A.B. from outside of Connecticut writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
I rent a unit in an 8-family condo building. The day I got my keys, three neighbors knocked on my door and told me the previous tenant moved out because they called the police on her four times for noise. They proceeded to list noise complaints and told me they could hear me already (I was cleaning! I had not moved in yet). They told me the previous tenants talked on the phone loudly after 10pm, banged the water off and on, and slammed the cupboards – this is why they called the police.
Now I’ve been living here for two months and I can hear everything the complaining neighbor (below me) speaks – clearly – and I can hear her snoring. I don’t think there is sound proofing if I can hear her talking through my floor. Then this morning at 6:00 am the neighbor across the hall had a fight with an unknown woman on the landing outside my door and I was a bit frightened.
I told my landlord about their initial complaints. Should I tell him about the fight? He lied to me as to the reason the previous tenants left (he told me they broke the lease because they had financial troubles) when the real reason was the downstairs neighbor called the police on them four times and they were essentially forced out. I am in a year lease and I am thinking I made a mistake moving here. Advice?
Mister Condo replies:
A.B., I am sorry that your new rental is looking less than ideal. The reality is you are a new tenant and a new member of this close-knit community. They have already shown you some of their quirks and you may or may not fit in with this group of folks. The good news is that you will know in short order if you will want to stay there more than 12 months. If you enjoy your experience, you’re good to go. If you find it unenjoyable, there is no need to renew your lease. If you let your landlord know you aren’t planning on renewing your lease and that you are even willing to leave the lease early, your landlord can begin marketing the unit sooner and may find a renter to replace you before your lease ends, which sounds to me like that is what you want. If you voluntarily break your lease without your landlord’s agreement, you may still be on the hook for your rent and lose your security deposit. That isn’t what you want. My advice is to give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, try working with your landlord to end your lease early. If that doesn’t work out, don’t renew your lease and hope for a better group of neighbors next time. Good luck!
I wonder if it is the noise, the change or that you are a renter that affects them. Perhaps you could take a plate of cookies, a pitcher of margaritas or an African Violet to each of the noise focused neighbors. Perhaps you to share your concern with each of them by saying that you were scared for them by the fight in the hallway and ask if they are ok or if you should call the police if it happens again. You could express to the heavy snorer that it scares you when she has an Apnea event and that her problem is probably degrading her overall health. Showing them that you can hear them loud and clear and that you are concerned about them might give them the message that you belong, and they might not want to judge/complain since their own noise might disturb you. Together you might approach the condo board (if as a renter you have the right) and start exploring soundproofing measures….since it obviously disturbs everyone.