Dealing With Noise Complaints
You might think you’ve already fulfilled your landlord duties by ensuring you have a livable rental property. However, you also need to effectively address any tenant complaints throughout the tenancy.
Noise complaints are among the most common of the complaints you may receive. It is crucial to manage noise complaints promptly, as all tenants have a right to the quiet enjoyment of their homes.
Below, we’ve outlined the process you should follow to ensure that the noise complaint is addressed effectively.
Conduct an Assessment of the Complaint
Landlords cannot immediately assume the validity of a complaint without proof or investigation. First, verify the validity of the complaint before determining whether it constitutes a serious offense.
Assuming that the source of the noise is the reported individual without conducting an independent investigation can be unfair. Various reasons could lead to an unwarranted complaint, and all possibilities should be ruled out before taking action.
After investigating and confirming that the noise disturbance is legitimate, you should inform the tenant who made the complaint about the findings of your independent investigation. You can also ask other renters if they have experienced similar noise disturbances.
In reality, renters are allowed to be noisy, but it should be kept within acceptable limits. Noise may stem from gatherings, pets, or household conflicts. Here are some specific examples of events that may cause noise in an apartment setting.
- Tenant parties: When a tenant hosts a gathering, there may be loud conversation or music. While this is normal during festive times, frequent parties, especially those that last past midnight, can disturb other tenants’ rest. In such cases, the landlord may need to intervene.
- Heavy Footsteps: In multi-unit buildings, residents may hear heavy footsteps from tenants walking, exercising, or dancing in their unit. This noise can be bothersome to those living on the floor below and may lead to noise complaints.
- Barking Dogs: Pet-friendly rentals have their advantages, but dogs may occasionally disrupt the peace with persistent barking. Continuous barking from morning to night should prompt the pet owner to check on the dog’s well-being.
- Loud Conversation: Tenants may partake in loud verbal exchanges, such as conversations or arguments. If this becomes too frequent, the landlord may need to send a notice to residents, urging them to reduce noise levels to minimize complaints.
Address Valid Complaints
Once you have confirmed that the noise complaint is valid, you should take immediate action. It’s important to ensure that your other tenants feel comfortable and want to stay for the long term. However, any consequences should be appropriate to the severity of the complaint.
Is this the first time the tenant has received a complaint? Did they host a party and struggle to control the noise from their guests? If so, a simple warning would typically suffice. However, if the noisy behavior is ongoing and the tenants fail to take action to reduce it, you should inform them that eviction may be considered.
Remember to take this step only if all previous warnings have been ignored by the resident.
Resolve Invalid Complaints
If your independent investigation identifies a different source for the noise in question, it is important to inform the person who lodged the complaint about your findings. Provide them with detailed information and evidence from your investigation. Make sure to communicate that the complaint was not valid or that the noise did not originate from your tenant.
Insert a Clause in Your Rental Agreement
Landlords can minimize noise complaints by including specific clauses in the rental agreement that outline noise regulations. Renters must adhere to these guidelines to avoid the consequences stated in the contract. This approach effectively helps in reducing noise-related issues.
Establish Quiet Hours and Ensure It’s Written on the Lease
To prevent issues with tenants disturbing each other due to excessive noise, set quiet hours. By providing tenants with a schedule that indicates when they should be especially mindful of their noise levels, noise issues can be reduced.
For instance, quiet hours could be designated from 10 P.M. to 7 A.M. on weekdays and from 10 P.M. to 9 A.M. on weekends. It’s important to be clear that this does not permit tenants to make excessive noise outside of the designated quiet hours. This policy must be included in your lease agreement, so renters indicate their agreement when they affix their signatures on the rental contract.
Additionally, it’s helpful to outline what constitutes “excessive noise.” Some residents may need to read the proper guidelines to ensure they comply with the property policies. This may include loud parties, mowing the lawn during quiet hours, and playing music at high volumes.
Prevent Problematic Tenants from the Start
To ensure you select great tenants, it is essential to establish clear expectations regarding noise levels and to implement proper tenant screening practices from the beginning. You can learn more by reaching out to previous landlords to find out if the tenant candidate had previous issues or reported for noise disturbances.
Bottom Line
As a landlord, it is crucial to investigate any reported noise complaints made by your tenants. Stay objective and assess if the issue is valid. After understanding the circumstances, you can take the necessary steps to address the complaint.
Ensure that the disciplinary measures you choose correspond to the severity of the offense. If the tenant persists in creating noise and ignores warnings, eviction may be a necessary solution. Document the entire case to provide proof when needed.
If you’re seeking a reliable property manager to handle your rental property issues, including tenant complaints, contact Superior West Property Management today! Also, be sure to familiarize yourself with any pre-existing local regulations.
