As homeowners, it is not unusual to get calls from neighbors complaining that one of our tenants is being loud. One of the basic things we’re asked about based on excessive noise is what goal to do about it.
The reality is that, as agents, we are not accountable for the activities of our tenants and are under no obligation to respond just because a complaint has been filed. When living in a rental home, tenants are expected to not disturb their neighbors’ quiet, comfort, or privacy. In other words, the neighbors are guaranteed quiet enjoyment of their land.
People may want to participate in many events that make a loud noise yet would not be considered implausible. For example, if your neighbors wish to hold a party and have loud music playing, that is not causing a nuisance complaint as long as the level isn’t unacceptable and doesn’t run on deep into the morning.
Here are the perfect ways you can take as a landlord when faced with a loud noise complaint.
Conduct Your Research- Is the Complaint Legitimate?
Whenever you get a loud complaint, carefully examine the issue to see if it’s a real complaint or one focused on oversensitivity to unfair expectations. If the tenant began his jam band practice at midnight, it would be distressing for his neighbors and likely be too loud.
But if a tenant is wandering around upstairs and there is an ensuing footstep noise, the neighborhood can’t avoid that everyday noise. You can make simple adjustments, such as laying or installing a mat.
How to Address and Assess a Noise Complaint
It’s essential to reply very away to a noise complaint and, ideally, visit the location to hear and see the problem for yourself. The property owner can avoid overreactions with a prompt answer. Please do not dismiss the renters’ complaints. Instead, carefully listen to them to demonstrate empathy. Describe their alternatives to the noise complaint and stay in touch with them until the problem is remedied. Follow up with your renter to ensure the owner handled the issue properly and promptly if a noise complaint needs to be forwarded to police enforcement.
The invalidity of the Noise Complaint
Even if you have done your due diligence and determined that a noise complaint is unfounded, you can still reassure worried neighbors and assist them in finding a resolution. For instance, if a tenant complained that a neighbor was often having parties when, in fact, the neighbor was merely displeased with a single, tiny gathering on New Year’s Eve. Here, you should merely affirm good neighborly manners and listen empathically.
Create a Silent Hours
Creating a specification regarding quiet hours is a great way to prevent problems with your tenants disturbing others with the same excessive noises. Tenants can use quiet hours to determine when they should be especially considerate of their noise levels. For instance, quiet times could start from 10 pm to 7 am on weekdays but starting 10 pm to 9 am on Saturdays. However, this does not grant your tenants the authority to make excessive noise outside the quiet hour window. Direct definitions of what constitutes excessive noise, such as loud parties, mowing the lawn at odd hours, and blasting music.
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