E.S. from New Jersey writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
I live in a top-floor condo and I have several neighbor’s heat pumps directly on top of my unit & a few more very nearby, all on the roof. Recently the entire roof was replaced. The roofers and engineers removed all the platforms, stands, & shock absorption pads from under all the heat pumps and replaced them with solid blocks of wood. Needless to say, the noise & vibrations are unbearable now. The worst noise comes from a pump right on top of my unit (my neighbor’s) but I also hear the ones nearby as well, 24/7. The C.A. refuses to hire anyone to replace the materials they removed under the heat pumps to lessen the noise. I’m at my wit’s end, emotionally & mentally; I can’t stand to be home anymore. Is there anything I can do? (The C.A. also states that there may be a “structural problem” that causes the excessive noise, and if I want it fixed, I need to pay 3 to 5 thousand dollars to fix it and that’s just for ONE heat pump). Thank you for your time & advice.
Mister Condo replies:
E.S., I am sorry for the inconvenience and noise that you must be living with every day. This was a truly callous act by your condo association. I am not an attorney and offer no legal advice in this column. I wholeheartedly encourage you to seek legal counsel in this matter. I have no doubt that you will need to “encourage” the association to return the unit to the previous noise level.