Living close to your neighbors can be frustrating and uncomfortable. What is the best way to deal with a noisy neighbor that is making your living situation unbearable? Is moving your only hope?
My husband and I recently moved into a new apartment and we're dealing with some really thin walls. Our main issue is with our upstairs neighbors. They seem to never sleep and are up at 5:30 a.m. every day, walking around and sometimes arguing.
I've tried a white noise machine fans and earplugs and nothing seems to keep the noise out. I recognize that they have a different schedule so I don't know how much can be done. I want them to have an awareness of just how much we can hear.
Please help,
Desperate for a good night's sleep
The Answer:
This is a tricky issue, but at the core it comes down to building a relationship with your neighbors. Obviously, you can hear when they're home so go up and knocked on the door, introduced yourself and exchange phone numbers.
When you've built up more of a relationship with your neighbors, you can broach the subject of your apartment's thins walls. Sometimes a difficult discussion isn't as difficult as we imagine and it's really our nerves that make it seem scary.
I recognize that they have a different schedule so I don't know how much can be done. I want them to have an awareness of just how much we can hear.
A little bit of mental preparation is going to help you avoid offending your neighbors or seeming accusatory. Politely bringing up the noise once should be enough to prompt them to alter their behavior.
This whole situation is a reminder that issues with neighbors pop up and each problem can be a little different. In this situations and others like it, thinking of yourself as an ambassador will help you make overtures to develop relationships with your neighbors and keep everyone happy.
We wish you the best of luck in communicating with your neighbors about their noisiness and hope there are many long and good nights of sleep ahead!
