B.B. from outside of Connecticut writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
I own my condo 34 years now. Renters sharing a bedroom wall have sex off and on, all night, EVERY night. My doctors say it is an addiction. My help is near at a critical stage as the anxiety and lack of sleep is causing me some serious problems. The condo is 44 years and has floor problems which the association and management company won’t acknowledge. I suspect it is the termites we have had, along with major plumbing issues that are constantly occurring. Probably termite damage to the joists from both. One unit was told it was joists issues but could not say it was termites without tearing up the floor. They will do nothing to help me. They first spoke with the owner of the unit next to me and the tenant who denied what he was doing. I can’t prove it, but I can feel and sometime faintly hear, and I know he is having sex. While he should be able to do that in his home, he also knows it is causing vibration in my unit and my bed, but doesn’t seem to care. I am now retired and have looked into selling but with what I would get, I would have to buy in another building as old and could end up with another problem like vibration due to age, etc. As a senior, is there any law that would help if I saw an attorney? I feel I am receiving a form of mental abuse, affecting my health. What kind of attorney should I see re the lack of the association doing anything. I think they know the floors have issues, and they are just ignoring it. HELP. Thanks.
Mister Condo replies:
B.B., noisy neighbors are no laughing matter in condo buildings with thin walls. Suspected termite damage and plumbing issues aren’t funny either. I can fully understand your anxiety. I am not aware of any laws that protect you as a senior but I am not an attorney. You should most definitely speak to an attorney to see what legal protections you may have. Have you spoken with any type of building inspector, either from the local municipality or from the private sector? Termite and plumbing damage are both detectable and reparable. You shouldn’t be living with either as it could create a very hazardous living condition or even an uninhabitable building. If the Property Manager and the Board aren’t listening to your complaints, make the call to the local building inspector and see if you can’t apply a little pressure. I assume these folks live in your building, too. I can’t imagine why they would want to live with termites or water damage. All the best!