TheCatSite.com › Forums › General Forums › The Cat Lounge › Losing my mind, bar downstairs playing music so loud my apartment vibrates!
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Losing my mind, bar downstairs playing music so loud my apartment vibrates!

post #1 of 25
9/17/11 at 12:16am
Thread Starter 
It's official, I am leaving my home of 8 years because of a landlord and his new bar that opened downstairs where it is impossible to sleep before 4 am 2 sometimes 3 nights a week! Make it worse, I'm not on the lease, and even though he has asked me to do work for him, I don't exist here. He told everyone I'm a crazy bitch, don't ever listen to me, only the person who is on the lease can complain, which is my ex, now best friend who has been fighting with them about the issue because it always gets ridiculous!
I have purchased carpet, I have purchased a Sharper Image atmosphere radio (it plays several different sounds to drown out noise), I have layers of neoprene rubber under the legs of my bed, I have purchased earplugs, I cant do anything more short of building a soundproof room inside my room, which is ridiculous! We have made several noise complaints, police always show up after the bar is closed because in NYC they have 8 hours to respond. The report still goes through though and when the landlord receives them he is pissed.
To make it worse my neighbor is the manager, and I thought we were friends, but I can barely look at her when I see her. This has gotten so out of hand that even if my friend goes in and talks to them they turn it down and slowly within an hour it goes back up, and tonight for example, louder then it was originally!
I am loosing my mind right now, it is driving me crazy!
If anyone has some vibes to spare, I could use some just to keep me from doing something stupid! As well as finding a new home for Maia and I
Reply
post #2 of 25
9/17/11 at 1:49am
It really sounds like an impossible situation. Good luck with the apartment hunting!
Reply
post #3 of 25
9/17/11 at 3:33am
I'm not sure what time you usually try calling to police, but I would try calling around 10:30. When you're on the phone with the police just politely let them know that this is an ongoing problem and that you've tried calling the police before but they always get there after its been closed up. Let them know that you've tried talking with the owner and the manager but you've been ignored. Also start a petition to have to music turned down to a certain level by a certain time and have your exboyfriend (since you said everyones been told to ignore you) pass it around to the different tenents to sign. I highly doubt you're the only one being bothered by this if its really as loud as you say so you shouldn't have any issues getting a lot of signatures. Make a copy and show the original to the owner and if he doesn't want to listen then take it up with the city. Make sure you bring a witness with you so if he tries to dispute you ever showing him the petition then you have someone to back your story up.
Reply
post #4 of 25
9/17/11 at 3:52am
How many apartments are in your building?

I agree, surely the other tentants are bothered by it as well?
Is it every night or just on the weekends?

Lots of vibes for you and Maia
Reply
post #5 of 25
9/17/11 at 6:18am
That sounds horrible!!! Hugs!!
Reply
post #6 of 25
9/17/11 at 7:41am
Very frustrating situation. I think it just boils down to the fact that the landlord doesn't give a rat's a$$ about anyone else. It seems to be the rule rather than the exception when renting.

Good luck with apartment hunting. It's unfair you have to move after all this time, but hopefully you'll end up somewhere even better.
Reply
post #7 of 25
9/17/11 at 3:11pm
Vibes coming from me hun! You don't deserve to put up with that crap, I would be livid too!
Reply
post #8 of 25
9/17/11 at 3:30pm
Sleepless night!!!!!!! And so many, that is just no good for your health. You do need to get out of that place. Much luck in your move
Reply
post #9 of 25
9/17/11 at 6:22pm
Good luck finding a new place
Reply
post #10 of 25
9/17/11 at 7:26pm
That is just wrong. The guy sounds like a class A jerk. Good luck on either getting this resolved or moving which I'm sure isn't easy to do.
Reply
post #11 of 25
9/18/11 at 2:15pm
How can the people in the bar hear each other if it's that loud?????? If there's any way to get the other tenents together, I'd try that. But failing that, mega on finding a new place!!!!!
Reply
post #12 of 25
9/18/11 at 5:13pm
OMG! I'd be absolutely beside myself! It's bad enough that some people on my floor play their music loud enough to be heard down the hallway. During the day when I'm awake... or away, I don't care. But when I'm home and trying to unwind or even sleep, the last thing I want to hear is noise other than noise generated by me in my apartment.

Unfortunately if it's an actual bar/club there is likely nothing you can do. I doubt complaining to the police or the owner will do anything really.

Do you have a rentalsman department in your city? If so start there. Also contact the zoning department. If he built a night club below you, they should have put in sound proofing to contain the noise. It seems from what you describe, that didn't happen.
Reply
post #13 of 25
9/18/11 at 5:24pm
whoa. i feel really bad for you...that's crap to be putting up with.

i'd start finding a new place. are you "allowed" to break your lease, like for a fee? if so, do it.
Reply
post #14 of 25
9/18/11 at 5:36pm
Did you move in before or after it was a pub if it was after you can't really complain because you chose to live above above a pub/bar but....... If it was after like said before sound proofing at the very least and continuous sound checks should of been carried out, I am sorry you have to put up with it though
Reply
post #15 of 25
9/18/11 at 7:45pm
Thread Starter 
Just to answer some questions,I have been here for 8 years. There was a bar for the first 4 years but the music was never this loud. It was closed by the health department for 2 years and the owner renovated and reopened it as a lounge/bar with absolutely no respect for any neighbors! I'm not the only one who has complained, but I am the one who takes the worst of it living directly above. The person who lives in the apartment next door is the manager of the bar, and doesn't care, has become more and more difficult.
In NYC you can't simply call your local precinct to make a noise complaint, you have to call 311 and file a noise complaint where after the local police have 8 hours to respond to. The noise complaint is filed and the owner eventually receives a notice. Last night it was even worse! I couldn't believe how loud it was, my entire apartment was booming and vibrating. I called 311 at 12:45 and was on hold for 45 minutes before I could even file the complaint. I was happy I atleast got through because it is that difficult! The lease holder had already spoken to them earlier and had to come back and the b**ch manager acted like she couldn't understand what the problem was, even though they were screaming at each other just to hear! They turned it down and 10 minutes later right back up, this has been the game for weeks now. He goes back down stairs and she is arguing with him about what the issue is!
This is a situation that has gotten so out of hand...........I am trapped, need to move but have to find the right place. I don't want this to become a downward spiral of uncomfortable living situations.......I feel I have more rights then this f'ing bar, and I don't want to leave without a fight
Reply
post #16 of 25
9/18/11 at 8:30pm
Ugh that is terrible!! I hope you can find the right place for you. I could never live happily in a city!! I need quiet and I need space! And neighbors who care! Sheesh!
Reply
post #17 of 25
9/19/11 at 7:19pm
...... for you can find a good place soo for you both!...
Reply
post #18 of 25
9/20/11 at 10:31pm
Is there any chance they'll go out of business? Any chance you can outlast them? Bars in your area are a dime a dozen all competing to be the "nabe" hot spot. Also, moving can be a blessing in disguise, like a destiny thing. But oh my I do wish you the best. I've lived in NYC for over 3 decades and I've never liked your area because I think it's full of party animals. Vibes to you and everyone annoyed by this bar!
Reply
post #19 of 25
9/21/11 at 3:11am
I would go down to the police station in person and just be very friendly and polite, and explain the situation.

Just let them know that this is a constant and repeat issue that is getting to the point that you're at a last ditch effort before being forced to move out of your home.

Tell them that since it is so reliably loud, that you'd like to speak to someone in charge and schedule them to come by at a certain time.

The neighbors were able to do this a few years back to get a cop posted on the street to catch this guy in a Camaro with an illegal exhaust that was reliably street racing. Sure enough, he was nabbed, and since it was explained to the officer that this is a very frequent problem and danger to the neighborhood the guy got the book thrown at him instead of just a regular slap on the wrist for a first offense. Cops are first and foremost PEACE OFFICERS, and their primary job is just that not law enforcement but keeping peace in the neighborhood and persistent noise pollution all through the night is in direct violation of that.
Reply
post #20 of 25
9/21/11 at 6:24am
i feel for you. I recently had to move because of noise. I was told that you should call the police with noise complaints if only to get it on the record. Thats legal cause to brake a lease. Good luck.
Reply
post #21 of 25
9/22/11 at 3:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ducman69 View Post
I would go down to the police station in person and just be very friendly and polite, and explain the situation.

Just let them know that this is a constant and repeat issue that is getting to the point that you're at a last ditch effort before being forced to move out of your home.

Tell them that since it is so reliably loud, that you'd like to speak to someone in charge and schedule them to come by at a certain time.

The neighbors were able to do this a few years back to get a cop posted on the street to catch this guy in a Camaro with an illegal exhaust that was reliably street racing. Sure enough, he was nabbed, and since it was explained to the officer that this is a very frequent problem and danger to the neighborhood the guy got the book thrown at him instead of just a regular slap on the wrist for a first offense. Cops are first and foremost PEACE OFFICERS, and their primary job is just that not law enforcement but keeping peace in the neighborhood and persistent noise pollution all through the night is in direct violation of that.
This is NYC, they don't respond to this, noise complaints are a joke basically........
Reply
post #22 of 25
9/22/11 at 3:54pm
I've never understood why people think they have a right to invade your space with their noise! You should not have had to buy all those things to try to make your apartment livable -- your landlord should have done that, and also whatever else was necessary to solve the problem. It's insane to expect anyone to live in a place that is regularly bombarded with such high noise levels. I'm sorry this is happening to you.
Reply
post #23 of 25
9/22/11 at 4:32pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by CarolPetunia View Post
I've never understood why people think they have a right to invade your space with their noise! You should not have had to buy all those things to try to make your apartment livable -- your landlord should have done that, and also whatever else was necessary to solve the problem. It's insane to expect anyone to live in a place that is regularly bombarded with such high noise levels. I'm sorry this is happening to you.
THANK YOU.......This is exactly what I feel.........
I am loosing it because of this situation. I have quite nights Sunday through Wednesday, and as soon as Thursday comes I get anxious and know that at some point in the middle of the night, 10 - 4 am the music is going to become so loud that my apartment vibrates, it's basically a muffled version of downstairs, to the point of you can hear the lyrics and especially feel the base to the point of apartment vibrating! My last 311 city filed noise complaint I didn't receive an email verification which makes me wonder if it ever went through. I spent 45 minutes on hold just to make the complaint, atleast I have a confirmation no. from the operator.
I'm at my wits end......Maia is more worried about me getting so upset then the noise.
Reply
post #24 of 25
9/22/11 at 5:31pm
There has to be some sort of device that measures the decibels. Then you would have some hard evidence.
Reply
post #25 of 25
9/22/11 at 8:51pm
I guess they do it because they can get away with it.

Like so many things; if there are no consequences people have no reason to follow the rules.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: The Cat Lounge
TheCatSite.com › Forums › General Forums › The Cat Lounge › Losing my mind, bar downstairs playing music so loud my apartment vibrates!