Noisy neighbors can sometimes be really annoying, keep you from sleeping and disrupt the normal flow of daily life. In some cases, they don't even realize they are bothering, so it's usually best to try to resolve the issue by discussing it politely. However, if after two or three attempts the situation does not improve, it will be necessary to take drastic measures. The other neighbors will thank you!
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Direct Approach
Step 1. Discuss directly with the neighbor in question
Complain about the situation calmly and politely. Ask him to make less noise and ask him to come to an agreement to solve the problem.
- Try to have a calm approach. If you don't know him personally or have never spoken to him, first introduce yourself: "Hi, my name is Mario. I'm your neighbor on the landing and we share a wall."
- Bring up the topic that is important to you, which is noise, but try to do it in the most respectful way possible to avoid offending him. Try saying, "I don't know if you noticed, but the walls are very thin in this condo, so you really hear everything and I can't sleep at night."
Step 2. Explain to him what consequences the noise has
For example, you have to study, or you have small children or elderly relatives in the house who shouldn't be disturbed. Help him understand why he needs to be more careful.
- For example, if you are a college student, explain that you need peace and quiet to study late at night. Be honest: "I don't want to ruin your evening, but I would be really grateful if you could pay a little more attention between 10pm and 3am. It's only in those hours that I can study."
- You can also name some people who live with you who are particularly affected by the noise. Be honest: "I like to listen to loud music too, but I have a baby and the noise prevents him from sleeping. Could you please turn the volume down? It affects my sanity!"
Step 3. Avoid going the conflict path when bringing up the subject
Don't blame him, don't blame him, and most importantly, don't threaten him. If you are grumpy, they are much more likely to respond in the same way. Remember that you are looking for a solution, not hostility.
- Avoid using reproachful expressions, such as "you do" or "you must". Instead, focus on what you are feeling and express it. Do it after a party, never try to have a reasonable conversation in the midst of chaos.
- Avoid having an angry or annoyed attitude. If you feel too irritated to have a fruitful and mature conversation, put it off for another time when you have calmed down.
Step 4. Suggest that you compromise
Could you be more careful before or after certain times of the day? Could you put on headphones to limit noise? Could you do it? Follow the condominium regulations (in particular, the procedures regarding reporting for noise disturbance) as a guide to make a valid agreement.
- Read the regulations of the condominium and / or residential area where you live. Ask the neighbors to respect the schedules according to what has been established.
- If you are not sure how to make a deal with your neighbor, use the rules to guide you in resolving the problem.
Step 5. Write a letter
If the problem doesn't go away, try writing him a letter. It sounds like a formal solution, but it's also a clear and effective way to present your complaint in the least confrontational way possible.
- Take your time to write it. As advised for the initial approach, be polite and stick to the facts. Explain what you would like to achieve with your complaint.
- Keep a copy of the letter - this document is intended to demonstrate the steps you have taken to resolve the problem.
Step 6. Try to write down every single interaction
Record the outcome of a conversation right away, with all the facts and details you can remember. This will show that you have tried to solve the problem yourself.
If the problem does not go away or it is necessary to contact the competent person, having precise notes can help you support your case. It is useful to note dates and times, but also to keep copies of all tangible exchanges (messages, e-mails, letters)
Part 2 of 3: Contact the authorities
Step 1. Get help from a mediator
If the problem cannot be solved directly, try doing it with the help of a third party. Sometimes a condominium council member or administrator can facilitate the exchange, avoiding fueling conflicts between you and your neighbor.
- If the condominium does not have mediation procedures, talk to the tenant or condominium manager.
- The tenant or the building manager acts as a mediator and anonymously notifies the person concerned, sometimes with an official document.
Step 2. If other approaches have not been successful, call the local police who have the necessary expertise to intervene in your area
You can find the phone number online by typing "traffic police + city".
- When you call the brigade, give your full address. If you live in an apartment building, make it clear who they should be ringing for. If you live in a closed housing estate, you will need to provide the access code.
- Briefly describe what is happening. Example: "I would like to report a tenant who is having a party by failing to respect the condominium regulations".
- If you want to remain anonymous to protect yourself from possible reprisals, explain to the operator that you do not want to be contacted by the brigade sent to verify the situation. They will therefore turn to your neighbor, but they will not involve you and will not reveal your identity.
Step 3. Involve the Carabinieri to address the problem
If it is possible to solve it by talking to the neighbor and with the mediation of the owner, do not call them. Do this if you didn't get any results when you tried to find a solution.
- You should only call 112 in an emergency, not for a couple of taps. Call when the neighbor in question has a party that seems out of control or plays late at night with a band.
- It is necessary to call the carabinieri only if the situation that generates noise remains unchanged until their arrival. If not, talk to the brigade.
Step 4. Report your neighbor
Taking legal action should be the last resort, to be considered only after trying all possible avenues to reach an agreement to no avail. Use notes taken from all interactions you have had with your neighbor. They are documents that will allow you to present your case in civil or criminal proceedings.
- Report him for the concrete damage he has caused you or to order him to stop the noise emissions.
- It can be difficult to sue someone for damage and claim compensation, as determining the causal link between the damage and exposure to noise is quite subjective. If you still want to give it a try by acting in civil or criminal matters, use the register you have updated over time. Prove that on several occasions you have suffered damage due to excessive and annoying noises caused by the neighbor you reported.
- Show that you have asked him to stop on several occasions and that the problem has not been solved. Document that you have called the carabinieri or the brigade and that there have been interactions between you and the neighbor that have proved fruitless.
Part 3 of 3: Avoid Noisy Neighbors
Step 1. You live on the top floor of an apartment building
Often the costs are higher, but it is the most effective way to avoid having noisy neighbors. On the top floor, the sounds don't have the same impact they would on the ground floor. Consider this factor when looking for an apartment.
Step 2. Examine the neighborhood in which you intend to rent or buy a house
Analyzing the area you want to live in before signing a contract is important to get an idea of the acoustic situation. Take note of everything around you.
- Walk down the street you want to live on and see if there are any pitches, skateboard ramps or other equipment that could generate a lot of noise, or attract local children en masse.
- Avoid streets with bus stops, stop intersections, clubs, empty land or social reintegration centers. In other words, stay away from heavily trafficked and crowded areas.
Step 3. Tell your landlord or real estate agent right away that peace of mind is important to you
When looking for a place to live, make it clear that living in a relatively quiet home is a priority for you.
- Consider whether the landlord or real estate agent is willing to accommodate your preferences. If he goes to great lengths to settle you in a quiet place, it shows you that he wants to make sure he offers you a home that suits your needs.
- If you make statements like "Young people live in this condominium," university parties will be the order of the day. If for you it is a not indifferent cons and your priority is to live in a quiet place, it is worthwhile to orient yourself elsewhere.
Step 4. Consider other ways to reduce noise
As much as you go out of your way to avoid noise and / or noisy neighbors, you can never be sure that you will completely escape the problem and sooner or later you may face it. It is possible that they decide to build an apartment building in front of your house or that a neighbor insists on cutting the grass at nine on a Saturday morning.
- Invest in a pair of noise-canceling headphones or a white noise generator to reduce the volume of sounds absorbed into your home.
- To absorb sounds and limit their impact, you can also install low frequency sound traps or sound absorbing panels on the walls.
Advice
- Don't try to be a hero. Confronting a drunk neighbor at three in the morning is a bad idea. Instead of solving the problem, you could make it worse.
- Always be calm and reasonable. It is very important to resolve the situation and avoid conflicts.
- Use common sense to decide how to behave. If a polite request has given you good results in the past, every now and then just refresh his memory gently. If you have felt threatened or your neighbor is on a war footing, it is best to contact the authorities directly.
- If you are both renters, try sending copies of the evidence you have collected and any complaints to the landlord or building manager. Noises, especially after hours, often go against the rules set out in the rental contract, the condominium and the city, so asking for help can be useful.
- Try to have other neighbors on your side. You're probably not the only one who is bothered by the shouting. If you decide to report the neighbor in question, ask others for help, in this way your cause will have more weight.
- Get to know your neighbors (loud or not) before a problem arises. If you have any difficulties, this will help you communicate better with them.
Warnings
- If you are concerned that the noise is accompanied by domestic violence or someone is in trouble, call the police immediately and raise your concerns. Don't try to be polite by not intervening.
- If you make a report, ask to remain anonymous. Even the most reasonable people may try to take revenge after being called back by the authorities.
- As tempting as you may be to take revenge, remember that it won't be effective, especially in the long term. Turning up the volume or damaging other people's property will only make you part of the problem.
