Staying On Good Terms With Apartment Complex Neighbors

By Don Gleisner


There are certain advantages to renting an apartment as opposed to owning a home. But as with everything, there are pros and cons. One of the most common complaints about apartments or condos is the tension that close quarters with the neighbors can cause. While sitcoms often portray positive, or at least very comedic, relationships with neighbors, this is often not the case in real life. Sometimes, problems, complaints and disagreements can arise between you and your fellow tenants. What are some of the potential issues you should be aware of if you're not familiar with life in an apartment complex?

Most new apartment complexes have decent insulation in the walls. But still, since you'll be sharing at least one wall with one or more neighbors, there's a good chance you will be dealing with noise pollution at some point. Over time, it could grate on you if they consistently have the TV or music volume too loud, have rowdy parties or have loud "discussions". On the flipside, you can do your part to be a courteous and exemplary neighbor by doing your best to avoid making noise when others are likely to be sleeping.

Speaking of being courteous, having a positive relationship with the neighbors will make apartment dwelling more pleasant for all involved. When neighbors are willing to calmly discuss issues and compromise, apartment life can be so much easier. Granted, not everyone can be reasoned with, but you can at least say you did your part.

If you choose to host parties in your apartment, it is the responsibility of the renter to keep the actions of the guests in check. The host should do his part to make sure the party doesn't upset the neighbors, or make them uncomfortable.

If you work an odd schedule, such as a night shift, and sleep during the day, you should be aware that it can be hard adjusting to life in an apartment. If you sleep during the day, you will likely be exposed to much more noise than while trying to get some shuteye, since the other renters will likely assume that everyone sleeps at around the same time.

Even if you explain your situation to the neighbors, it's not really reasonable to expect that they'll completely change their lifestyle. They have to do their chores sometime. So be prepared to deal with vacuum cleaners and other loud activities. They have to do such things during the day, since they'd be disturbing a lot more people by doing it at night.

So what can you do? You may have to make your own adjustment, such as buying earplugs or a white noise machine. Conversely, if you work an odd schedule, you should make an effort to be quiet if you're awake during the hours that your neighbors sleep. Fostering positive relations with the neighbors can make any situation more livable, and it's especially important when living in an apartment.




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