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Question about a noisy neighborFeb 06, 2008


I'm looking for some suggestions.

We have a Sh who's complained to the board/mgmt every few months for 2 years about noise at all hours by her next-door neighbor - blasting music, screaming phone calls, throwing items against walls (she lives alone). Mgmt has sent 5 letters asking her to be considerate of others. The latest one was firm but not threatening. She wrote back denying that she makes any noise and said if she continues to be harassed she'll take legal action against the coop. She would too. She's a very difficult person.

The Sh tried talking to the woman, to no avail. Residents on the floor tell this Sh that the noise drives them crazy too. Her unit is next to the elevator. A few times when I've gone to that floor, the second I get off the elevator, noise (usually music at top volume) hits me like a brick.

The board/mgmt advised the Sh to try to get other neighbors to write letters of complaint to mgmt to support the Sh's claim. Without their cooperation all we have is a "he said, she said" situation. No one else will send a letter altho the noise also bothers them. We also told the Sh to call the police who'd opefully arrive while the noise is going on. We even suggested that the Sh try to tape record the noise outside the woman's door. The Sh doesn't want to call the police and possibly incur her neighbor's wrath, and she said tape recording doesn't work.

The Sh is a very nice person but we just got another letter from her and she's at her wit's end. Her parents (in their late 70s) recently visited for a week and couldn't sleep bec of the racket from next door.

Cases of noise don't carry much weight in courts which, in NYC, consider them mostly a "nuisance."

What else might we do to resolve this. Any ideas will be much appreciated. Thanks ~

Join the Conversation Comments (2)
noise - Batch Feb 07, 2008


The offender's actions affect more than one shareholder, which makes it a board responsibility to handle.

Why have you been waiting for the shareholder to do it?

Call the DEP. Call 311. Call the police. Call an independent noise specialist to record the decibels.

Don't force the shareholder to do it, that's the board's job.

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Noise/Responsibility - AliceT Feb 08, 2008


The Board can only do so much. The S/H have to get involved. This is a problem in our building. S/H call, but dont want to become involved -- and you are putting the Board in the middle of a "he said-she said" situation.

The best would be for all the S/H who have a complaint to write (just one line) to the Board.

Otherwise, -- you can make an anonomous(sp) call to 311, orcall the police -

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ATTORNEY Letter on behalf of the Board - Wits End Feb 07, 2008


Start the paper trail now. Co-op's attorney needs to step in and get the ball rolling - with a notice of complaint letter. If you have a management company, they too should get involved.

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