Get off my lawn!

At what point do you decide that you're not being crusty or overly irritable by a neighbour, and that yeah, they really are giant douchebags?

I've had an ongoing "situation" with the owner of a rental property beside me. These are very old houses, with not much space between. For the last 20 years, it's been fine, owner occupied and with just the usual annoying neighbour stuff (former owner was a newfie who liked to crank Stompin' Tom at 7 am while he washed his car). Well... they sold it to a property owner who promptly converted it to rooms. I've had an ongoing battle with noisy, skeevy welfare creeps... had to involve the city and the cops to get it cleaned up. They had an illegally built second story deck that overlooked my yard, and the front door was moved to the side of the house, so everything faces my house and gives me zero privacy. The tenants either sit on the deck and drink beer, spit and smoke... or on the side steps.

They kicked out all the noisy drunks... but there is one guy left who plays music incessantly from morning til night. Not hugely loud... but the bass is constant. It's driving me nuts. If I call the cops, the owners will get slapped with a fine (there's a new noise bylaw in my city, to help neighbours deal with the growth of illegal rooming houses) and then if it continues, a court visit. I don't want to be an shiny happy person, but I work hard so that I can live in a decent quiet neighbourhood - only to be faced with this crap.

You're not being an shiny happy person- you're being protective of your neighborhood. I'd say- maybe go ask the guy to keep it down, if not, call the cops. Plain and simple. You paid to live there- these guys are basically crashing your steez.

I'd call the cops. No warning letter, no cease or desist notice. Given most peoples propensity to resist being told what to do by someone who's not an authority figure or having a fine slapped on them, I can't think that a warning would be well received or even given a second thought.

Thanks guys- that's my gut reaction. I've lived here 25 years, always had a friendly wave and hello from all the neighbours. It feels like being violated, having these people beside me.

In addition to calling the police, keep records - what times the noise starts and ends and on what days of the week, when you've called the authorities, etc.

stuart in mn wrote: In addition to calling the police, keep records - what times the noise starts and ends and on what days of the week, when you've called the authorities, etc.

Not in addition....get records for two weeks BEFORE the call. Then call the cops. (writing down in your record when THAT happens.) It may take several calls to the cops before anything happens. (Write down the date, time, and results each time.)

Remember, cops get annoyed by people who say "I called you guys three times", but they respond to people who say "I've called you about this on three previous occasions. On Monday the 8th...." (They know that you have specific records and they will look bad if nothing happens.)

The cops have been great. I've had to call them before, and they've repeatedly told me not to feel bad about calling, that it's the only way to control this kind of behaviour in a neighbourhood. At one point, I went down to the station, and a really friendly cop sat down with me to outline the options I have as a homeowner. The city forced the landlord to tear down the 2nd floor deck, since it was built without a permit, but they've just built a new one. So by not letting things like noise etc. slide, I'm hoping the owners will be careful about who they put in there, to avoid more fines.

Prior to calling the cops, I generally send off an email to the property owners. Sometimes, they'll call the tenants themselves and the noise stops. I have their phone number too, which I used to use when a party or fight broke out at 2 am

I know a few parts of the world where a good beating or a well-placed Molotov cocktail would be considered the friendly first request to keep it down. Perhaps you don't live in one of those places.

Not yet. I'm hoping it doesn't get that way.

Why on earth do people buy into a quiet, owner-occupied neighbourhood... and think they'll have no trouble creating an income property?

Here in our town, people thought nothing of buying a semi and renovating it so that 10-12 students could live in it. That will really go over well in the neighbourhood. Keep in mind that many of the owners were note even locals.

Keep in mind that some of these renovations included stapling 14/2 wire to the wall to add electrical outlets. Nothing like burning down both sides of a semi.

The City passed a bylaw that only allows 5 rooms now.

sounds like my neighbors. People across the street from me are somehow "connected". Whatever they want to do, they do, and nobody stops them. As they are "big" people, it has been a quiet summer because it has been too hot for them to be outside. Now that it is getting colder, they are outside more.

Last night they were sitting out in their garage till 2am, drinking, laughing, and having a good time. I have stayed on their good side, but I have seen what happens if you fall on their bad. One of my neighbors had an argument with one of them, 2 nights later the tyres on both his cars got slashed..

Unlike you lesley, I am the renter. I am the quiet one in this neighborhood full of loud and obnoxious people. I cannot wait till I can get out. I just need to wait until my Mom inherets the house she lives in. She cannot pay the taxes on it on SS, so I will have to move in to handle the expensives... and it will be a very nice step up

Stop voting for guys like Obama.

Sorry.

Hah! So I sent an email to the landlord. His wife told them to knock it off. Then she sends me a long email, complete with bad grammar and misspelling, on how they've lived on streets with rentals before, but don't go running to the cops everytime there's a noise, because they are "more forgiving". Oh brother.

As a landlord myself, I can say that a noise complaint is not ignored, it can lead to major trouble.

My suggestion: stick a video/audio camera with a date/time stamp on it outside (where the jerks can't see or get to it) and record some of the hijinks. It's best if you can get some late night stuff, that REALLY hits the spot.

Burn a couple of copies. Send one to the landlord with a letter saying if this continues there WILL be legal action. Send the second copy to the police, let the landlord know the police have that copy.

mad_machine wrote: Last night they were sitting out in their garage till 2am, drinking, laughing, and having a good time.

This sounds enjoyable. I suggest grabbing a 12 pack of Budweiser, a lawn chair, and heading over.

I wish my neighbors were cool and hung out in their garage and not polo-shirt-and-khakis-while-mowing-the-lawn douchebags.

93gsxturbo wrote:

mad_machine wrote: Last night they were sitting out in their garage till 2am, drinking, laughing, and having a good time.

This sounds enjoyable. I suggest grabbing a 12 pack of Budweiser, a lawn chair, and heading over. I wish my neighbors were cool and hung out in their garage and not polo-shirt-and-khakis-while-mowing-the-lawn douchebags.

not when you need to be up at 4am

People tend to stop slashing tyres when their cars burst into flames the next day. Just saying. oh. And since the landlord sent that nasty email. I would say straight to the cops from now on. Im tired of all these out of state people buying up homes and renting them out. Nothing good comes from it.

In reply to Lesley:

To get other neighbors/ property owners to join in the cause adds weight to the complaints... say if numerous calls came in at the same time. This flop house is lowering your neighbors property values too, no need to go it alone.

Lesley wrote: Hah! So I sent an email to the landlord. His wife told them to knock it off. Then she sends me a long email, complete with bad grammar and misspelling, on how they've lived on streets with rentals before, but don't go running to the cops everytime there's a noise, because they are "more forgiving". Oh brother.

And point out that before they bought the property there was no problem.

mad_machine wrote: I have stayed on their good side, but I have seen what happens if you fall on their bad. One of my neighbors had an argument with one of them, 2 nights later the tyres on both his cars got slashed..

I wouldve responded in kind...