Neighbors are acting crazy again, any advice?

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gwenn
gwenn Member Posts: 106
edited June 2014 in Bonded by Breast Cancer
Today I turned on the water to fill a pot to boil noodles. They started screaming and banging on the walls. I tip toed over to the stove and boiled the water and tip toed around so that they could not hear me. When my BF got home he walked through the kitchen (not loudly, tip toeing) He's a big guy but really this is reasonable walking. They banged on the walls. Everytime he walked through the kitchen they banged on the walls and screamed. The final thing they did was they uped it to one of those horns you see at games. everytime we walk through the kitchen they do a loud horn sound. I know its stupid but its got me so stressed out Im crying on the couch afraid to go into the kitchen. I have no money to move or I would have been out of this sh@thole a long time ago. Im really getting depressed and upset. I turned down dinner tonight and am worried Im going to puke any minute. Im afraid to go into my own kitchen! Im afraid to breath in this house!
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  • CaliforniaKate
    CaliforniaKate Member Posts: 258
    edited April 2007

    Wow, sounds like this is the last thing in the world you need. Could you call the landlord and have him talk to your neighbors?

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  • gwenn
    gwenn Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2007

    Oh we've already gone through the landlord. He says unless we get the police involved there is nothing he can do.

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  • Made
    Made Member Posts: 157
    edited April 2007
    Get a gun and .....j/k

    I think that if you allow them to intimidate you they will, so next time they pound get louder when they stop pounding get quieter. It is your home. I know from previous posts that they are really crazy, sorry.
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  • KariLynn
    KariLynn Member Posts: 1,079
    edited April 2007

    Go buy some bongo drums. Play them every time you walk through the kitchen. Won't shut them up but just might drown them out and make you happy.

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  • VickiTN
    VickiTN Member Posts: 361
    edited April 2007
    I agree with some of the others...give them a taste of their own medicine....start screaming and banging on the walls back...or, I like the bongo drums idea. Or, better yet, how about taking up tuba lessons and practicing in the kitchen...

    Sometimes you gotta fight fire with fire. And, I think your landlord is full of crock....I'd tell him that until he "fixes" the problem so you can live in your home peacefully, you'll be deducting a portion of your rent each month...you're certainly not getting what you agreed to pay for, it seems. If nothing more, I'd write him a letter so that you're documenting, in writing, the notice to your landlord of the disturbance and harrassment your neighbors are creating for you.
    hugs,
    vicki
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  • Sierra
    Sierra Member Posts: 1,638
    edited April 2007
    Absolutely
    document, keep a paper
    trail of all this
    as Vicki says above

    I have problem neighbours below me
    BUT I do not personally confront them
    dont know them, and who knows
    they could be dangerous
    some with dogs
    now they put the notice up
    all dogs on leashes on property

    Sharing: when I resided in San Fran
    found out later, we had the Dutch Boy
    Rapist living in our building. I had
    met with him once, re doing some painting
    in my apt. He seemd like the nicest young man
    He had a very young girl living with him.
    They then hid out at the motel across the street
    surveying him, and finally he was caught. We were
    very shocked!

    good luck! It certainly is a trying
    situation
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  • gwenn
    gwenn Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2007

    I appreciate all the advice and the sympathetic ear. I did do some research and talked it out with my bf. We agreed that the landlords response was inappropriate and thus started to make this problem the LL problem. I document all of their bad behavior and have passed it on to the LL. When I talked to him earlier he said he would pass the documentation on to his lawyer. I can't even begin to express to you how unsettling this place is as a home for me and my family. They started banging on the wall when my daughter walks through the kitchen. She weighs less than 60 lbs! I wish I had the personality that would allow me to ignore and laugh this behavior off but it seems to wear on me over time.

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  • VickiTN
    VickiTN Member Posts: 361
    edited April 2007
    Gwen,
    I'm so sorry that you're having to endure what, to me, sounds like harrassing behavior from your neighbors and a lack of responsibility on your landlord's part in ensuring that you and your child, as a leasee of his property, are provided a safe environment.

    And, please, do not, for one second, wish that you could have the personality type to ignore or laugh this matter off. What your neighbors are doing and what your landlord is not doing, is no laughing matter. It is down right cruel, evil and in my opinion, a form of harrassment that should not be tolerated - certaintly not ignored or laughed off.

    If it were me, I'd do everything in my power to try to find a new place to live. And, I'd make sure to mail a certified letter, return receipt requested, to the landlord so that he can't down the road decide to deny that he knew anything about the harrassment the neighbors are causing you. In that letter I'd list all of the threatening and harrassing behavior that your neighbors are doing to you and your child and that their behavior is causing your living environment to be intolerable and that you are formally requesting that he take steps to stop those tenants from annoying you and your family any further. And, make sure you keep a copy of the letter you send him for your own records.

    If the landlord continues to do nothing, then, I'd contact my own lawyer to see what options are available to force his hand. If you can't afford a lawyer look in your phone book under the local government section for Legal Assistance Services" - most large cities have legal aid assistance programs that offer free or low cost legal assistance to those who qualify.

    But, the best thing for you to do is to try to get out of that environment. If your neighbors are now starting to harrass your child that's just utterly unacceptable....and, makes me think those neighbors could be dangerous.

    Sending prayers up for you.
    hugs,
    vicki
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  • JoanofArdmore
    JoanofArdmore Member Posts: 1,012
    edited April 2007
    Are the walls made of paper?How can these people hear people walking into a room?
    I didnt realize there was a child involved!
    Agree with Vicki entirely, except that I, instead of trying to work with landlord would..call!the!police!!
    People are not allowed to harrass people!Harrassment is right up there with stalking, criminally.
    Part of policework is domestic disputes.
    Have the police park where neighbors cant see the cruiser.Have them come in.
    Walk into the kitchen a few times.
    Voila.Problem solved!
    If YOU get afraid, imagine how the little girl feels!
    Police and social work will take your part against these lunatics, until you can get another place.Maybe even "speak with your landlord", who DEFINATELY needs educating.
    And social work might even help you find a better place to live.
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  • jasmine
    jasmine Member Posts: 1,286
    edited July 2008

    When I lived in an apartment, I could hear the people upstairs walk wherever they went. If I have to ever live in an apartment again (which I hope to never do again) I will definitely be upstairs. Downstairs might be easier for groceries but its bad for the noise of people walking and all the plumbing problems start downstairs. I can't count the number of times they had to get the plumber out when the sewer line to the building stopped up and it always backed up downstairs first.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2007
    In my dreams, I can be spiteful. Thinking I would get a pair of tap dance shoes and dance my heart out in the kitchen. But thats in my dreams.

    I think everyone has given you good advice. Your neighbors sounds mean, and I would be scared they would do something bad. Slash you car tires, put sugar in the gasoline tank.

    I would write a letter and send it registered mail with return receipt to your landlord.

    Nicki
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  • Sierra
    Sierra Member Posts: 1,638
    edited April 2007
    Always Hope: Yes .. downstairs is better
    and I do the same in a hotel or motel, if possible..

    I am on top floor
    no elevator
    and have been 1st floor
    before. can hear lots of things
    but now my neighbours beside are v. good

    Gwenn:

    this is your abode, your home
    and I know when police had to be
    called for us
    it is very upsetting
    You do not sleep or anything
    CAN YOU not get other neighbours
    to attest to all this, as well
    works better in numbers usually

    I pray that
    this burden, somehow is lifted
    for you

    Noise control, etc. is not really high
    on our list for the police, as now
    they are so busy with other issues
    (guns, fights, whatever) they do come out
    but it can take quite a while

    Hugs
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2007
    You live in San Francisco, right?? You have tenants rights and I would file a complaint against the landlord for not correcting this.

    I probably would call the police and file a complaint. They may take forever to come out since you do live in the City, but they will come. Or you can go down to the station and file a desk complaint.
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2007
    In SF they also have a lot of free legal advice. I would try to look up where the next place is that attorneys show up to do their pro-bono work.

    You have Tenants Rights and there are attorneys that specialize in this in SF and other places like Santa Monica where rent control is huge. I realize you cannot hire attorney due to expense but there might even be something online like
    http://legalhelprightnow.org/
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