Need some advice on a neighbor issue

[AHTOXA]

Hey guys, I realize that being generally the younger forum this may not apply to many but I wanna throw this out there anyway.

This is for my folks, really, not for me.

So they have a condo that they own on a 4th floor of a 5 story building. Above them they have a foreign couple, fairly young.
What the guy decided to do is set up his own little shop doing god knows what up there. At random times day or night there are all sorts of metal to metal banging noises. He's working on something, most likely as a way to make some cash. The issue is that he decided to do this at random times - 6 in the morning, 1 in the morning - it does not matter.

They are renting that apartment - they do not own it. So far the association is not doing shit, the property manager is not doing shit, the actual condo owner can't do shit either. Once when this happened late at night my folks called the police, however the renters did not open the door for some time when the police knocked and when they did, they pretended to have been sleeping. Nothing was done.

My mom's got a pretty stressful job and she's an extremely light sleeper - worse than anyone I know. This is getting to be a major issue because the renters are non-cooperative and are playing dumb while persisting with the disturbance. I've heard it once and it's definitely not something that just happens with having someone living on top.

What can be done? Keep in mind they are my parents and be realistic, please. "Take 'em out back and shoot 'em" will not work.

[AHTOXA]

My parents have written a number of letters to the association, to the owners and management. There has been no result and very little feedback even.

You are correct, the association should be effective in cases much like this, however they have not given a shit, it seems.

[AHTOXA]

I see what you mean.

This may have to be one option if this does not cease.

[4onthefloor]

Keep trying the various owners/ associations. Maybe try talking to some other neighbours, if it's that bad somebody else is bound to hear it, and if you keep bugging the people who are supposed to be in charge maybe they'll get fed up and do something.

or you could do what I do and fight fire with fire. Give them a taste of their own medicine and bug the f**k out of them by banging on the ceiling or something until they get annoyed. Or find a way to cut off their power/water/ other necessities.

[AHTOXA]

Well, this is my parents we are talking about, not me and my neighbors. It's not likely they will fight fire with fire with them.

[4onthefloor]

Well, this is my parents we are talking about, not my neighbor. It's not likely they will fight fire with fire with them.

Yeah I was kind of thinking that too. I'm just throwing things out there. I know what it's like to live with loud people upstairs.

[theholycow]

Has anyone tried asking the neighbors nicely?

Step 1: Document it by logging incidents and video/audio recording. The video merely needs to show what time it is; point it at a cell phone, since nobody will reasonably claim that your parents rigged the cell phone.

Step 2: Escalate interactions with the association with letters and phone calls to the head of the association, including documentation from Step 1.

Step 3: Get the press involved. Newspapers, TV news, and that busybody local news show that gets involved in everybody's bullcrap.

Step 4: Lawyer time. It is important enough, and it's not petty.

[AHTOXA]

Yes, my folks tried to ask them nicely. My dad's a very polite guy, thus "fight fire with fire won't work".

I like the idea of recording the event. I will have to borrow my roomie's video camera and teach my folks how to use it.

Media is also a great idea, I think. I've gotta think about this further.

[AHTOXA]

I don't know. Probably wouldn't be their first choice but it's nice like I will call in the media without them. If anything, they will be the ones dealing with everything.

I'm just digging for some non-confrontational ideas.

[theholycow]

Well, there's always soundproofing...or earplugs.

I like these:

[1974Alfa5spd]

Well, there's always soundproofing...or earplugs.

I like these:

Fail. That's not fixing the problem, that's only putting it in the corner so you don't have to deal with it.

+1 on the recording
+1 on Media (get them to say stuff about the management ignoring pleas)
And a definite +1 on kicking in the door holding an M-16, but that's just me...

[LHOswald]

yeah that picture of the GI kicking the door was epic. honestly if noone is going to deal with it because...well lets face it, the only reason they dont want to deal with it is because it would be a hassle to them...then you need to bring it to the attention of others so that something can be done. i think the lawyer should definitely be last step. theres no reason you should have to pay money for something just because people upstairs are being assholes.

[the dumblonde]

Knock on the neighbor’s door and then release ferrel ferrets into the apartment. That should fix them up real quick.

[theholycow]

Well, there's always soundproofing...or earplugs.

I like these:
[img]http://www.ovm.co.uk/shop/images/earplu ... 40.jpg[img]

Fail. That's not fixing the problem, that's only putting it in the corner so you don't have to deal with it.

Meh. I was just responding to this:

I'm just digging for some non-confrontational ideas.

There'ss no non-confrontational way to get them stop. That's not how "non-confrontational" works. Earplugs are.

[comingbackdown]

Well, there's always soundproofing...or earplugs.

I like these:

Fail. That's not fixing the problem, that's only putting it in the corner so you don't have to deal with it.

+1 on the recording
+1 on Media (get them to say stuff about the management ignoring pleas)
And a definite +1 on kicking in the door holding an M-16, but that's just me...

Lulz.

Definite +1 on the recording. Then you can call the cops, and when the neighbors deny shit, just go "Oh, really? Officer, if you'd be so kind as to come over here and watch this video..."