An apartment tenant says repeated noise complaints from a downstairs neighbor have left them feeling “at our wits’ end,” after months of trying to reduce sound in their own home.
The tenant and original poster (OP), user Perfect-Poet1431, shared their story on Reddit, explaining that they and their wife have lived in the same upstairs apartment for three years.
However, since the beginning of the year, their downstairs neighbor—who moved in last fall—has been repeatedly making noise complaints to building management.
According to the post, the complaints claim they are “stomping around at night,” which is upsetting the other tenant’s autistic daughter.
“I work remotely and work at night,” the OP explained. “My hours can range from 9 p.m.-5 a.m., but usually I’m finished by 3 a.m. I am usually at my desk unless I am getting up to use the bathroom or make food.”
After the first complaint, the OP said they tried to reduce movement by storing “food and necessities” in their office to avoid walking around the apartment at night.
Even so, management reportedly relayed another complaint within a week.
An Ongoing Saga
A third complaint prompted the OP to leave a note on the neighbor’s door asking to speak to them directly and resolve the issue.
But the neighbor did not respond for about two weeks before leaving a note accusing them again of “stomping around” and warning that another complaint would be filed.
The note also mentioned hearing pets running around, which the OP said could refer to their three cats.
“I don’t really know how I’m expected to force my cats to not run around?” they wrote. “They also are not very active at night, usually just sleeping in my office with me.”
The OP said their wife has attempted to knock on the neighbor’s door after each complaint, but has been ignored—despite lights on in the apartment suggesting the neighbor was home.
Reddit Reacts
Reddit users quickly rallied around the OP, with one writing, “Your neighbor has unrealistic expectations about living in an apartment building. They are not going to have total silence.”
Another advised, “You need to go talk to management yourself and complain about her constant harassment. Obviously you aren’t ‘stomping,’ and anything she’s hearing is the normal noises of living in an apartment.
“Ask for their help in ending the ridiculous harassment.”
A Common Complaint
Legal resources note that disputes over noise and complaints between neighbors are common.
According to FindLaw, “False complaints from neighbors can include untrue accusations or reports made to authorities like landlords, police, or homeowners’ associations (HOAs) about property issues, noise, pets, or behavior.”
Even when complaints are mistaken, they can still create problems for tenants or homeowners. The legal guide warns that these accusations can cause emotional distress and lead to warnings or investigations by landlords or local authorities.
‘Start by communicating directly’
Another article from FindLaw notes that resolving disputes through direct conversation is often the best first step.
“If you’re dealing with a bad neighbor, start by communicating directly to resolve the issue,” the site states, though it adds that mediation, property management involvement or legal options may become necessary if talks fail.
For the OP who shared the story, that conversation has yet to happen.
“At this point it feels like she wants me to be chained to my desk and not get up at all the entire night, or to completely flip my work schedule to day shifts, because the only times she has not complained has been when I am not working/not at home,” they wrote.
“We are at our wits’ end,” they added.
Newsweek has reached out to Perfect-Poet1431 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.