We live in a very quiet residential area with small bungalow type homes. Many of the people on our block are elderly and we have one 10 year old son. All our neighbors are great- but there is a problem.
When we moved in the house on one side of us was occupied by the very elderly mother of some other neighbors. This house is only about 10 feet from our own, our bedroom windows face it.
The elderly lady passed away last summer. Her daughter and son in law live on the next block over and have always been WONDERFUL neighbors. When we first moved in they welcomed us to the area, their teenagers have baby sat my son, they loaned us yard tools our first summer- just really nice people.
But now they are renting out the house next to us to their niece and nephew who are both in their early 20s. Previously they were both living at home with their mom, and their uncle told us they really wanted to live there and said we should let him know if any 'issues' ever came up.
This was last summer. They seem like nice enough kids, but they have had a LOT of parties. At first we thought it was natural, they wanted to show the house to their friends, etc. We complained about noise on a few nights when it got late and also when we found some beer cans on our lawn. But it didn't really die down.
They have parties that go on way past midnight and play loud music that wakes us up, even with our storm windows still down. Their friends leave loudly- slam the front door, laugh and carry on in the yard, blast their radios and rev their engines- it seems like since we've complained about them to the uncle, their friends are WORSE.
We've called the cops a few times because it was SO LATE we didn't want to call the uncle (we talked to him the next day). They had a loud party on Christmas night and again the night before Easter- the pattern seems to be we complain, their uncle or the cops talk to them, they quiet down for a week or two, then start up again.
This last weekend, we called once at 12:30 AM, the cops came, they settled down- and then started really BLASTING the music again at 1:30. They were given a fine this time, and I called their aunt again, but I am just totally frustrated! The girl told me that we 'have never been nice' to them and that it was Friday night and they could have people over if they want to! I am not arguing that- but the party goes on for hours, and then their friends all leave very loudly around 2 am or so.
We really don't want to ruin our relationship with the aunt and uncle who have always been such nice neighbors, bust just asking them to talk to them is not doing any good. Am I being crazy? Asking for a quiet-down at midnight seems reasonable to me in a residential area, even on a weekend. It is seriously like living next to a cheap bar with all the coming and going and smoke blowing into our yard and loud music, etc. Any other ideas??
Well... so far, so good! This last time the cops were called, they issued a fine and a court date to the neighbors, so they will have to take off work to go to court, as well as pay the fine. The police also assured us that 10 PM is normally the 'noise' cut-off time in our town and to keep calling them and that they would also be ticketing any cars on the street after 2 am.
I called the aunt again and she was very upset and frustrated and said they also did not want to be dealing with this when summer came. She spoke to them again, and said that possibly we should all meet and talk about what was appropriate and what wasn't. I don't know if she said something different to them but-
the other night was a Blackhawks playoff game and they had several people over to watch it. But- they were all quiet, no loud music, and everyone seemed to pack it in about midnight and they all left quietly!! A total change!! Then this weekend the aunt and uncle were having a family party at their house and one of the neighbors asked if they could cut through the space between our two garages to get over to the house. He was very polite and I told him that was fine and that we never minded when the neighbor's kids cut through the side that way.
When we were out in the backyard gardening, his sister talked to us a little over the fence. It was a little awkward, but we were both being polite and making conversation, so I am hoping it is the start of new, friendlier, more polite neighbors!!
I am hoping we won't have to call the police again!! Thanks to everyone for all the advice and support- its good to know that we weren't being 'mean' neighbors!
Keep calling the cops. Call the local number (not 911) and you can report it anonymously. Are other neighbors bothered by it? If so, get them to call too.
Keep calling the police. It sounds like these tenants really don't have a good sense of reality, and aren't going to get it until they are in more severe trouble - whether more fines from the city, or an eviction. (and their behavior when they have parties is not going to be reasonable, either, because they are drunk or high or both.) Their relatives are probably not going to take such a drastic step until they themselves are in trouble for having too many police calls to the property.
I am a landlord and occasionally get tenants that just don't seem to know how to be a good neighbor, and requests to be quiet and friendly talks go nowhere. It takes visits from the police or a threat of eviction. But I also can't evict based on one or two complaints from a neighbor, so it's VERY helpful to have the record of police visits.
I would go over to the Aunt and Uncles house when the kids are having a party and have them go over and ask them to keep it down. If they get loud again and hour later go over again to the Aunt and Uncles. Maybe if you involve the Aunt and Uncle at 1 in the morning they will get the hint.
There has to be other neighbors that are annoyed with this inconsiderate behavior. How about getting the other neighbors to join you to sign a petition to get the inconsiderate jerks out of there.
I would tell the people (aunt/uncle) its past awkward and something has to be done immediately.
Or if that doesn't work this is mean.. don't know if I would do it myself but your desperate to sleep. Why don't you play your music real loud in the morning when they are trying to sleep. Have a bunch of your childrens friend outside playing hide n seek loudly.Good luck.
I would just keep calling the police, maybe even mention that you know the kids are renting so and the police might fine the kids as well as talk to the actually owner of the house...... also if the uncle own the house or renting it out HE has to either get it under control OR kick them out (if these kids are truly paying to live there then they are tenants and therefore the uncle has to treat them as such to keep the peace in the neighborhood).
Most cities have quiet hour rules/laws, find out when that time goes in effect as well the distance it effects. For example, say the law is no noise after 9pm from a property can be heard 12 ft away. At 9:30pm if the noise is still happening I go over and say please quiet down, at 9:45pm or even 10pm the noise is still at the same level or still too loud I go over and say quiet down or I will call the police, 10:15pm if I can still hear the noise I call the non-emergency police number and report it. When I call in I say about how far the houses are apart, that I have gone over and asked them to turn the music or whatever down twice (in your case you can also mention that you know the house is owned by someone else and the kids are renting... the police will look into it and will fine the kids as well as tell the uncle to do something about or get fined himself). The OWNER of the house has the right to do something about AND can do something about... make sure the police know these kids are renting!
If you find beer cans or whatever other trash that you know is from next door also call the police about it... that is littering and the kids will be fined for that too!
We had a similar issue (the house next door is twelve feet away and our bedroom window is by the driveway & their side door). After MANY police calls, fines and so on the family shaped up (well actually they moved and sold their house, now we have a great neighbor).
I would just stop reporting things to the aunt and uncle...it's obviously not doing anything but straining your relationship. Your requests are not outrageous, but the aunt and uncle have no control over their "tenants". It's best to deal straight with the young adults living next to you and reporting it to the police when you see fit. Hopefully you are not the only one reporting things to the police. Eventually after enough fines and police visits surely they will learn their lesson. If they are planning on living there for the long haul...I would see about planting bushes, bamboo or fast growing trees to act as a barrier to the sounds and trash (we had to do this once when we lived elsewhere). Good luck.
personally? i'd call the aunt and uncle and tell them you'll call the cops after 11 if its that loud again, each time. its rude. you can try talking to the people that live there but it sounds like they don't care anyway. its not a college town.
So the aunt and uncle told you to let them know if any "issues" come up? Then you call them each and every time they wake you up. Call the police each and every time they wake you up. Eventually, one of them will put a stop to it. It is against the law to disturb the peace, isn't it?
I would also videotape one of these parties, so you have evidence of it and be sure you have the time stamp on. This is ridiculous. They do not have the right to do this. Talk to the neighbor on the other side of them and see what they are experiencing. And yes, I would also talk to as many neighbors as possible to sign a petition to get them out of there.
There is nothing worse than inconsiderate and rude neighbors.
I agree with most of the previous posters - - Don't call the aunt & uncle anymore - - Keep calling the police. Especially if the continue after the police have been there earlier that night and they continue the partying. I would keep calling and keep calling. They will get tired of paying fines!
Forget the aunt & uncle. Call the cops. There are laws about that for a reason.
I feel for you!! It seems like you are way more patient than I would be! Keep calling the police - hopefully they'll keep getting fined and run out of money for parties!! If the fines keep coming, maybe it'll be a wakeup call for them - if they want to party like that, they need to go somewhere else! Good luck!
I agree with the other comments: I wouldn't bother the Aunt and Uncle anymore. They are renting the home, but they really don't have any control over the kids living there. They (the kids) obviously have the attitude that if the neighbors don't like it, they will only make it worse. Therefore, I would continue to call the cops. My guess is that you are not the only neighbor calling the police. You could try to talk to them: but from what you said, I doubt it will do any good.
I am in agreement with several of the posts! Stop calling the Aunt and Uncle. Keep calling the police...Over time these individuals will get tired of paying fines. The cops will get tired of going and the fines will continue to pile up...Most people in their 20's like that can't keep affording to pay for it. You are on the right track...keep calling and also keep track of when you do and write down all the indicents.
I'm glad to see that it has been resolved for the most part. My neighbors son likes to party late a night during the week. He doesn't limit it to the weekends or holidays. Sadly he has children close in age to mine, his are about 6 and 4, and some nights I hear them outside with the party. We constantly call the cops. Midnight and later is way too late for a quiet street (quiet town) to be bothered by ruckus. However I don't think it's helped much. Like you they party next to our bedroom window, if they were to do it in their backyard then it wouldn't bother anyone, yard is big enough. When the duplexes were built down the street we've gotten more people being out, loud and stupid in the middle of the night. Maybe they'll all grow up and realize that 2 am is not the time to be yelling or partying in the middle of the street.
Do you have a homeowner's association? They could be of some help to you by corresponding with the homeowners on your behalf. They might even implement fines on the homeowner. I would continue to call the police WHENEVER you think they are being too loud. Especially when they wake you up in the middle of the night. I would also talk to some of the other neighbors to get them to call the police too, so you are not the only one. Depending on where you live, if the police are called enough times, they start fining the landlord as well, usually causing the landlord to evict the tenant. I used to have a very noisy neighbor: they put a surround sound stereo system in their garage and threw ridiculously loud parties on their driveway, instead of in their backyard. I called the cops numerous times, and finally they asked me to tell them when they were being too loud, instead of calling the cops, so they wouldn't get in trouble anymore. They finally moved away, but new neighbors moved in that are almost as loud, but it's only during the day and not at night, so I don't call the cops. I know how frustrating it can be not to have peace and quiet in your own home. Good luck!
If it's all of the time, like you said, then no you are not being crazy. They need to learn that along with "home ownership" comes responsibility. Not just to the house itself but to the neighbors around you. I would have to guess that their parents are similar when it comes to parties and whatnot. The aunt and uncle might not be, but I bet the parents are. If they came from a home where they were taught to be respectful of their neighbors, I doubt that this type of behavior would occur on a regular basis. Sounds like these kids could be my neighbor's kids in 15 years. lol You need to keep doing what you are doing. Call the police if it's too loud, too late at night. Pick your battles, but keep calling. Summer is coming and I'm sure the next thing you are going to have to deal with is bean bags being tossed at 2am. Heck we have "adults" with young kids next door that don't know when to call it quits. Parties, that they have in the summer are never fun for any of the neighbors and it's only because it goes on and on all night. It's about respect, some people have it and others don't. Since they are only renting, if they are bothered by the cops enough, I would have to guess, they won't be around for long. The cops are going to get to a point where they are so frustrated with being there that they will eventually lay down the law with them. After enough fines, they may finally learn their lesson. I guess the only thing to do is either tell them that you don't mind them having parties, they just need to keep it down after a certain time or you just keep calling the cops. I wonder if there parents are ever there to visit? Good luck, I feel for you, especially since summer is coming & so are the outdoor parties.
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I would stick to just calling the police. Eventually the police will get tired of coming out to the house and issue a ticket. After a few tickets the kids should learn a lesson. I feel sorry for your family. We are blessed to live in a quiet neighborhood.
I agree that you should stop contacting the aunt and uncle. They can't really do anything to control your neighbors, other than to ask them for more consideration.
Have you ever tried talking to the neighbors yourself? Tell them how many times the noise from their parties has disturbed your sleep, and how hard that has been on you the next day. Find out what the noise restrictions are in your town, and let them know you'll happily tolerate noise up until the legal limit, but that you hope they will recognize that those laws are there to protect people's very reasonable need for sleep. If they seem to have nothing but attitude, quietly state that you apparently have no choice but to call the cops, every time.
Hearing directly from their "victims" and realizing there is a human cost of their fun may or may not make a difference. But it might be worth a try.
I had a neighbor whose barking dogs were a severe and ongoing problem, and we never got any relief until he moved away. The county was unable to make a dent in his attitude, nor were complaints from other neighbors, and after a couple of a reduction in funding closed the animal control department entirely. But not all problems will end that badly – good luck.
Stop calling the uncle and aunt. You've done that and it isn't working. Instead, start making notes of when incidents happen. Call the cops over and over again. Treat them like adults because they are adults and they are your neighbors. You don't have to ruin the relationship with the uncle and aunt. It's really not their business.
Wow, almost identical to our situation. We lived between 2 retirees also. One of the neighbors died and his granddaughter and her boyfriend/husband (were not sure) moved in with a bunch of rowdy kids and then they take in alot of strays. Nobody works over there and there's always people hanging out on the side porch which faces our house. I've have had to sheppard my kids inside on several occasions because of all the profanity, drinking, etc. My husband tells me not to get so worked up about it. I try to pretend they dont exist but there kids are always shouting or throwing things over the fence onto our property. I've called the police several times but to no avail. My husband tells me to just be patient because there is no doubt illegal activity going on over there but it's been almost 4 years. I know this is not very helpful but I sympathize. If you want peace in your home you have got to take the risk with the aunt and uncle and tell them how unhappy the situation is making you. I wish I had that option.
from your post it almost sounds like aunt and uncle were expecting this.
Have the aunt and uncle been out late at night and witnessed any of this? Maybe try calling them one more time during such an event. Or invite them over for a late dinner, or snack some night that it's likely the niece/nephew will have a party, so they can see the coming and going.
Are any of these kids getting street parking tickets? It use to be that, unless you call your car in for the night, they start ticketing after a certain time, maybe 1am? So, when you are reporting them in the middle of the night, be sure to mention a bunch of cars out front. It sucks to pay for parking tickets. Not many houses in OP have driveways, unless of course they are in the alley (which they should not be blocking).
You shouldn't have to play hardball, but they haven't exactly tried to be nice themselves, or made any apparent change........ I hate calling the police, but if they are truly disturbing the peace, and it's past the quiet hour (if OP has one) or waking your household up in the middle of the night, then I would continue to call it in. The n/n have no respect for the aunt/uncle advice, since they keep doing said behaviors. You shouldn't have to tattle to the aunt and uncle. Having a house entrusted to you, should mean some form of responsibility. Having a party, with noise, the giver should consider times, and some measure of respect for their neighborhood. Otherwise, go out.
Good luck. Use the methods from the village ordinances and police that you can, keep records of how often you call in, or speak to the neighbors, pictures of your yards from the street, etc.
Maybe install a few floodlights. LOL
