Ok so I just got a new awsome apartment, but it came with some bad luggage - and older woman living next door. She has knocked on my door and complained on two occations:
- Friday 21.30 PM, I was watching a movie with 2 friends. Apperently the movie and our laughing was too loud for a friday night...
- Coming home from the pub one saturday night, playing some music before going to bed (I will give her that one but its ONE time i did that).
Anyway, i got an e-mail from the Landlord telling me to respect my neighbour and dont play music late and slam the door when i get home, reffering to my neighbour.
This is based on these 2 "incidents"..i really dont see why she had to involve the landlord..
What if shes totally psycho and complains the second she heres me flush the toilet after 22.00? Could she get me evicted??
Best thing is to try to talk to her in a civil manner, then you'll know whether she is a case or not.
I had a neighbor like that once upon a time. Spoke to her politely, but clearly, then conversationally. Helped her with a few things from time to time. Wasn't long before she worshiped the ground under my feet, never complained again. You never know...
AFAIK, the landlord doesn't really need a reason to terminate your contract - usually it's a 3 month notice period for both sides.
But I would write a polite email back, stating your view of the facts.
If you feel keen, you can offer your landlord to have the noise you make measured in her apartment (which is usually what is done when the courts are involved, as a final step).
I would suggest you send a letter to the landlord explaining your side of the situation and also ask to meet with him. It is always good to have a good relation with the landlord if you can. That way you can also explain you intend to follow the rules and ask if he has any advice. (you may also learn if this neighbor always complains) I would also make sure you know the unwritten and written rules of your building and get to know your other neighbors if you can.
I would additionally do as the previous poster recommended and that is to get to know the neighbor. In one of the first buildings I lived in, there was a neighbor that complained about everything. I was traveling a lot and would get home from the airport between 11-12 as I had to take the last flights after the business ended. She complained that the elevator noise and me unlocking the door disturbed her (as it was after 10) Getting to know her and helping her out is what finally put an end to her complaints.
Yup, become her new best friend, especially if she's old, she'll probably be quite isolated and spends a lot of time alone in a quiet apartment. Also, try and be more considerate, offer to do a few noise checks, as in, turn on the TV to your normal level and then go and see what it sounds like in her place so you know that after a certain time, it's probably best not to go past a certain volume.
Did you meet the previous tenant? If you could get in touch with him, you could ask if he had such problems - if she is a chronic complainer, then you could put this to the landlord as well. Might be that your building is exceptionally noise prone, in which case it won't be easy for you to live there if you like a more noisy social life.
First of all - noise really is very subjective. My husband can tolerate two baby elephants running above our neighbour's flat, when they had their nieces to stay for the entire weekend and my nerves were getting frayed. I have a new neighbour who makes a racket whenever he comes home and goes out but I am cool as it lasts no more than 5 minutes. But some people will probably get irritated.
I would approach the situation two pronged. Firstly, write to the landlord and explain your side of the story. Secondly, show up at her door with a bouquet of flowers. Doesnt have to be expensive and even if you think you arent at fault, and she's just a miserable old bat. Apologise for the inconvenience you might have caused her but explain gently that you have the right to invite visitors to your apartment. You will be mindful of the noise you make in future.
Kittster is right - become her new best friend. You have no idea how powerful an ally this old lady can be. My ex-neighbour was an old lady in her 70s and she was very picky about the communal laundry area, the tidiness of the outside of our apartment area - you name it. It didnt bother me as I dismissed it as someone who has nothing to do all day but to manage the neighbours. I so dreaded telling her that I was going to get a dog but she was so lovely about it. I was so surprised when I found out down the road, that she has had arguments with almost everyone else in the building - she has been nothing but kind to me and my dog. I find that if you show them the respect, they'll appreciate it. Put yourself in her shoes: someone who is bored all day will appreciate a bit of kindness and friendliness because trust me, if you want to wage war, she'll definitely have more time to invest in planning on how to make your life more miserable!
Thank you all for your answers. I have written the landlord accordingly and will "apologize" to my dear neighbour next time i see her.
What im really curious about though, is the procedure if this neigbour keeps complaining. Would a landlord usually evict somebody based on an old bats complains about a slipper hitting the floor?
If feel it would take a LOT to evict someone at all, at least in sweden tenants are so protected they basicly can keep living in the apartment without paying rent for months. But thats Sweden..
It's hardly likely that you will be evicted based on the complaints of a single person alone. The procedure to evict somebody is actually quite complex and would take a long time and lots of warnings and legal stuff.
But remember that the landlord is not really interested in being a policeman and finding out who is to blame. The landlord wants some sort of peace to reign. And sometimes pretending to do something about a complaint makes it calm down for a bit.
But in any case, getting on with your neighbours is of immense value and that may take swallowing your pride and maybe backing down even if morally you're right and they're wrong. Often talking to people and being friendly achieves more than standing up for your rights. A lot of older people who are nasty and grumpy at first turn out to be very sweet and friendly once you win their confidence.
With that attitude, you will lose. People can tell when you are not being genuine and you have moved to the land of peace and quiet above all (even if this contrasts with the jackhammers that woke me up at 7am, but that's different...), so her right to quiet will probably win over your right to having fun or being careless about stuff falling on the floor. Don't worry, your reflexes will eventually sharpen to catch something about to hit the floor, your ears will develop a self-regulation, but it takes a bit of time.
I could always here the people above me doing it....I could here their voices.
and the lady below me yelled all the time. tried to make amends...didnt work, snapped at her and set her in her place. told her id walk on clouds if she paid my rent. never another peep out of her and always a bonjour
on another note I helped another old lady neighbor with her bags everytime I saw her and she wouldnt stop buying me a my gf stuff (cognac, cakes etc etc) so it really depends on the neighbor (btw this old lady bitched about the one complaining all the time also haha as in really bitching)