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Guide to Handling a Noisy Neighbor Complaint
BanCal Property Management • November 12, 2021
How to Limit Conflicts and Disputes
Multi-family rental properties in San Francisco come with a unique set of challenges for landlords. Keeping up with maintenance and on-time rent collection is something that every property owner knows to anticipate. Noisy neighbors and nuisance complaints, however, and usually unique to apartments.
If you’re like most owners, you expect your tenants to be good neighbors. What happens when there’s a noise complaint?
Good communication and professionalism are essential.
DON’T LET THE SITUATION ESCALATE
Maybe you’re a hands-off landlord and you expect your tenants to resolve neighborly disputes among themselves. That’s fine, but what if the situation deteriorates and you find yourself dealing with threats, harassment, and escalating problems? Best to get out in front of this conflict, even if it doesn’t involve you directly.
1. CREATE AND ENFORCE A STRONG LEASE AGREEMENT
Any time there’s a problem that seems to have no solutions or several different solutions, you need to consult your lease agreement. That’s the first resource for any complaints or disputes between your tenants or between you and a tenant. Make sure you have a strong lease agreement in place that is clear about rules, responsibilities, and rights.
Most leases will have something that addresses a tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment of the property. In a multi-family lease agreement, it’s not uncommon to have quiet hours listed. For example, during the hours of 10pm and 6am, perhaps music and television has to be kept turned down to ensure other residents aren’t bothered. The lease is also a good place to provide tenants with a process for making complaints about noise from neighbors.
2. ENCOURAGE COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION
Communication is always important, and a neighborly conversation can sometimes take care of the problem pretty quickly. If your tenants are comfortable talking to their neighbors, encourage them to do so. Opening a discussion on noise and respecting each other’s quiet times is also something that you can facilitate as the landlord.
Loud noises can be especially disruptive at night, so if tenants are kept awake by barking dogs, loud music, or constant parties, a simple conversation between neighbors may make things better. Encourage your resident not to be accusatory or angry, but to approach it in a way that’s respectful and open.
It’s possible that the neighbors don’t realize how easy it is for your tenants to hear them. If they’re reasonable and respectful, a simple chat may be all that’s required, and things will quiet down right away. Don’t let your tenants escalate the situation if their neighbors are rude and angry, however.
3. TAKING THE NEXT STEPS WHEN NOISE COMPLAINTS AREN’T RESOLVED
If the offending tenant is in a property that you manage, you can send a letter to document the complaint that’s been made. Ask the tenant to resolve the issue by not playing their music as loud or by turning down their television in the evenings.
You want to remain friendly and cooperative, but if the tenant does not respond or remedy the situation, you can move forward with an eviction. Noise complaints usually don’t go that far, but it is an option that you have.
Tenant Screening Helps
When you’re
screening prospective tenants, make sure you’re not welcoming disruptive and noisy residents into your community. Look for prior evictions and talk to former landlords about how they behaved in the past.
SAN FRANCISCO PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND TENANT MANAGEMENT
If dealing with disputes between tenants and noise complaints from residents isn’t the way you want to spend your time, you need to work with BanCal Property Management. We have been managing San Francisco rental properties since 1987. We can make sure your tenants are respectful of one another and committed to following the terms of their lease agreement.
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