My husband has his own business. He has his own studio in which he has guitar lessons. He has a business license stating that he can do lessons at his studio. He's the sole employee. He's been there for over a year. The unit he is renting used to be a part of one big single-floor business with three different outside entrances. The owner of the place decided they would split the one big place into three places and then rent them out to separate businesses. My husband was the first to rent one. He does well and he's the sole bread winner- he's an excellent teacher and musician.
it took a couple of months before they were able to find tenants for the other two spaces. Well, the second tenant is still there, they are right nest to my husband (separated by a locked interior door). They do tutoring for prospective college students. They have been there for almost a year. They have great communication with my husband. The third tenant was great, but he didn't have enough income coming through to keep the space so he left after 4 months or so.
NOW, there's a new tenant at that space. they have a photography studio... again, their space is only separated by my husband's space by a locked interior door. Both places can hear my husband's music lessons. Both tenants knew about this before they decided to move their business there. The spaces were meant to encourage "artists" to come, so they (the owners) were really excited when my husband was interested. It is a cute little busy town that's very "artsy"...
Anyways, the new tenants (who have been there for a month now) want to move my husband's lessons around their schedule for when they have client consulting about their photographs. My husband has had the same schedule since he moved, adding a few new students. They do lesson's regularly, and pay $70 a hour for their lessons. The lessons aren't loud. just loud enough to hear the notes- which is also loud enough to be heard in the next room. The tutoring tenant has put something against the door (and my husband has done the same) to block the noise somewhat. It is not "loud", though. Ive been in the waiting room during lessons, and they are definitely not too loud!
I say, they knew they were moving next to someone who does lessons... I also say that it is NOT too loud, and my husband has also told them to please let him know if a particular lesson is too loud and they will turn it down if they can. They have not done so. They have only called him on the phone when they are not there to ask him to move his lessons around. I do not think this is fair at all. Also, my husband has about 50 lessons a week... they... have maybe had ONE consultation since they moved in. SO.... What do you all neutrally positioned people think of this? Thanks In Advance!
ADDED: They have also mentioned that he talks too loud when he is with students! SO....
OH MY.. things have changed for me, now I truly don't Give a **** about these neighbors. I asked my husband more questions about the situation while letting him know what you all have said, and I found out that they told him they didn't even know HOW he could pay for his place with just guitar lessons and they told him that the music will "scare" the clients away... while they complimented on a student's ability to play metallica well.... geesh. OH, and here's the biggest one: They do nude photography. NOT the classy kind, the kind that you find in porno mags. AND they have two kids that go to the same school as our kids (BIG coincidence seeing as they area where they work is 50 min away from our homes). WHOOP-TE-DO! we hit the jackpot:( :( Oh, and the kids come over all the time and make a racket next door at the business. LOVELY!!!!!
I have a gross feeling in my tummy:(
Okay. Now I'm in the moment where there's a lot of anger growing inside me. i really just can't stand it when people insult what my husband does. For one, they told us where they live- it happens to be a house that is not as all as nice as ours, in an area of the neighborhood that is far more un-safe than ours (we looked in that area before we bought our house 3 years ago- house prices were HALF of what they were a mile down the road where we live) and they want to ask how my husband can pay for it???? I mean, I think $70 an hour is very good pay. But goodness gracious it is TOTALLY NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS!!!!! Granted, he doesn't work a full 40 hours a week, but HOW DARE THEY insult his business???!!!!! I hate comparing what we have vs what they have etc, but it is what is thought of when someone questions how much you make.... I hate this side of me. I'm sorry, this has turned into a totally different thing for me now. :( :(
The tenant also has 15 second pauses between each word he says and asks the same question several times... He sounds so smart. How fun it is to have to work next to someone like that
The new tenant's request does not strike me as reasonable, especially considering he probably knew guitar lessons would be taking place next door. You might suggest he talk to the landlord/owner about additional soundproofing between the units.
Good luck.
Huh! Ignore them. I don't see why a photography session or consultation would be interrupted by guitar lessons. If it's that bad for them then they should pay to have their office sound-proofed.
I honestly think you and your husband should continue to do what is best for ya'll and his students. If you told them and they knew they were moving next door to someone who teaches lessons then there is nothing they need to do or say. If they had a problem with something then they should not have moved in next door at all. When we moved into our trailer park we were told that the people behind us play loud music a lot but we accepted it and moved in. Even though sometimes it gets pretty loud here, we dont complain or ask them to do it at certain times because we were told before we moved in. I wish you the best of luck.
Not your husband's problem. The photography studio needs to contact either the landlord or the mgmt. company (which ever one leased to them) and THEY are the ones to either provide better insulated walls or some type of sound barrier, or let the studio out of their lease.
The studio should have been told by the mgmt company about the sound level prior to renting - so yes, they should have know what they were getting into.
Your husband has every right to run his business w/ the existing schedule. He should not change his schedule to accommodate the studio. The disruption in schedule can cause a loss of clients and business!!
Your husband seems to be trying to help to resolve this issue the best he can - but it's not his job or responsibility to do so.
He needs to tell the studio that they should contact the mgmt. company or landlord w/ any complaints or demands that they have. Your husband has NO LEGAL obligation to rearrange his schedules, or to insulate the building for the studio. Of course he should still be civil, but he should definatley be firm about having the studio contact the mgmt. co. from now on.
To be on the safe side, have your husband check the lease that he signed to see what his responsibilities are.
Good luck - we have have rental homes and it's amazing the unreasonable demands some tenants make.
That's their tough luck. He was there first...His business and what he does is not a surprise...The tenants in the other office will hae to suck it up or move out. If you can't move the lessons which you shouldn't have to what is the financial hardship to you because they don't like the noise...
Stick to your guns.
I wouldn't move lessons around for them. He should tell them to speak to the landlord about some soundproofing. Tell them "Dude, this is my business. My clients are all ongoing relationships and it would put me at risk to keep yanking the schedule around based on when you have clients coming in. Your clients are either one time transactions or at least at a frequency that a repeat job is not going to occur again for awhile. I'll give you a copy of my schedule and you can plan accordingly."
I say its rude of the new tenants to expect your husband to rearrange his schedule for them. They like you said, knew what the other business were when they decided to move in theirs and its unfortunate that they obviously didnt take this into consideration in the first place, but it is not your husbands responsibility to accommodate them and their needs.
He was there first, they knew he was there, its their problem and as harsh as it sounds they need to find a solution for their problem. Its not up to your husband.
If they think it is too loud for when they have clients then they need to work around his schedule, and not the other way around.
I am with everyone else on this one. Your hubby has no requirement to meet their requests. Simply tell them " I am sorry that it is not possible to rearrange my schedule. Maybe you could talk to the landlord about adding some more sound proofing to the walls. " and let the land lord handle it.
I would give them a copy of his schedule and tell them this is my schedule if it changes, I will update you - if you do not want to do your consultations at a time when I am doing a lesson, then schedule at a down time on my schedule.....screw them! LOL ~
This is not at all your husband's problem. They know coming in they would be next door to a guitar place. Please tell your DH not to change a thing and don't feel a bit guilty about it.
And I like the advice you got to have the new tenanat arrange around your husbands schedule.
No, I wouldn't change anything. It sounds like your husband is doing what is reasonable, but these people are not. Just do what you've been doing and hopefully they will get used to it. :)
Why can't the new tenants have their consultations around your husband's guitar lessons? Your husband was there first, they knew about it, and they are the ones with a problem. Next time they ask, have your husband reverse the question back on them.
I would ask the landlord to shoot some sound muffling insulation in between the spaces.
They're nuts, don't get so worked up :-)
The photographer is SOL, in my humble opinion. Your husband isn't obligated to move around his schedule. What he could do, if he chooses, is give his business neighbors a weekly or monthly schedule so that they can book their consultations around it. His schedule should have no effect on the rest of their business.
If they continue, he needs to ask them to forward all of their complaints to the landlord AND your husband's lawyer in writing and that he'll have his lawyer look over his lease.
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I don't have any suggestions but I don't know why the neighbors clients would be annoyed by the music.
