Partier Neighbors Keeping Me up at Night

Updated on February 10, 2010
J.R. asks from San Diego, CA
15 answers

I just purchased a new condo a couple of months ago, and unfortunately have "undesirable" neighbors living 2 doors down. They have had loud drunken parties three times since I have moved in. The first, about a month ago woke me and my daughter up at 4:30am. I called the police, and the party ended around 5:30am (I heard someone yell "busted!"). There was another party last Sunday morning at 3:45am, and I again called the police, and yet another this Monday morning at 1:20am, drunken people singing off the bedroom balcony, which is about 20 feet from my bedroom balcony. I the morning the driveway is trashed with beer cans, cigarette packs & butts, plastic drink cups, even shoes! I have written a letter to send to my HOA and a copy to the owner of the property (whose name I got from public records). The problem is, I am afraid to send it. I think the neighbors will be able to figure out that I am the one who complained. Many of the surrounding units are vacant right now, and they also may have seen me on my balcony trying to figure out what all the commotion was in the middle of the night (ok, I was probably glaring angrily at them...). I am afraid of causing a confrontation, especially in front of my daughter. In the light of day, it doesn't seem like such a big deal, but I know is really is... I am awakened out of a sound sleep to drunken noise, and my daughter wakes up scared because she doesn't know what all the noise is in the middle of the night...I'm just afraid that these kind of people who obviously have no regard for neighbors might try to get revenge if I get them in trouble...(fyi, these aren't college student or young people..they appear to be in late 30's - 40). I also wanted to add that I tried being friendly and introducing myself when I first moved in, but they seemed to have a "why are you talking to me?" attitude.

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R.B.

answers from San Diego on

HOA, contact the owner of the condo (they really should know), contact the city for Noise Ordinance (they take it pretty seriously) and the police. Persistency will pay off!! I had neighbors that were partiers and it sucked! Luckily they moved. Good luck to you!

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S.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

You are totally within your rights to complain to your HOA.
Also, there should be a homeowner that is on the HOA board. Find out who that person is and see if you can get them on your side.
Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Tulsa on

I live right by a huge Wal-Mart. To say the least we have trucks, street cleaners cleaning the parking lot, and general noise all night. We have gotten used to it and can usually sleep right through it now. The problem of being disturbed arises when they decide to do construction during the night time hours.

We had called the manager many times and got zero results. So we resorted to calling the police. They went and talked to them and then came and told us that Wal-Mart had go to the city and had a legal permit to do this work and they couldn't do anything about it.

In the meantime my husband had gone online to our city pages and read through the city noise ordinances. There is a sub category under noise ordinances for noise produced by machinery. Which includes factory noise, construction work, stereos, saws, drills, anything produced by a machine. When the police officer was offering his condolences on our pending loss of sleep my husband handed him a copy of the noise ordinance. The officer went straight to Wal-Mart and informed them he would arrest whomever was making the noise if he got another call. The employees refused to continue and the manager had to call the store director. I went in the next day and discussed the issue with them.

The good thing about this particular ordinance is that it doesn't have a time frame on it, like from 10pm until 6am they have to be quieter, I can call the police on them for loud mechanical noises any time of day....

If you are really worried about retaliation then perhaps you could thing of continuing the house hunting and put yours up for sale. I don't think I'd want to liove around those conditions. Also, if you tell your HOA that you are going to move out and let everyone you know that this not a place for families but a party place they know they need to sell the homes and perhaps it will sway them to take a stand.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Do what the other people have told you to do. And pray that God will put a hedge of protection around you from any retaliation. We have been in a similar situation with neighbors with barking dogs keeping us and our kids up at night. They have had their dogs taken away by animal control. I had to trust God that these people who don't care about their animals wouldn't bother trying to retaliate either. God honored our prayers.

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T.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Oh, have I been where you are! Keep calling the police everytime they are loud past 11 (weeknight) 12 (weekend), they do not typically tell the offending party who called them out for the disturbance. Make sure you call or write your HOA every single time it happens. It is up to the HOA and the Board of Directors of your community to make sure the CC&Rs are enforced by everyone living in the complex. Again, when you write your letters, tell them you wish to remain anonymous to the offending party so you will not become the target if issue by them. Let the HOA write the letter to the homeowner....that is their responsibility to make sure that homeowners who are renting their properties, make sure that the renters are following all rules. Don't worry about becoming a pest, it is your right as a homeowner to live in a comfortable environment. Also, I wouldn't even bother trying to confront the offending residents, they won't care.....if they did, they would be more courteous. Try to stay on it now...summer is coming and it will only get worse! Good luck!

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J.M.

answers from Santa Barbara on

I had something similar. One morning when I had finally had enough I went to talk to the guy at 7:00 in the morning. He came screaming out the door yelling "what are you doing here so early in the morning." I looked him in the eye, raised my eyebrows, and said "exactly." He was really angry, I was pretty scared, and my husband was mad that I did it ... but he wasn't loud after that.

What about going to the HOA board meeting? Maybe they can help you. Good luck!

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K.K.

answers from San Diego on

Hello, I would continue to call the police. Do you have a HOA? If so, I would report this to them. This is unhealthy and unsafe for you and your family. When people get drunk, they do stupid things. Also, you are not getting the sleep you need.
Good luck.
K. K.

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J.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Letters to my HOA have stopped barking dogs and partying. I didn't have to write the letter because my other neighbors beat me to it! I can understand you being a little nervous but you have already called the cops. That seems like a bigger deal to me. You will just drive yourself nuts by being irritated. You should enjoy owning a home. Good luck.

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J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

if they are breaking rules of the HOA, which I suspect they are, then definitely report it. Keep yourself inline because if they suspect it is you they may try to be on your back. I would mention that they were a little hostile when you tried to introduce yourself and that you fear retaliation so it is on record. Be as friendly as you can to them and especially your other neighbors. good luck

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R.G.

answers from Louisville on

First of all, what are the by-laws of the HOA? There are undoubtedly restrictions on loud partying after hours. Second: there are certainly city ordinances which cover such over-the-top partying. These should be looked into thoroughly before making any antagonistic approach to the neighbor.

On another level, have you tried going to your neighbor (NOTE: Do not make this a martial confrontation!That will always end badly for everyone.) and apologetically explaining that you recenlty moved in and you have a young daughter who is disturbed by the loud noise of their parties. (If you work outside the home, point out that it disturbs your sleep as well and is hurting your productivity at work) Ask if they might consider closing down the party house a bit earlier in the evening. (They probably won't want to but most people tend to be reasonable when approached reasonably and will be willing to compromise.)

I live in a fairly nice neighborhood but had a neighbor a few years ago who loved his bikes - the Harley-Davidson variety. On weeknights, it was not uncommon for him to be racing engines at midnight and showing his bikes off to friends. One night, I went over, in my robe, and explained that I get up for work before 6 a.m. and wondered if he could hold the noise down a little. He apologized and from then until the day he moved last year he never raced his bikes up and down the street or raced the engines after ten p.m. Sometimes, all you need is a little communication.

If the diplomatic approach fails to work, that's when you need to use stronger tactics and file a letter of complaint with the HOA.

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J.L.

answers from San Diego on

Hi J., i would talk to them before calling the police and give them a chance to be good neighbors. You mentioned the vacant condos, so maybe they think because of the vacancy;s they are not disturbing anyone. I would kindly let them no that during their parties, your daughter wakes up scared from the loud noises. if they don't comply and quiet down some, then take pictures of the mess in the drive way and send them along with the letter to the owners. And Like the other mom suggested call the non emergency line and just put them on notice of possible trouble, that way if you do have to call them, they already know whats up. J.

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D.S.

answers from San Diego on

Send your letter to the HOA! I'm sure you are a more desirable homeowner than the other people and they should do what they can to keep you happy. I would record every time one of these incidents happen, that way you have a record that you can print out and show them. And definately try and talk to the partiers, let them know that your daughter is scared, maybe then they will think of her next time instead of just thinking of themselves.

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S.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

These people have to sleep eventually right? Whatever time you suspect they are attempting to sleep off their hangovers, that's when you give your daughter (and maybe a friend or two of hers) some nice sugary snacks and let them scream and ride bikes in circles around their condo, run races up and down the stairs and all that. Maybe some Kidzbop or The wiggles played at top volumes to accompany all this fun they will be having... give the neighbors a little taste of their own medicine.

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

I think I would make the letter to the HOA more generic. Something like 'there have been several loud individuals in the building at the wee hours of the morning. So much so that I was afraid for my daughter, and the police were called'. The HOA should have received a copy of the police report. Although those types of things may be different in CA... you can also call the police and ask them to increase the patrols during the graveyard shift.

M.

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M.T.

answers from Honolulu on

You have done the right thing and you cannot be afraid of them. You have rights too. Keep calling the police over and over and over and over till someone gets tired of it. In the mean time I would put my condo up for sale. If there are alot of vacancies, it probably won't sell but at least if it does.... you have an option to get out. If not, just keep calling the police. At some point they will have to get tired of getting called on and do no be afraid to send that letter. It needs to be sent. Those people have no regards for anyone else, why should you have any for them. Send the letters and keep calling the police. If any threats are ever made or they do anything to you, call the cops... keep on and on and on till it stops. If it is trashed in the mornings, call the owner of the property and tell him that you are selling your condo and you doubt if anyone will want in these condos with those wild animals there and the trash on the grounds.

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