F*ck renting. A place for ranting and advice.

It depends what you're cleaning.  If it's metal, most solvents should work (3M adhesive solvent, even a little lighter fluid in a pinch).  Fabric furniture might be hosed.

You have my sympathies. I am a first time renter, and also have a water damage spot on my ceiling. I told my land lord about this months ago, and nothing...

A few weeks ago people suddenly showed up at my apartment claiming to be "roofers"... I was unprepared to receive them, and so didn't answer the door and sent them away

It turns out they were roofers, but I'd not received 24 hrs notice of their arrival so it did me no good

Then the roofers were supposed to come with the land lord yesterday, and I spent all day at my moms house so I wouldn't have to run into them

Guess what? They didn't come, and we have heard nothing as to when I might expect them 

I don't care that much other than the spot is ugly and getting worse, but already my relationship with my landlord is off to a bad start. The handle came off my back door and now I am trapped too, in case of a fire :/

On my cell phone, my landlord's number is saved under the name "Slumlord."

Chewers of Chud:

I come to you with a renting conundrum, and your timely assistance would be greatly appreciated

I live on the top floor of a three story Victorian house. The bottom two floors are taken up with ethnic Bosnians. I am a private person, and try not to interact with my neighbors much. I came from a house where I was all on my own, and so it kind of freaks me out to have other people living and moving around one level down. I said hello to them once, and mentioned that "I'm sure we'll see each other around!", and then promptly did everything I could to avoid ever talking to them again

When I first moved in, I noticed that in certain rooms, I could hear muffled conversations through the floor. It kind of freaked me out. As a consequence, I avoid ever playing music or watching videos on my iPad from my bedroom past a certain hour (where the floor seems thinnest). My TV is in the living room, and 99% of the time, no sound ever comes out of it since I watch stuff with my V-MODA CROSSFADE LP over ear headphones on

Sometimes, if I'm eating dinner, depending on the hour I'll turn on the TV sound at either a low level or a very low level, but I never leave it on for more than 20 minutes before plugging my headphones back in

Now, with that basic info out of the way, I'll get to the heart of the matter: I'm a night owl. A late night owl

I'm trying to change this and adapt my ways to live life at better hours, but it's hard when I've been living a nocturnal existence for years on end. I'll play games at night, or watch movies, and this involves walking around at times. I try my best to pad about as silently as possible without literally tip toeing (I don't walk flat footed, I keep my heels up)

While I'm often working, napping or sedentary during the day, it's at night that I tend to cook myself dinner. This is because it usually takes me a long time to work up an appetite to eat. When I do cook late, I try and do my best to avoid clattering dishes, ETC, and then I always leave my dishes to clean up the next day. Sometimes I'll put on low volume chill out music while I cook, but not loud enough that it could be heard from any room other than the kitchen, or often even above the sound of food cooking

Now, before I continue, some key facts:
 

1) My neighbors also keep odd hours

They seem to regularly exit (or perhaps come home) at 2 30 AM, and then I hear people leave at other times too. I hear them talking, and moving about late at night. They march up and down the stairs of the vestibule (which my front door opens onto) and slamming the door to their apartment and then the door to the outside

It is worth noting that if I were keeping normal hours, this could potentially wake me up


2) My neighbors fight

I've heard them fighting with each other, and earlier this week, around 3 AM or so, there was prolonged shouting followed by what I believe was a sobbing fit


3) My neighbors are in violation of the lease, by way of cat ownership

Apparently the previous tenant in my apartment was friendly with the beast, and it would come up to visit her. I politely declined such visits when they mentioned the situation with the cat, and otherwise have kept my mouth shut. With that said, their cat reeks with a choking stench that stinks up our shared stairwell. There have been times where it's literally caused me to gag walking past their door up to my apartment. It's gotten slightly better in recent weeks (no clue why), but the carpets in our shared stairway are covered in hair, and sometimes the cat will spring out at me from the second landing when I am going home at night, scaring the beejeesus out of me. My mom has mentioned that we could complain to the landlord, but my philosophy is to "not make waves", and so I light scented candles near my door to keep out the odor of their illegal pet

The point is though, if I wanted, I could either force them to leave, or force their cat to leave
 

So, with that in mind, I do sometimes make noise at night. Last evening this involved cooking dinner from 3-4 AM (again, as quietly as possible, with a minimum of clatter), and then putting GANGS OF NEW YORK on at an extremely low volume while I ate my dinner

I also dropped a controller on the floor around 3, which I'll note just for the purposes of fairness. Sometimes I'm clumsy.. What can I say? I'm human

Anyway, when I finished my dinner I turned off the TV, and proceeded to gently slide a little squat table I use for food away from the front of my chair off to the side, so I could extend my recliner and return to reading

That's when my downstairs neighbors began to pound, with violent force, on their ceiling/my floor (right under my chair). They pounded like eight or nine times, hard enough to shake the floor, and certainly MUCH louder than any noise I was making. I heard the downstairs guy's wife plead "Stop it!", which I am 90% certain was in reference to the angry pounding

After that I was pretty freaked out and didn't move for a while. What I did do was google this problem, to see what the general public opinion was on how to proceed. I read opinions both from people with noisy neighbor problems, and people with "angry ceiling pounding neighbor" problems. I read several sources, and the general opinion was that you shouldn't be excessively noisy late at night, but that also if someone has a problem, they should knock on your door, or wait till the next morning and write you a letter. Pounding shouldn't be the first step

Now.. I don't want to cause anyone any problems... but I *am* a night person. I'm of the opinion that I have a right to be moving around my apartment and doing stuff, regardless of the time of day. I'm utterly silent the great majority of the time, and if I happen to eat dinner late? That's just how I roll. I'm working to eat earlier, but it's taking effort

 What if I worked a job that meant my only free time was at night? That's not the case, but the crazy hours I do work often result in my sleep schedule getting out of wack. Am I not allowed to live my life just because I happen to live it at certain times of day that bother them? Again, they're up late too, and if I went to sleep early, their late night stuff would potentially be waking *me* up. And again, they're in violation with the cat

I'm not unsympathetic, but I don't also feel that I'm totally in the wrong

Now, already, I've come up with a plan in three parts and typed it out on my iPad:

1) "No music after 12 without headphones, for any reason"

2) "No TV after 12 without headphones, for any reason"

3) "Take care.. beware", a rule inspired by Bella in ED WOOD, which essentially means try and not make noise if possible
 
But with those rules having been stated, I'm not willing to say that I'm never going to cook late at night, or life my life at the hours best for me

I checked my mail box this morning, and my door, and there was no note or letter from them

I don't intend to follow up on the banging, and will simply abide by the three edicts for late night behavior I've set down for myself. Hopefully that'll do the trick

With all that said, I'd like to hear some Chewers weigh in on this situation, who is right, who is wrong, and how best to proceed

 

Before I was in the house I'm in now I've rented all over the country, and at times world, so I've got a bit of experience.

First, I'm not sure what them being "Ethnic Bosnians" has to do with anything but that's a whole other can of worms with you.

He was probably hammering on the floor for something that, in reality, has very little to do with you. When you live in such close proximity to people you don't know acting out like an asshole seems to be a popular pass time. The girlfriend telling him to stop might just be him guilt tripping her. You said you've heard them fight, she probably doesn't want to be "embarrassed" that the neighbors can hear it and he's being a jerk and pounding on your roof for whatever little noise you're making when he's mad to give her a hard time and show how alpha he is.

It's something that's happened just about everywhere I've lived and in the end it, almost, always boils down to them having a bad night or whatever and acting out. If he's a normal human being he's probably hoping he doesn't see you. Not for any fear of reprisal but for being a douche and a little ashamed. 

Sometimes you'll get the very rare breed of troll that just has to complain about every little thing. Typically an older woman or man that's single. In that situation you just have to throw up your hands and say, "Fuck it."

Be yourself, live your life. If you aren't blasting Straight Oughtta Compton at 3am with the walls rattling you should be fine. There's a certain amount of neighborly noise you have to expect when you live in any sort of city/apartment setting.

If you were anyone else I might be more concerned with your general safety but, and I'm not trying to be an asshole, you seem pretty sheltered. You shouldn't feel afraid in your own home though.

Fuck the people downstairs Kate. They should be thankful that the sound is you dropping your controller and not Serb sniper fire. Everyone needs to makes allowances when you live around other people. That's what a community does. If they don't like noise they should have gotten there before you and rented the upstairs. I know going in if I rent the downstairs I'm going to hear some noise.

We're in Week Three of both dryers in the laundry room being broken. I made the mistake last weekend of thinking they'd been repaired because the "Out of Order" signs had been removed. Nope. Some joker had just taken them off, hoping a poor sap named Bradito would toss in a heap of wet clothes and tumble them needlessly for an hour. Ha-ha!

I emailed the Slumlord yesterday to get an ETA on when the dryers would be repaired; they'd sent out a notice almost a month ago that said repair work was going to be done on the dryers. Slumlord emailed me back and said, "When did you first notify us that the dryers were broken?" No, no, YOU told us they were broken, fella. Did you forget? Do you need to tattoo things on your thigh to remember them?

I should move. Sad part is, this is the least pain-in-the-ass place I've lived to date. Last apartment had roaches. Big motherfuckers, too. It was like "Starship Troopers" in that place.

LA is an atrocious rental market.

My wife and I rent in Encino and it's been great.  I guess we got lucky or if there is a big different from LA renting to renting in the valley.

I lived in Hollywood for about five years when I was penniless...penniless mostly because I lived in Hollywood for about five years. I remember one evening, the unit two floors below mine was on fire. I didn't think much of the massive plumes of smoke billowing past my window at first because my neighbors sometimes barbeque, and no Hollywood asshole can barbeque without using an entire bottle of starter fluid, creating an inferno that scrapes the heavens. But curiousity finally got the better of me. I went downstairs to investigate and saw tongues of flame flicking out the window of the first-floor unit. 911 was called. Fortunately, no one was inside, and the fire was put out before it could spread to the other units and destroy the worldly possessions/lives of all the failed actors who lived in the building.

I have some friends that live near Hollywood. The place is a hell/shit hole.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdBighead 

Fuck the people downstairs Kate. They should be thankful that the sound is you dropping your controller and not Serb sniper fire. Everyone needs to makes allowances when you live around other people. That's what a community does. If they don't like noise they should have gotten there before you and rented the upstairs. I know going in if I rent the downstairs I'm going to hear some noise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGhost 

Before I was in the house I'm in now I've rented all over the country, and at times world, so I've got a bit of experience.

 

First, I'm not sure what them being "Ethnic Bosnians" has to do with anything but that's a whole other can of worms with you.

 

He was probably hammering on the floor for something that, in reality, has very little to do with you. When you live in such close proximity to people you don't know acting out like an asshole seems to be a popular pass time. The girlfriend telling him to stop might just be him guilt tripping her. You said you've heard them fight, she probably doesn't want to be "embarrassed" that the neighbors can hear it and he's being a jerk and pounding on your roof for whatever little noise you're making when he's mad to give her a hard time and show how alpha he is.

 

It's something that's happened just about everywhere I've lived and in the end it, almost, always boils down to them having a bad night or whatever and acting out. If he's a normal human being he's probably hoping he doesn't see you. Not for any fear of reprisal but for being a douche and a little ashamed. 

 

Sometimes you'll get the very rare breed of troll that just has to complain about every little thing. Typically an older woman or man that's single. In that situation you just have to throw up your hands and say, "Fuck it."

 

Be yourself, live your life. If you aren't blasting Straight Oughtta Compton at 3am with the walls rattling you should be fine. There's a certain amount of neighborly noise you have to expect when you live in any sort of city/apartment setting.

 

If you were anyone else I might be more concerned with your general safety but, and I'm not trying to be an asshole, you seem pretty sheltered. You shouldn't feel afraid in your own home though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleeplesslumber 

I'm going to go with TheGhost on this Kate. Unless they start a line of real communication concerning noise levels at night, there's a good chance that the banging had less to do with you an more to do with a bad night or a stressful job. When I get really stressed the weirdest things can set me off, usually stuff that has nothing to do with the cause fo the stress.

Just wanted to offer my heart felt thanks for the advice you guys were so prompt to provide me with. I wouldn't say I've lead a sheltered life (I've been through some stuff in my time), but I am certainly new to apartment life and so I didn't really know what to make of this new animosity with my neighbors or how to proceed from here. Reading over what you guys had to say has taken a big weight off, as far as I'm concerned, as I truly was worried and upset over the whole incident. I don't want to think I'm so annoying that I cause others to lash out in anger, so when you guys say it may not have been all my fault, it's a big relief

I mentioned the responses I got here to my mom this afternoon when discussing it with her, and she generally agreed with what you guys said and felt I wasn't in the wrong. She thought my three new rules for late night living were good ones, and beyond that, I'm not really terribly out of line

If it was the GANGS OF NEW YORK ("I'll teach you to speak English with this fucking knife!", what I had playing about 4 minutes before the pounding ), then I feel badly about it, but my new headphones only rule should take care it in the future

If the sound of me living my life and moving about was what set this off, then I'm not at fault at all, IMHO

Either way, with all sincerity thanks for answering my questions, it's been a big help and this sense of community is what makes CHUD special

Cheers!

BTW, I just mentioned their Bosnianness because I find it interesting, not because it has anything to do with last nights events. My neighbors in the house next door are Bosnian or Russian or something too (at least a few of them are), so I am intrigued that I've somehow moved into the Little Bosnia of sleepy western mass

PS I'll keep you updated if there are any further developments in this front

UPDATE: no further knocking, and my sympathy for their position has only decreased since the knocking incident. Not the way the endear yourself to me

I checked the lease, and there are no sound regulations ETC, so fuck 'em

BTW: any further advice for apartment sound proofing? I don't like the idea of my neighbors being able to listen in on my private doings 

EDIT: they've got me watching my every footfall now and it sucks. I am partly of a mind to just burn my bridges with them and send a letter that includes a copy of my lease, along with a note that says "nothing about sound, but I notice there are no pets allowed in the building!"

Kate, you need to learn to choose your battles wisely in life. Remember that....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agent Z 

Kate, you need to learn to choose your battles wisely in life. Remember that....

I agree, and I don't think I'll send that letter.. But I like knowing I have it as the proverbial 'nuclear option' if they continue to harass me through the floorboards. Their cat is an Achilles heel, and severely limits their ability to (pun intended) make a stink over my sound issues

Quote:

Originally Posted by Princess Kate 

I don't want to think I'm so annoying that I cause others to lash out in anger

If ever there was a sentence that needed to be sigged and responded to with a scanners.gif....

After your first post, I have to agree with Z. If you don't want some shit to deal with the obvious thing to NOT do is some silly, passive aggressive bullshit like putting a note on their door, letter in the mailbox, etc.

If you continue to rent throughout your life this won't be the last time someone beats on the wall, ceiling or floor and at times you have to take a live and let live approach. If the guy was cornering you in the hallway, making sexual or physical threats of harm then you'd opt for something heavier than, "Hey you have a cat!" The fact is most of the time if people have an animal they'll be told to get rid of it, which they will, or have to pay some fee and keep it. You've got a rubber band, not a nuke. It's going to annoy someone but not get rid of them.

If you have hardwood floors there's nothing you can do about noise outside buying some throw rugs to pad things a bit or go all ghetto and start stapling egg cartons to the walls..won't help with the floor though.

The fact you're still focusing on someone knocking on the floor is kind of odd. Don't be so torn up about it. If the guy hasn't been hitting it chalk the whole thing down to a bad night and let it go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGhost 

After your first post, I have to agree with Z. If you don't want some shit to deal with the obvious thing to NOT do is some silly, passive aggressive bullshit like putting a note on their door, letter in the mailbox, etc.

 

If you continue to rent throughout your life this won't be the last time someone beats on the wall, ceiling or floor and at times you have to take a live and let live approach. If the guy was cornering you in the hallway, making sexual or physical threats of harm then you'd opt for something heavier than, "Hey you have a cat!" The fact is most of the time if people have an animal they'll be told to get rid of it, which they will, or have to pay some fee and keep it. You've got a rubber band, not a nuke. It's going to annoy someone but not get rid of them.

 

If you have hardwood floors there's nothing you can do about noise outside buying some throw rugs to pad things a bit or go all ghetto and start stapling egg cartons to the walls..won't help with the floor though.

 

The fact you're still focusing on someone knocking on the floor is kind of odd. Don't be so torn up about it. If the guy hasn't been hitting it chalk the whole thing down to a bad night and let it go.

my main issue at this point is the pounding was very angry, which has left me second guessing my every footstep late at night, out of worry some enraged dude is going to start slamming (not just knocking) on the floor

It freaked me out. I'm not used to that sort of thing, and my research has shown me their response was atypical and overly hostile

Plus now they seem to be giving me the evil eye

I guess its hard to explain to someone who didn't live through it, but I was just getting comfortable in my new place and now it no longer feels like home : /

We're private people so we bought an old house that was put up for sale in the small town we live in. First house for both of us. It came with a washer and dryer, as well as a refrigerator. Only thing missing was a microwave, and we got one that was on sale. Only thing that bothers me is the dog that barks next door, but it's not often, and that's a very minor annoyance.

I considered renting, but we didn't find any places we liked, and this place spoke to both of us. Plus the mortgage is ridiculously low. It's basically a rent payment. We really lucked out there.

Hope everything gets sorted out for you, SleeplessSlumber.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spook 

LA is an atrocious rental market.

Not to hijack the thread or anything - but the wife & I are going to be out there in December for a few days looking at places to move into January 1.  We know the areas we want to live in - but any advice on what to look out for...? Specifically, this talk of roaches disturbs me.  Had to deal with them growing up in Florida and would rather not do that again. Is there a way to tell if an apartment you're looking at has a roach problem?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan C.B. 

Not to hijack the thread or anything - but the wife & I are going to be out there in December for a few days looking at places to move into January 1.  We know the areas we want to live in - but any advice on what to look out for...? Specifically, this talk of roaches disturbs me.  Had to deal with them growing up in Florida and would rather not do that again. Is there a way to tell if an apartment you're looking at has a roach problem?

PM me what areas.  I'll be glad to give you some advice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan C.B. 
Is there a way to tell if an apartment you're looking at has a roach problem?

Well, I can help you narrow it down - don't move into my apartment complex.  We have a roach problem.  We also have a construction site next door, so this is probably an unnecessary warning (neither of these things were known problems when we moved in about 6 months ago).  My landlord does pay for an exterminator once a month, so that's something, but the little suckers still seem to crawl their way back towards the end of the month.  Not sure what to do about it.  Luckily, they're small ones, so they don't freak me out too much to kill them when I see them. 

And, Kate, for what it's worth, I've been the downstairs neighbor to a loud upstairs neighbor before, and, in comparison, you sound like a saint.  The would bang around so loud up there it sounded like they were running an obstacle course in their apartment.  I went up once to ask what on earth they were doing that could be so loud (there was a thump loud enough to rattle my apartment), and they said they had a dog.  Must've been a big-ass dog.  Luckily, they moved out pretty soon after, and my new neighbors have never been a problem.  I can occasionally hear them moving around, but it's nothing so loud that I can't tune out.  The only negative is that their remote seems to work on our tv - it sometimes turn off/on or changes channels on it's own.  Either that, or we have a ghost.  Anyway, point is, your neighbors don't seem to know how good they have it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleeplesslumber 

If your TV is controlled by a Infrared remote you have ghosts.

Ah, crap.  What the hell is their problem with me watching The Daily Show?