3. No luck? This time you'll need to give your neighbor a letter informing them that you are willing to take this problem to landlord. A letter might look like this:

Dear Suzy Neighbor,

On January 5, 2000, I talked to you about excessive noise coming from your apartment. I informed you that Twister Parties lasting until 5am violate local noise laws, lease, and disrupt my sleep. I asked if you would please lower your volume or else move parties to a more reasonable hour. This request was ignored, and on January 11, 2000, I provided you with a copy of local noise laws and our lease - both of which provide me with a right to "quiet enjoyment." Once again, my request has been ignored, and if by January 20th, nothing has changed, I will need to approach landlord with this problem. I hope we reach an agreement before I am forced to contact landlord.

Thank You For Your Time, Joe Tenant

4. Still no luck? It's time to tattle. No one wants to be Narc... but this may be only way to live peacefully. Make a copy of letter, and discuss problem with your landlord. For additional support (and so you don't feel like such a tattle tail) you might want to ask your other neighbors if noise is bothering them, too. You might be able to get a petition signed by other neighbors, and arguing with a group will typically lead to faster results. Regardless of whether or not you can get support from your neighbors, if noise is bothering you, don't just learn to live with it! Living with excessive noise could actually be a threat to your health.

Once problem is in landlord's hands, you can de-stress a little bit. It's amazing how quiet those parties will get once host has to worry about eviction! And if noise-maker doesn't listen to landlord, maybe your new neighbors will respect "quiet enjoyment" law a little better than last ones!

# If property has been abandoned

This way, in event of a tenants death or unexplained leave, landlord can get in to apartment and prepare it for new renters.

When is it unreasonable for my landlord to enter?

# When he or she simply wants to check up on you

In most states, it's alright for landlord to inspect property. However, “inspecting” does not mean he or she can come in and see what's on your television or what new clothes you've hung in your closet. Just because you're living in a rented home or apartment, doesn't mean that your landlord has full access into your private life. The landlord should only make sure that you are following rules i.e. no-pet policy, and that you don't have any leaks or damages throughout property.

# At 2am on a Monday night

Unless it is due to an emergency, or by your request, landlord cannot enter your home at an unreasonable hour. (Provided there's a clause in your lease regarding this issue.)

# If you have denied your landlord access

The landlord cannot legally enter your apartment or home if you've told him or her not to. However, according to Nolo.com, if you repeatedly deny your landlord access with no good reason, he can legally enter anyway (provided he does so in a peaceful manner at a reasonable time of day.) If tenant continually denies access to landlord after he or she has met with tenant, landlord may have legal grounds to begin eviction process.

As mentioned before, laws concerning entrance of your landlord into your property varies from state to state. To find out about landlord/tenant laws in your state, visit www.tenant.net, or find your state's statutes at your local law or public library. You'll find what you're looking for in index under “Landlord-Tenant” and then under “privacy.” You might also want to contact your local tenant association for further information.