It's Times Like These That I Wish I Had....
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
October 16, 2009 12:33am CST
......My OWN home to live in. As many of my friends know, I live in an apartment and have lived here for a real long time. Now I know many of you who do have homes, may have concerns about mortgage payments, or dealing with wacky next door neighbors, but at least you don't have to put up with crap from neighbors who live all around you only a wall or ceiling away...especially like the ditzes that live over me.
When they first moved in years and years ago, the jerks once had the TV on, AC AND then used the microwave all at the same time...it blew OUR lights out. Then there were the years and years of having Niagara Falls coming down in the kitchen. The woman had (no longer does) a washing machine...which is ILLEGAL to have in these apartments...the water attachment would come lose and buckets of water would come down into my kitchen. ruining food stuffs I had in my cabinets, like boxes of pasta, bags of sugar and flour, etc. Did the super do anything when we complained, did he tell her NOT to have a washing machine as it's illegal..NO, why? Cause he has the hots for her.
Anyway, now I'm noticing the paint is starting to peel off my bedroom ceiling and it's due to them upstairs as when she and her daughter walk around in the apartment honestly they sound like a pack of elephants. The paint was custom color paint that I MIXED and took hours to thoroughly mix right to get the color I wanted and I only painted the bedroom about two years ago. Yes, I could do the old, bang up at them thing with a broom (standard fair in the city apartment lifestyle) but that would only make the paint peel off more. Then just tonight, at around 11:30 P.M. they start vacuuming...like who the hell vacuums at that hour? 
Yes I could complain to her, but she STILL after all these years doesn't speak a word of English and the daughter who does isn't always home--and like I said the super (who does speak Spanish) wouldn't do anything as he has the hots for the woman.
So forgive my rant, but do any of you have to put up with real azzzholes for neighbors..have they done damage to your home/apartment?
Yes I could complain to her, but she STILL after all these years doesn't speak a word of English and the daughter who does isn't always home--and like I said the super (who does speak Spanish) wouldn't do anything as he has the hots for the woman.
So forgive my rant, but do any of you have to put up with real azzzholes for neighbors..have they done damage to your home/apartment?14 people like this
41 responses
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
16 Oct 09
Oh I had all that years ago but not now thanks goodness.
Once we lived above the landladys daughter and baby.
My hubbys feet would be beet red when taking off his boots and was very painful walking across the floor with sand on it and there was always sand on it for it would blow in from outside all the time.
Wel she said when he walked across the floor it woke up the baby.
hmmm
was othre words and we ended up moving and then landlady wasnt happy about that either lol
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Oct 09
I related elsewhere here, that one time there was this woman who moved in under us...she was some kind of relative of the landlord's and kept complaining about us...we never had wild loud parties, never played the TV or music loud, but according to her she had "sensitive" ears. She would bang up on her ceiling for us merely walking around in our apt....and no we weren't loud heavy walkers either--thankfully she moved out after awhile but what a putz she was
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
16 Oct 09
Oh yes I have had azzzholes as neighbours! I have lived in many rented places before I got married and have come across all sorts believe me. I think I mentioned the ones that had a punching bag attached to my balcony; they lived below me and if loud music all night during the week wasn’t enough, they would use their punching bag then too causing me to wake up to what I initially thought was an earthquake!
Was I happy when they left!
I don’t really know what you can do about this Pye especially if moving is out of the question, besides why should you move because of a painful neighbour? I quite like Thea’s suggestions (LOL) and I can’t think of any more that would keep you on the right side of the law.
Do you know anyone else who speaks her language that could translate for you?
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Oct 09
Yes sometimes we have to endure real nutcases for neighbors. There used to be a woman that lived underneath us. She was a relative of the landlord and claimed she had "sensitive" ears. Now we never had loud parties, never made any noise of any kind...yet she would bang up on her ceiling to let us know we were too noisy...the crime? Walking in our apartment...even if we walked on tiptoe to make sure we were quiet she'd bang up at us...For years I thought of getting my revenge by getting a pogo stick and purposely jump up and down on it...LOL...ah, alas the jerk moved out finally...
2 people like this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
17 Oct 09
It reminds of the one neighbour we had when we lived in Italy; she used to bang on her ceiling if the cat played with a rubber ball which was noiseless on the floor! Some people are just pains in the proverbial and should just go away!
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45437)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
16 Oct 09
I feel for ya. I live in a row house, and have had my share of neighbors from hell. The past two years the place next door was vacant, so it was nice, but now there's a young woman just moved in this month. So far, so goo, but the walls are thin and for such a little thing, she sure treads heavily.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Oct 09
The woman upstairs is a petite thing...like I said she sure sounds like a pack of elephants when she walks around--and she must have high heels glued to her feet and wears them all the time
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
16 Oct 09
Know what you mean. I just moved from a place where the woman above us was so loud it was like living under a cross between a basketball court and a construction site. She was abouat 60 and a small woman but seemed like she had pulled up the carpet and was stomping around all the time. I heard banging and sawing and literally seemed like everything she ever picked up... she would drop, so all day this pound noise from the heavy object dropping. Sometimes I could swear she had a bowling ball cause as it dropped...it would also roll along the floor. At night...her movie went off at 10pm and she'd go to her bedroom that was above mine and the banging and pounding went on till 11:30 literally every night. And during the night, sounded like she was in a bunk bed as I'd hear this loud THUD and then hear her footsteps to the bathroom, and the toilet flush.
I did the broom on the ceiling a few times, but she just stomped back. I complained to the management many times, but they didn't do anything. Oh, they said they'd talk to her, but you know she is n't going to fess up to it. I could even hear her TV in the one bedroom... I could mute mine and surf the channels and find the channel she was listening to. I complained about this as it used to be in the bedroom over mine.. she moved her tv to the other room after that so obviously she was making the noise.
But you might call the cops for noise after legal "noise hours". In my town you can make noise until 10pm, then it has to stop. And you can't make any before 7am. I have called on neighbors when I lived in houses... and they'd come out and break up the party.
But as a renter, we have to be careful.. we can get a 30 Pay or Quit. THe landlord doesn't have to give you a reason, but if you take him to court he has to have a legal valid one. Good luck with however you can handle it.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Oct 09
I'm not exactly sure the time frame when loud noise is supposed to stop here, certainly not as early as 10 at night though and there are Loud Noise Laws but geared more to those people who have loud parties until the wee small hours of the morning (like another ditz neighbor we used to have and had regular parties going on.)---don't forget...I live in the "City That Never Sleeps"--New York...What I really hate is construction noise that starts REAL early and these are from city agencies--oh and don't forget the garbage collectors that like to pick up garbage real early in the morning (like 3 a.m.)--and I swear they make a career out of purposely being noisier than they need to be
@Raven7317 (691)
• United States
16 Oct 09
Hi Pye, Oh I feel your pain! I once lived in an apartment, on the second floor; it was only a two unit place, but the people downstairs were the owner's sister and her family... So their apartment was really nice, mine, was an obviously thrown together convert unit.... They had a washer/dryer and everytime she did laundry, I had NO water pressure... and it seemed she did laundry EVERY time I wanted to shower! Also, they had control of the heat, so my apartment was always freezing! The water pressure issue, I couldn't do anything about, but I raised he*l about the heat issue... It's illegal for a tenant to NOT have control over the heat in their own living quarters - or the heat must be maintained at a certain level at all times during winter months... I woke up some mornings and my apartment was 56 degrees! The other issue was the house had a screened in front porch, but both front entrances were thru the porch... They used to lock the porch at night - forcing me to walk around back to the UNLIT back entrance to my place... I raised a stink over this too and it was eventually fixed, but only after months of complaining and I finally started to withhold paying the rent! It worked, but I moved out after a year or so...
If you're having so many issues that the Super won't address, I'd go directly to the owner... Check with the housing authority and see if there's any legal recourse... Then with hold rent until it's fixed - but make sure you put the rent in an escro acct - that's the only way you can legally withhold rent without being evicted... Best of luck! I hope you find the answers, it's terrible to feel so trapped in a home you love!
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Oct 09
The owner of our building doesn't do crap either. One evening while I was fixing dinner I heard loud yelling from this one neighbor yelling at our super in the downstairs area. Apparently she had some bad leak from the upstairs apt for over THREE weeks, and she's the type to complain to the owner's office daily and nothing was done until recently. Our landlord is a slumlord and the super is an azzkissing yes man to the landlord. Sheesh
1 person likes this
@hexeduser22 (7253)
• Philippines
16 Oct 09
Maybe you should try to look for another apartment or maybe you could just wait for the daughter to come back and complain. Gather other neighbors that actually is disturbed and annoyed by that certain family's activities. If alone, I think you could do nothing to change things because as you said the owner of the apartment have the hots for the woman.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Oct 09
Moving would be definitely out of the question. My rent is relatively low since I've lived here for so long, while the average rent is over $1,000 a month. Also, her activities wouldn't be noticed by others or affected by her goings on. The daughter is hardly ever home, or in and out all the time, so never know when she's around
2 people like this
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
16 Oct 09
I could just imagine the kind of feeling you're having right now. I know transferring house is the best option but as you've said it's not apt this time. So you can discuss this with your area's leader or officer who can mediate to stop that mess.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
16 Oct 09
I have just started the process of taking a neighbor to Small Claims Court and suing her for $500.00 the cost of replacing a section of my back yard fence. She has planted Jasmine vine in her yard and has allowed it to grow wild and it had destroyed my fence. Over the years the vines have grown to a diameter of approx 5 inches and split my fence in into pieces.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Oct 09
Ahhh..aren't neighbors wonderful...NOT. Glad you're taking that neighbor to court for that damage done
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
16 Oct 09
well, we have done all three in our married life. lived in an apartment when we first got married. it was a corner unit and all the people that lived around us were married. what i hated was schleping groceries from the car to the apartment. the second place we lived in was a single dwelling hous we lived in was owned by a very greedy landlord and now we live in a town house and the walls are pretty thin but our neighbours are nice. so we are pretty lucky.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Oct 09
Oh, the schleping grocery part...LOL. This building is a three story building, NO ELEVATOR so real fun dragging groceries up...I have to do it a bit at a time and live on the second floor
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
16 Oct 09
I have never experienced staying in an apartment where I have to face inconsiderate tenants as neighbors. Since my present dwelling is in a privately owned land and located in a big piece of land, my neighbors are far and few which I rarely see their faces. Come May next year, I will be moving to my new house which is in a housing estate and the houses are terrace houses where only walls separates each unit of houses, I foresee having nuisance neighbors that can be very irritating and have no sense of respect for the peace of others. I have no choice but to tolerate them for the sake of keeping good relationship with neighbors. I know it is not going to be easy but hopefully I will not let my emotions high when confronted with such rowdy neighbors.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Oct 09
LOL--I just hope the walls between houses aren't too thin...since it sounds like you've lived in a relatively quiet situation, you might find it like "shock" therapy to live so close to people and any potential noise they might make
@littleowl (7157)
•
16 Oct 09
Hi Pye,
It must be so awful for you living there, it doesn't sound a very healthy place to live with all the problems you keep having surely something could be done to help move you to a another apartment? Neighbors like that would drive me insane! Am very fortunate to have a housing association house, there is only one neighbor who can be a big pain but that is for the minute little things, but don't let them bother me as he picks on other neighbors too...LoLo
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Oct 09
The problem is, is that since I've lived here so long (48 years) my rent is real low, while the average rent is over $1,000 now--so unless I win the lottery big time no chance of moving
1 person likes this
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
16 Oct 09
That sounds like a real pain in the a$$. I do own a home (my first one at age 60) but most of my neighbors are really nice. Most are retired military. But I do have one two doors up that have a bad habit of leaving a window open so their cats can come and go at will. None of thse cats are spayed or neutered and they roam the neighborhood just looking for trouble. They stalk the birds under my bird feeder and have managed to get into the crawl space under my house. I just had to spend $200 to replace the vent hoses to/from the heat pump because they tore the old ones up. A couple of us have told the man that if they don't do something we will start trapping the cats and turn them over to the shelter. He said that is ok with him. Grrr.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Oct 09
Geez--what kind of cat owner is he, if he doesn't even really cared if you trap them and take them to the shelter? sounds like the kind of person who shouldn't have pets to begin with, right?
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
16 Oct 09
Living in apartments can have their upsides, especially if you happen to be friends with neighbors. One of the biggest downsides is also the neighbors and it sure sounds (pun intended) that you have some doozies. It adds to the problem when the supers' thought process in dealing with it is below his belt.
You might want to check to see if there are any noise ordinances in your city. We had problems with our neighbors for playing music all night. We weren't able to hear the tune, but the vibrations from the bass rattled our brains when we tried to sleep. Repeated requests didn't help the problem, so one night another neighbor called the police. After receiving a $265 ticket for the noise ordinance violation the music is MUCH quieter now.
It's a shame about your ceiling, I bet it looked nice. Is there any possibility that the paint underneath is lead-based? That could cause peeling to subsequent paint layers. I would discuss the problem with the people where you bought the paint. If (or when) you repaint it, there may be a sealer that will help the paint adhere better. Even if your neighbors invite all their friends in the 'over 250 (LB) club' over, the vibrations the herd makes shouldn't make the paint peel.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Oct 09
I wouldn't be surprised if the very early coatings of paint were lead-based. This is an old building, built around the 1930s??? So concerns about lead paint weren't known then Over the years I've bought my own paint and I've always used acrylic non-lead paint on purpose since one can technically get the landlord to paint up an apartment every three or five years...but the paint they use is only white (no color) and is that god-awful smelling oil-based paint which I hate...
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
17 Oct 09
There are a couple of problems that may be occurring. Oil-based paint covers everything and is cheap to use...which is why landlords use it. However, as it ages it loses it's adhesion, and it gets brittle. With the stomping from upstairs, that could certainly be affecting it, especially if you think about how many layers of paint there must be. The other problem is that latex/acrylic paint does not adhere well to oil based paints. Ideally you would apply 2 or 3 coats of primer or sealer first. (I learned this the hard way on an older home I used to own)
When it peels, does it look like multiple layers? If you bring a chip to the paint store, they should be able to tell you how to fix the problem, or if you suspect lead, they can tell you were to get it tested. If it's lead, your landlord would have to do something about it.
2 people like this
@youngpatrol (425)
• United States
16 Oct 09
Some neighbors are like that. I have to say that Lacey's place that she rents the people are always complaining about the neighbors but like I told them, I can't do anything about the neighborhood. The neighbors all own there property or are renting houses over there so if they have a problem they have to talk to them or the police. Have you looked into buying a mobile home? I know they have some in areas where you can get them on 1/2 acre for like $350 a month. You may want to look into one. My brother just did get one and put it on his own lot for $220 a month brand new. The prices are not bad and I am sure you would like it better then staying where you are.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Oct 09
I live in the NYC area so the chance of a mobile home being around here is unlikely--besides being on SSI benefits the cost involved moving anywhere would be nil.
1 person likes this
@forestgold (792)
•
16 Oct 09
Hi Pyewacket,
Sounds like you are putting up with a lot there.
We are lucky, our neighbours are all pretty good, apart from the one next door, she leaves her dog mess for days, in the garden, and last year, we got a fly infestation, in the back room of our house, so i called pest control in, and they blamed the dog mess,....it was hot outside, and they were attracted to it, then they were nesting round my patio doors...
I asked her to clean up, but she did not seem so bothered.
They only speak when they feel like it, so i tend not to bother with them, apart from that, our neighbours are lovely.
I hope things improve for you, must be very annoying....hopefully the family upstairs might move out, and give you some peace!
I asked her to clean up, but she did not seem so bothered.
They only speak when they feel like it, so i tend not to bother with them, apart from that, our neighbours are lovely.
I hope things improve for you, must be very annoying....hopefully the family upstairs might move out, and give you some peace! 3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Oct 09
Unfortunately most people in my building kind of stay put. With rents now being as they are most people stay put since the rent is usually lower--of course if they did move, who is to say I won't get...gulp...worse neighbors?
1 person likes this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
18 Oct 09
This is EXACTLY why I love our home in the woods. We have great neighbors but they aren't on top of us. In the summer, only way I can see my neighbors is if I went for a walk down the street or throught the woods or if they drove by the house. We lived in apartments before we got married and had very quiet neighbors as well but the mobile home park we lived in for 8yrs was a nightmare in itself. Nope, we lose this house, I live in car on back roads. lol
1 person likes this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
18 Oct 09
btw..I saw this discussion in the daily digest and was reading it thinking...'this sounds just like pye' only to scroll down further and guess what? lmao
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Oct 09
I hope you do keep your home blackbriar. As for this discussion...you must recognize my writing style...LOL
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
17 Oct 09
i used to live next to a VFW hall-the jerks had their outdoor club grill right next to my window,so i had to shut it or the fumes went into my house.
i couldn't turn on the swamp cooler either,because it'd suck it in.
arizona,114 degrees,and having to shut up the house.
i was livid.
i don't know how many times i complained about that,but nothing was ever done.
this was the same house with the bad plumbing.
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
25 Oct 09
pretty much.
they tried to give me the "we're old vets,we deserve it(?)" line
and i told them so is my dad,and he knows better than to put a grill right near people's vents.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Oct 09
Yeah, sometimes complaining constantly to the offending neighbor(s) really doesn't do any good...they tend to look at you like YOU"RE at fault
1 person likes this
@joyceshookery (2057)
• United States
16 Oct 09
I used to live in apartments. I never had neighbors as bad as yours sound, although I did live under loud feet and a couple next door who had really vicious, loud fights. Sorry to hear you're having so much trouble! I guess because you've lived there so long and because of finances, moving to a duplex or mobile home isn't an option? The super sounds like a jerk. *Sigh* I know things will get better for awhile...then the shhht will hit the fan.
You're quite a survivor!
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Oct 09
You're right, moving out wouldn't be an option for me. When I think of it, I've had weird neighbors throughout the time I've lived here--boy the stories I could tell would be a book....LOL
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
16 Oct 09
Hi pye,
I am so sorry you have live like that beacasue of your other stupid tenants and I don't blame you for ranting, I too had to live in a flat(apartment) a two bedrooms and we had to share the bathroom and toilet with ther other tenants and it was hell, that was 25 years ago, we also had our flat burgled to top it all, now we have our own house and only 3 monts to pay off our mortage, its a relief now, we have a lovely garden at the back and in front our neighbours are lovely, they all own their own honmes and look after each other houses especially when ones away, I could leave my house keys to any of them to look after my cats and water my plants, I do the same for them, but pye I do know what you are going through.
Bright Blessings.
Tamara
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Oct 09
That must be such a relief that you're only three months away from the final mortgage payment. Wow, I could never imagine living in an apt. and having to share the bathroom/toilet with other tenants.
You're so lucky you have neighbors to leave keys with...while I have neighbors and the super of course, I really wouldn't trust anyone to look after my kitties or apt. if need be
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Oct 09
Yes I've had to deal with a lot of neighbors that were noisy over the years
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Oct 09
Uh....how can I buy a house when I'm on SSI benefits? I'd never be able to get a loan either since I am on benefits.
1 person likes this
