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Noise complaint about us

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jacques001

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Massachusetts

We recently received a noise complaint letter from the apartment management, claiming that one of our neighbors had reported us talking very both very loud at night and very loud in the early morning.

We are very confused about these accusations, we keep a very quiet apartment, and as roommates we generally keep to ourselves in the evenings and are asleep in the early morning. We each work 9 to 5 jobs, so I find it absurd that we could also find time to talk very loudly in specifically both evening and early morning (i.e. we somehow don't sleep).

We would be happy to apologize if somehow we did make this amount of noise.

The letter sent has language that seems to indicate we are indeed responsible for the noises and has warned us about future complaints. My understanding is simply a neighbor complained to management, and they assumed the neighbor was correct (we have never had any complaints living here for several years!).

Should we respond to the letter (the neighbors did not identify themselves)? Perhaps the neighbor misattributed the noise to us?

At what point would we need to talk to a lawyer if the we received more complaints to noise that we aren't making? Would this be harassment?
 


LdiJ

Senior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Massachusetts

We recently received a noise complaint letter from the apartment management, claiming that one of our neighbors had reported us talking very both very loud at night and very loud in the early morning.

We are very confused about these accusations, we keep a very quiet apartment, and as roommates we generally keep to ourselves in the evenings and are asleep in the early morning. We each work 9 to 5 jobs, so I find it absurd that we could also find time to talk very loudly in specifically both evening and early morning (i.e. we somehow don't sleep).

We would be happy to apologize if somehow we did make this amount of noise.

The letter sent has language that seems to indicate we are indeed responsible for the noises and has warned us about future complaints. My understanding is simply a neighbor complained to management, and they assumed the neighbor was correct (we have never had any complaints living here for several years!).

Should we respond to the letter (the neighbors did not identify themselves)? Perhaps the neighbor misattributed the noise to us?

At what point would we need to talk to a lawyer if the we received more complaints to noise that we aren't making? Would this be harassment?

I am not sure that it would ever rise to the point where you needed to contact an attorney. If you contact anyone at this point it would be to respond to the management explaining that the noise could not have come from your apartment. Other than that, there is nothing to be done unless the situation escalates.
 

justalayman

Senior Member
We each work 9 to 5 jobs, so I find it absurd that we could also find time to talk very loudly in specifically both evening and early morning (i.e. we somehow don't sleep).

Well, early morning is vague and unless you have a instant transporter you aren’t getting home until what is commonly accepted as evening. I suggest you use more specific times in both stating when this noise occurred and in describing your waking hours. Many people I know that work 9-5 ish wake before 7 (that’s early morning to me) and don’t retire to bed until 10-11- even midnight.

But instead of getting all worked up about this, why not have a conversation with the management. Explain them your typical active times and that you are generally quiet and are not aware of being loud anytime recently. The see where things go from there.



But even considering a lawyer is what is absurd.

And absolutely nothing you stated even hints at harassment.
 

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