How to Deal with a Noisy NeighborWritten by dan the roommate man
Your heart starts pounding... breathing becomes labored, and your head starts to ache. You wipe sweat from your forehead and try to gather your thoughts. Have you just had a heart attack? Not at all. This is your body's reaction to excessive noise."Studies of physiological and psychological effects of noise...indicate that protracted noise can impair one's hearing, dry mouth, dilate pupils, raise cholesterol, elevate blood pressure, burden heart. Constant noise can bring on irritability, depression, aggression. It can interfere with learning ability of children," N.R. Kleinfield writes in article New York Quiet? Never. Quieter? Maybe. Listen up. published in New York Times. Apartment renters are even more susceptible to hearing loss because noise levels are intensified in smaller spaces. Once sound enters apartment, wall connecting you to your neighbor vibrates - acting like a giant speaker. If you share a wall with a noisy neighbor, you should take these steps - in order - to try and solve problem: 1. Tell neighbor - politely - that you can hear their stereo/TV/voices/running screaming kids/etc. There's a good chance they don't realize that they are being too loud. Ideally problem will be fixed, and you can rest easy. Write down date on which you confronted your neighbor - you never know when you might need it again. 2. If you receive a negative response, or no response at all, approach your neighbors again, but this time supply them with a copy of your lease. Chances are, there is a clause within lease stating your right to "quiet enjoyment." You might also give them a copy of your local noise laws. Sometimes there are fines for excess noise. You can find your local noise laws at city hall, a public law library or public library. Give your neighbor one dated copy of lease and/or ordinance laws and keep a second copy (these are good for your records if problem continues.)
| | Landlord's Right to EnterWritten by dan the roommate man
When you move in to a rental property, you agree to let your landlord handle many of repair and maintenance problems. You also agree to lose some of your privacy rights. Unless your landlord is incredibly talented, he, or one of people responsible for maintaining property, must enter your home in order to make repairs and give inspections.When you're drawing up lease, it's important that you include a clause regarding landlord's right to enter your property. Without it, your landlord may be able to enter without any notice as he or she wishes. The 1994Boulder Model Lease suggests following clause: "Resident shall permit owner/agent to enter premises at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice for purpose of making necessary or convenient repairs or reasonable inspections, or to show premises to prospective residents, purchasers, or lenders. Entry may be made without prior notice only if owner/agent reasonably believes that an emergency exists, such as a fire or broken water pipe, or that premises have been abandoned." Keeping this clause in mind, there are times when it is perfectly acceptable for your landlord to enter property, and times when it isn't. When is it okay for my landlord to enter? # In event of an emergency i.e. a fire, a water/gas leak Obviously, I doubt landlord would let a fire burn down entire complex just because he didn't give you 24 hours notice that he was going to enter and put it out. The same goes for any other event that puts you or rest of renters in physical danger. # With your permission This is another no-brainer. If you tell your landlord it's okay to come in, he or she can't get in trouble for entering! # To show property to prospective renters/purchasers/lenders Whether you want to move out or not, if your lease is up and landlord has decided he wants to rent property to new tenants, he has right to show property to other people (provided he gives you at least 24 hours notice.)
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