I am worried about my dogs adjusting to an apartment, is it a good idea to send a "hey, sorry if they're noisy, we're working on it! Please let me know if you have a complaint!" letter around to my immediate neighbors upon arrival? If it IS a good idea, any suggestions for wording? [more inside]
posted by HermitDog on Apr 7, 2013 - 20 answers

So I have a wonderful apartment in an old Victorian house. My landlord lives below me. He plays horrible trance-type music frequently but usually not at late night or early morning hours. It's just loud enough that the "waaa waaa waaa" of the bassline is audible in my apartment. It makes me crazy, however hasn't kept me awake (...yet). But, I am a superquiet person who lived for a long time in the country and maybe I do not have realistic ideas about how quiet an apartment should be. Am I in my rights to politely ask them to turn their bass down?
posted by genmonster on Feb 15, 2013 - 21 answers

How to temporarily reduce sound through a shared door? [more inside]
posted by greta simone on Jun 27, 2012 - 14 answers

Experiences and techniques for dealing with noise mitigation in an apartment with only partial bedroom walls? [more inside]
posted by phoenixy on Jun 8, 2012 - 9 answers

Thin walls, noisy partner; help me be a better neighbor? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 10, 2012 - 35 answers

Every Saturday, my downstairs neighbors have been having a noisy, extended get-together that disturbs my evening rituals and bedtime. [more inside]
posted by questionable accounting on Feb 25, 2012 - 25 answers

I moved into a loft and the acoustics in the hallway are terrible. If someone walks past my talking to someone else, at a normal volume, I can hear every word, even with the television or music on. It is as if the door is made out of paper. What's worse, is that the opposite is true. When walking past a door you can very clearly hear what is going on inside. Any ideas on soundproofing my place? [more inside]
posted by geoff. on Nov 6, 2011 - 9 answers

Apartment noise, and my own hypersensitivity to that noise, are intersecting with some bigger psychological issues for me about when to stick up for my needs. Help. [more inside]
posted by chameleon on Aug 22, 2011 - 30 answers

Give me your best machine-washable sound-dampening technologies. Curtains, mostly. [more inside]
posted by deludingmyself on Aug 1, 2011 - 6 answers

My family (husband and 2 toddlers) lives in a town home and noise from our place is a constant concern of mine. We recently upgraded to a four bedroom that was occupied by a little old lady for quite a number of years. The ladies who live on either side of us seem to be very nice, but our second weekend into the new place we had one come over and ask us to quiet down. [more inside]
posted by Sweetmag on Jun 17, 2011 - 31 answers

I am moving in to a new apartment, and have discovered that my across the hall neighbor is kind of loud. The noise seems to be carrying through the air conditioner vent. Is there anything I can do to muffle this? [more inside]
posted by Sara Anne on May 5, 2011 - 10 answers

Did rain cause my new window air conditioner to make a spattering noise or was it normal operation of the unit? [more inside]
posted by flyingcowofdoom on May 4, 2011 - 7 answers

How can I make the best out of an upcoming meeting between myself, my landlord, and my noisy downstairs neighbors? [more inside]
posted by valkyryn on Feb 4, 2011 - 41 answers

What is this noise coming from the apartment upstairs? I'm being driven slowly insane. [more inside]
posted by venividivici on Jun 16, 2010 - 13 answers

It's always been a quiet apartment building, but now we have a new downstairs neighbor that makes noise until 5AM and makes the common-use hallway smell like marijuana and cigarettes. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 13, 2010 - 24 answers

Feeling abused by noisy upstairs neighbors. Looking for some strategies to let them know we are not doormats. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 19, 2009 - 57 answers

Help me make my noisy, windy city balcony more enjoyable. [more inside]
posted by jacquilinala on Dec 12, 2009 - 5 answers

How best to handle noise complaints against us, when I feel we are being reasonable? Since the first complaints we have been dialing down the noise in every way we can think of, but apparently it's not enough and we don't even know which neighbor is complaining, so we can't speak to them directly. [more inside]
posted by marble on Nov 8, 2009 - 49 answers

I'm looking to buy a Manhattan apartment (most likely co-op, not condo). What should I be looking for (or avoiding) to minimize my chances of hearing a lot of noise from my neighbors?
posted by sunflower16 on Oct 13, 2009 - 4 answers

I live in a rental apartment and would like to block out noise from the apartment above me. I have a ceiling fan, ear plugs, etc., but would prefer not to have to use those things. Is there some kind of insulation or paneling that I can glue or tack on without having to rip up the ceiling? (Please don't respond with suggestions about talking to my neighbors. I'm specifically looking for information about soundproofing the ceiling.)
posted by zembla3 on Sep 8, 2009 - 12 answers

I am a piano student will be renting an apartment on my own soon. I was wondering what are the anti-noise laws in Australia (Sydney) regarding practicing musical instrument at home. [more inside]
posted by neworder7 on Aug 22, 2009 - 16 answers

What kind of bird is making this annoying noise (mp3 file; alternate link here) behind my Manhattan apartment building? And what can I do about it? [more inside]
posted by Tin Man on Aug 7, 2009 - 24 answers

How late is too late to expect to be able to make a moderate amount of noise in my apartment? [more inside]
posted by youcancallmeal on Mar 9, 2009 - 31 answers

A thin wall separates my bedroom from my neighbor's living room. Sleep is often impossible. Is this grounds to terminate my lease? [more inside]
posted by medpt on Nov 18, 2008 - 15 answers

I use to play the drums, really miss it, and want to get back into it. What are my options for living in an apartment complex? [more inside]
posted by defben on Aug 3, 2008 - 13 answers

Is it (will it be) that noisy at Charles Street around Bloor and Yonge? [more inside]
posted by mariokrat on Jul 22, 2008 - 18 answers

What can I do about an obnoxious parking lot buzzer in the building next door? [more inside]
posted by i less than three nsima on Jun 23, 2008 - 5 answers

Singers--a question about apartment living. Will my neighbors hate me? [more inside]
posted by freem on Oct 2, 2007 - 34 answers

What are some good tips for finding a quiet rental property or apartment? [more inside]
posted by antipasta_explosion on Jul 4, 2007 - 26 answers

Neighbor blasting talk radio and not responding to my first attempts at contact. What's my next step? Please help me carefully plan the best approach for long-term results. [more inside]
posted by sparrows on Apr 10, 2007 - 41 answers

Seeing this question and this question about noisemaking in apartments made me think about my situation. I am the noisemaker. Supposedly. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 27, 2006 - 35 answers

Apartment Etiquette - Dealing with a stereo hound next door. [more inside]
posted by Popular Ethics on Nov 23, 2006 - 42 answers

I live in an apartment building next to a couple who have a dog. This dog is left alone most of the time, and to express his frustration, repeatedly scratches and runs into the apartment door, which creates a loud, annoying noise which I can hear in most of my small apartment. This regularly happens from about 8 in the morning until 9 pm or later. I work every weekday morning at home, so this is particularily irritating. It sounds like they leave NPR running all day, but either the pooch is reacting negatively to Terry Gross, or maybe he's not into talk radio. I left a note for the neighbors several months ago, which they did not respond to. I recently sent them a longer letter explaining that they were violating the house rules of the building and that I would like to meet with them to discuss the matter. Now I have received a note from them saying that they are ready to talk about it. My question: Is there anything I can sugggest to them to reduce the dog's noise, even if they continue to leave the poor thing alone most of the time? I would like to be able to make a constructive suggestion besides "stay home with the dog" or "get rid of the dog". At any rate, if the noise continues, I will be contacting the building's board of directors and pursuing the matter until the dog's noise stops. It just doesn't seem like there is much they can do besides "take care of it or get rid of it" Any info. appreciated!
posted by pantufla on Nov 8, 2005 - 45 answers

OK, so the guy who lives beneath me thinks he's a DJ, and he's driving me and my GF nuts. Any advice on how to set up an electromagnetic field that is a>powerful enough to fry his equipment, and b>directional? [more inside] Oh yeah, this is all hypothetical [more inside]
posted by Grod on Dec 13, 2003 - 59 answers