Earplugs????

Geez, Lynn, no real suggestions.  If the guy is retired, why does he set his alarm?  WTH could he need to get up at 0420 for??

Maybe suggest headphones to him or put a radio elsewhere in his apartment so he won't have to crank up the bedroom radio to hear it in the kitchen.  Also, check what your city's noise ordinances are and perhaps make him aware of them (and your landlord).  The landlord shouldn't be able to play favorites regardless of how long the guy has been there.

I'm sorry your having to deal with this.  I don't do well without sleep for an extended period of time.

I wear earplugs every night except when DH is working. I use those waxy, pliable kind and they seriously block out every bit of noise. You can use however much you need, so they shouldn't hurt your ears. I'm a light sleeper andI can't go without my sleep either, so they've been the answer for me.

cakana

I wear earplugs every night except when DH is working. I use those waxy, pliable kind and they seriously block out every bit of noise. You can use however much you need, so they shouldn't hurt your ears. I'm a light sleeper andI can't go without my sleep either, so they've been the answer for me.

I was gonna suggest that too--they make earplugs that are more of a pliable foam, like these: http://www.macksearplugs.com/product3.htm I think you can get them at Wal-Mart.

If he's turning down the sound when he knows the cops are coming, then he knows dang well he's making too much noise.  Is there any way you could record what you're hearing inside your apartment?

Joyce

Yeah, he's retired - I think Military, just based on some observations - in part the alarm clock and the regimented life he seems to lead and he said he's retired government. There is no worldly reason for a retired person to be up at 4:20 am! Especially when his alarm is waking me up too..... He also told me that he's had issues with every person who's occupied my apartment prior to me. He said that the last resident was "heavier" and so was his girlfriend and that they walked heavy so he would beat on the master bedroom ceiling with a broom!!! He said the people prior to them had a dog and they had puppy play date evenings and would take turns with their friends and about once a month they would host the gathering here. He said it drove him nuts. I don't know why he shared this with me. He said he rarely heard me, only sometimes in the kitchen and when I'm vaccuming, I could tell it really bothers him to hear me and I'm thinking, why in the world did you move into a downstairs apartment if you don't want to hear anything??? I moved upstairs to try to avoid some of those noises. I realize that there are some noises to be expected, but loud tv, radio and music is not acceptable - especially when it's been brought to the attention of the offender. He leaves the radio on even when he's not home now since I've been complaining to management and to police.

There is a noise ordinance, but if the officer doesn't hear anything, there is no report made and nothing can be done, it's a very loosely written law. I wish I knew an officer on the force!!

He said that at night he runs his a/c on fan only to block out noise and he wears earplugs and sometimes those ear muffs they wear at the shooting range!!! BUT he leaves the damn radio on - WTF!!! The guy is a fruit loop!

It's been rainy and stormy today so I've been in bed all day sleeping on and off and I find that when I play my relaxation music cd's it does seem to block out the noise, but if I watch tv I can still hear it. I need to figure out how to have the cd's play quietly all night randomly, but I haven't been able to figure out how to do it. In the meantime I will try cotton in my ears and get to the store tomorrow for earplugs. I hate to wear them, but it's that or move. Management has offered to let me out of my lease "without a termination fee." But I don't know if I would get my pet fees and deposits back as well. Right now moving is not an option, so I have to figure out how to stay sane in the meantime. Management is not going to do anything, I just got an email from the property manager. I am seeking legal advice and will do whatever I have to to protect myself. I haven't been this sad in a while. I love my apartment and don't want to move.

I can sympathize, having lived next to and above noisy neighbors in the past.  The latest batch would argue so loud I could hear what they were fighting about, always at ungodly hours of the night and early morning.  Doors slamming, things being thrown, radio up loud, they were awful.  I got lucky in that calling the cops on them seemed to settle them down some.  Then when the boyfriend broke into the girlfriend's apartment, he was hauled off to jail.  But that didn't stop the radio up loud.  Ugh.

Does your property have an on-site security officer?  Maybe he/she can help?  A little incognito work, recording device in hand, might show the cops and/or management how unacceptable the situation is?  Short of actually documenting the behavior (recording as much as you can), I'm not sure anything can be done.  Would it be possible to move to another apartment within the complex?  Inconsiderate people, especially those that have such high expectations of others, really burn me.

For now, I would second (third?) the wax earplug suggestion.  An old boyfriend of mine was a heavy snorer and they worked wonders for my sleep!

Unfortunately, it's not the sort of noise that you can record. I wish it was...... since it's the news, it's that constant droning wa wa wa wa sound that he leaves on constantly and dare I vacuum or do laundry or he hears anything, it's like he punishes me by turning it up louder!!! I am so quiet - it's just the dogs and me. I don't slam cabinets or stomp my feet and I keep my music and tv low. I mostly listen to jazz or now my relaxation music, like what they play when you get a massage. The crazy thing is that management keeps saying my noise claims are "unfounded." Yet, no one from management has been in my apartment to hear the noise. From what I understand in speaking with other residents, it's their m.o. to not take action with anything. They don't want to get involved and appear to take sides for fear someone will move out and they'll lose revenue.

When I have gotten really mad & my blood pressure goes thru the roof, like after a long day and all I want is to relax in my room, but I have to listen to his crap - or when he wakes me at 4:20 am I have stomped around and slammed cabinets and even "accidentally" dropped heavy shampoo bottles in the shower over and over (cuz I can hear him taking a shower below me and I know it irritates him). I even jumped out of bed when he woke me on Sunday morning at 4:30am and vacuumed my room for about an hour because I know he hates that. I'm not proud of it and I'm really trying not to stoop to his level, but mainly, it upsets and stresses the dogs out because they think I'm mad a them since I'm normally so quiet and it's not worth them being upset, they already know something is wrong because they feel my stress.

I won't move to another apartment within the community - not after this. All but two buildings are 3 stories - I lucked out and got into one of the two 2 story buildings and thought having no one above me would be good (yeah right) - I don't like living below others. If I do move it will be to a villa or a small house. Condos typically have concrete fire walls between the walls and with a villa you generally don't hear your neighbors and if I could find a small house w/a fenced yard in a decent neighborhood, well, that would be great for the dogs, so...... we'll see. In the meantime I hope I don't lose my job and can figure out a way to adjust to the noise and pray that kharma pays a visit to my neighbor from hell real soon.

We have a history with bad neighbors.  Your landlord has the right to ensure your neighbors are not impeding on your right for quiet enjoyment.  There is a legal web-site and forum (get law or lawyers or something like that) that has suggestions, letters, etc.

All I had to say to our last landlord about our upstairs nieghbors was the "right to quiet enjoyment" and they were all over it.  I documented the times/dates, etc and sent it to her.  Needless to say, they evicted themselves - he is now doing 5 years for something or other, nice huh.  Anyway, it is the landlords responsibility.  If they don't live up it, you can legally break the lease, but you will need a lawyer.  Just document your complaints. 

Have you told him that his radio is keeping you awake and driving you crazy?

Yep, I've mentioned quiet enjoyment, harrassment, management's responsibilities (I have 26 years of property management experience). They know this and do not care. I've been documenting everything in case it goes legal. I will look for the website and see what I can find, thanx.

Yep, he and I discussed it and he said he would turn it down, but he hasn't and now it's like a game to him. He just doesn't care.

It's amazing what can happen when you get the authorities involved.  When I first moved into a previous apartment, I had no working plugs in my bedroom.  None.  And while normally you wouldn't think that would be a big deal, try plugging in your alarm clock or a lamp for some light.  After begging them for weeks to fix it, and cussing every time I would trip over the extension cord I had rigged up, I finally had enough.  One call to code compliance and I had working plugs that day.

Sunshinegirl

Yep, he and I discussed it and he said he would turn it down, but he hasn't and now it's like a game to him. He just doesn't care.

Ok -- if it were me I'd go about this TOTALLY the opposite way. He's lonely -- he's retired -- quiet drives him NUTS and he can't hear anything (which makes him feel older and less in control). 

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo don't try to out-noise him -- it's not going to work.  If you make it 'war' you lose because that's fun to him. 

Kill him with kindness.  Treat him just like a dog.  find ONE nice thing to say and say it.  Make brownies and take him some.   Set him up -- ask him to open a jar for you or do something completely stupid.  And then make him cookies.    If you get him TO **care** he'll turn down the raio and do anything to befriend you. 

 Make THAT a game -- you don't want to come on to him -- you just want to be Suzy Homemaker friendly.  Ask him to help you move your bed to another wall -- because *tearing up* you're having such a hard time sleeping and maybe it would be easier over there (ok now he's got LABOR  invested -- he'll be motivated to HELP you).

"I just seem to hear every single thing ..." Ask him what earplugs HE uses.    "Tehy must work cos I know your stereo is pretty loud ... is that to drown out noise??"

Offer to do any little thing for him you can -- got coupons yo dno't use and you see Pringles in his trash?  Give him coupons for Pringles.  If you become "nice" and you show you CARE to him -- he'll have to respond. 

But if you declare war - you lose because he's successfully chased out every other tenant. 

 

if he's leaving his radio on when he's not home, it isn't a matter of his simply not liking quiet. He's being a little snot  Could you call the police when he isn't home and the radio is on? At least they'd hear the noise without his being able to turn it down

You know, Callie definitely has a point (as usual .  This tactic has worked many a time for me. 

Callie has great point and as hard as it might be, your present tactics aren't working, so why not try to turn him into a "friend"?  The added benefit to dealing with difficult people in this way (same as dealing with difficult dogs) is that it helps keep your anger under control.