these comments though some people have never been past the deep end because if you had you wouldn't be saying some of these things.

    He is probably going through a hard time and I know you are tired after a long days work but if he is really ill there really isn't much you can do besides get him kicked out tell him or try and offer some support help as you would if it was say your grandfather or grandmother.. try not to make the wrong decision as bad mistakes can cost people a lot of hardship and a lot of time for both parties.

    I hope you get your problem sorted out nicely. Remember the human.

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