Living in an apartment or multi-family housing often means putting up with some noise from neighbors. But what happens when normal walking upstairs turns into constant stomping that disrupts your life?
Can you complain about upstairs neighbors stomping? Absolutely yes! Your options are politely discussing the issue with your neighbors first, thoroughly documenting all disturbances if that fails, and promptly looping in your landlord.
As a last resort, you may need to exercise legal rights.
I feel your frustration.
Dealing with noisy upstairs neighbors can be infuriating, especially when the excessive stomping affects your sleep, concentration, or general peace of mind.
In this blog post, I’ll cover when everyday footfalls become excessive stomping, how to talk to your neighbors about the issue, document noise complaints, and your legal rights when it comes to noisy tenants.
Let’s dive in!
Learn: 17 Solutions to My Neighbor Upstairs Stomping Woes That Work
When does normal walking become disruptive stomping?
Determining when upstairs footsteps cross the line into disruptive stomping territory can be tricky. Here are some tips to evaluate if the noise from your upstairs neighbors is reasonable or excessive:
- Pay attention to the frequency of the noises – Occasional walking is normal, but constant stomping that goes on for extended periods or late into the night is not.
- Consider the time of day – Noise during quiet hours like early morning or late night is more likely to be a nuisance.
- Think about your building’s construction – Older buildings with creaky floorboards often transmit more noise than newer ones.
- Flooring material – Hard surfaces like wood or tile amplify footsteps more than carpeted floors.
- Compare noise levels to previous upstairs neighbors – If old tenants didn’t cause issues but new ones do, that indicates a problem.
- Have others listen as well – Get a second opinion from housemates or guests to confirm it’s not just you being sensitive.
- Pay attention to patterns – Consistent heavy walking in one area points to stomping.
- Try talking politely first – Simply making your neighbors aware of the noise may lead to change.
- 70 dB according to a sound level meter is too loud – This intensity of noise can disrupt sleep and concentration.
So in summary, frequent, loud walking that disturbs your household and daily life is when benign footsteps turn into bothersome stomping that deserves addressing.
Read more: 11 Tips for Dealing With Heavy-Footed Upstairs Neighbors
Can you complain about upstairs neighbors stomping?
The short answer is yes, you can and should complain if the stomping from upstairs neighbors becomes excessive. Here are some tips on how to go about it:
- Approach them politely – First, try having a friendly conversation. Let them know the noise is disturbing you and see if compromises can be reached.
- Involve the landlord/property manager – If talking to your neighbors doesn’t work, notify the landlord in writing. They may be able to intervene or have a noise policy.
- Record evidence – Keep a detailed log and audio/video recordings documenting the noise as proof.
Discover: How to Record My Upstairs Neighbor Stomping (13 Tips)
- Send formal complaints – Follow up any in-person discussions with emails or letters summarizing the issue.
- Check your local noise laws – Many places have regulations prohibiting noise during certain hours. Knowing the laws can strengthen your case.
- Suggest solutions – Propose reasonable fixes like using rugs, taking off shoes indoors, or avoiding noisy activities at night.
- Be patient but persistent – Changing behavior takes time. Follow up consistently while remaining understanding.
- Consult housing authorities – If all else fails, reach out to local housing authorities for guidance on next steps.
The bottom line – yes, excessive stomping is grounds for complaints to neighbors, landlords, and authorities if needed. But politeness and patience go a long way in resolving issues effectively.
How to ask your upstairs neighbors to stop stomping
Bringing up noise complaints face-to-face with neighbors can be awkward. Here are some tips for having a productive conversation about upstairs stomping:
- Choose the right time and place – Ask to talk when they’re free and not busy or irritated. Meet in a neutral area like the building hallway.
- Stay calm and friendly – You’ll get further with honey than vinegar. Keep your tone light and avoid accusations.
- Be specific – Clearly explain when noise is worst, how it affects you, and request specific changes.
- Acknowledge their perspective – Let them share their side of the story first before making demands.
- Offer solutions together – Ask if they have ideas and collaborate to find mutual agreements.
- Be open to compromise – Some noise may be unavoidable. Focus on minimizing the most disruptive stomping.
With patience and empathy, you can have constructive conversations about reducing excessive overhead stomping. The goal should be finding a middle ground, not escalating tensions further.
How to document noise complaints to the landlord or building management
If talking directly to noisy upstairs neighbors fails, your next step is formally complaining to the landlord or property manager. Here’s how to document the stomping noises effectively:
- Record details immediately – Note the date, time, source, and duration of the noise right when it happens.
- Use multiple formats – Keep a written log, take photos/videos, and make audio recordings.
- Include specifics – Be detailed about the noise type, location, disturbances, and source if known.
- Use a decibel reader – Apps or sound meters confirm if noise exceeds local limits.
- Send complaint letters – Follow up in-person reports with official letters listing all incidents of upstairs neighbor stomping.
- Loop in other neighbors – Get corroboration from other tenants also affected by the noise.
- Check for violations of lease – Review your rental agreement to see if stomping breaches existing rules and landlord responsibilities.
- Be prompt – Don’t delay in alerting your landlord in writing about persistent issues.
The more meticulous your documentation, the better your chances of getting resolution from building management. Persistent follow up also shows you are serious about addressing the excessive overhead stomping politely but firmly.
What legal rights do you have regarding noisy upstairs neighbors?
If all else fails, you may need to explore legal options to deal with uncooperative noisy neighbors. Here are some of your rights:
- Right to politely request they quiet down – Reasonable requests to reduce noise are allowed.
- Right to document disturbances – You can record evidence of stomping and disturbances.
- Right to review your lease – Check if excessive noise violates any rental agreement policies.
- Right to seek damages – You may sue noisy tenants for financial compensation for harm done.
- Right to file a private nuisance lawsuit – Legal action through small claims court can compel neighbors to cease excessive stomping.
- Right to contact housing authorities – Local agencies may be able to intervene or discipline uncooperative tenants.
- Right to contact law enforcement – If stomping violates noise ordinances, police can get involved.
Getting legal should be a last resort option when all else fails. But it’s good to know your tenant rights in case you need to escalate the situation after hitting dead ends.
Key takeaways
To sum up, here are the key tips to remember if you’re struggling with noisy upstairs neighbors:
- Evaluate if the noise rises to the level of disruptive stomping based on frequency, time of day, and intensity.
- Don’t hesitate to complain politely to neighbors first before taking further action.
- Approach stomping issues calmly and propose compromise solutions.
- Thoroughly document all noise disturbances and complaints.
- Loop in your landlord quickly if talking to neighbors is unsuccessful.
- Know your legal rights under local laws and lease agreements.
- Getting authorities involved should be a last resort if all else fails.
With patience and persistence, you can get excessive overhead stomping under control. The goal is coexistence, not conflict.
Conclusion
If you’re fed up with constant overhead stomping from upstairs neighbors, know that you have options.
Start by evaluating if the noise is truly excessive based on frequency, timing, and intensity.
Politely discuss the issue with your neighbors first to find a compromise if it crosses the line. Thoroughly document all disturbances and promptly loop in your landlord when that fails.
As a last resort, you may need to exercise legal rights. Don’t lose hope – you don’t have to tolerate excessive disruptive stomping.
