What to do abou disrespectful self-entitled neighbor?

[typewriter]

I have lived in my studio for over five years --I am the longest tenant the owners have ever had as they bought the property only a couple years before I moved in.

I have been extremely happy here and have had EXCELLENT relations with neighbors (as I have had every else).

This last year a new neighbor moved in and has caused multiple repeat problems --I have had to call the police because she invited two different guys over at 4am for a little action and one was drunk and started a fight. Another time I had to call the police because she had multiple drunkards over at 2am and they were vandalizing my property. These are only examples...

This is a small peaceful property with a house, office, and my unit in which I live upstairs and she's downstairs. That's it. It's not a complex in Chico! Mostly young professionals live here.

I have done everything I know how: I have discussed it with the owners twice who have spoken with her. I have suggested agreements that we both committed to THREE SEPARATE TIMES and every time she disregards them. I have clearly told her that (save the violence) I have no problem with any of the noise culprits except for the fact that they are weekdays between midnight and 5am. Like it's so unreasonable to want to sleep in my home? I even asked her to let me know when she plans to have people over late so I could make myself scarce...nothing. I have apologized relentlessly for using the bathroom in the middle of the night because it disturbs her.

Never once has she suggested or done anything proactive to address the situation --when I approach her the consistent response is "you...fill in the blank...too." I have begged her to tell me specifics of what I can do to keep the noise down on my end, and though she claims I make noise equal to her brothel she can never give me any specific cause or possible intervention to amend the problem...only "you're noisy too" to deflect from taking any responsibility (she's significantly older than I am by the way).

I said that if it happened again (after months of trying to work things out, all one sided) that I would get an attorney. So if anyone has referrals or other suggestions as to what to do please let me know. I'd like to stay but if the only option is to move I will, but I refuse to pay a cent to leave my home because of someone else.

A previous tenant who was my neighbor for over two years has agreed to attest to the fact that my noise level is very respectful. These are old apartments with little insulation in a high traffic area so I expect a regular amount of noise. And I feel that living her for so long I have an extremely reasonable expectation of other neighbors behavior/noise level. Basically I feel taken advantage of --the owners (who otherwise are quite great) made a bad decision in the interest of filling the apartment quickly; my neighbor is unstable self absorbed and immature and creates the problems; and then I'm left to make suggestion after suggestion; agreement after agreement only for her to blow me off. And not to play the cancer card, but I am ill and seriously need my sleep.

Thanks for listening...

[Gary Jensen]

Well...

I would mail this letter to your landlords and let them know that you will move out if this continues for another month.

Get an attorney if necessary. Legal help is a lot cheaper if you get it through a legal insurance company such as ARAG or Prepaid Legal Services but they both penalize new customers (ARAG has a no service policy for 3 months and PLS for previous membership cases but you can skirt this last one).

The other thing is simply to move out. Remember that your landlords are offering a product/service in the market place and that they selling you (every month) a bad one. Move out, move on, and get a better product.

If you get any public assistance because of your state of health or possibly because of your income level, you might try telling these offices what is happening and the consequences to your health. This last bit of advice might be like pissing in the wind but it might help you out a little.

Ultimately, the very best solution is to own your own home by yourself or with a partner. But I understand how impossible this might be for you.

Wish you the best,

Gary



I have lived in my studio for over five years --I am the longest tenant the owners have ever had as they bought the property only a couple years before I moved in.

I have been extremely happy here and have had EXCELLENT relations with neighbors (as I have had every else).

This last year a new neighbor moved in and has caused multiple repeat problems --I have had to call the police because she invited two different guys over at 4am for a little action and one was drunk and started a fight. Another time I had to call the police because she had multiple drunkards over at 2am and they were vandalizing my property. These are only examples...

This is a small peaceful property with a house, office, and my unit in which I live upstairs and she's downstairs. That's it. It's not a complex in Chico! Mostly young professionals live here.

I have done everything I know how: I have discussed it with the owners twice who have spoken with her. I have suggested agreements that we both committed to THREE SEPARATE TIMES and every time she disregards them. I have clearly told her that (save the violence) I have no problem with any of the noise culprits except for the fact that they are weekdays between midnight and 5am. Like it's so unreasonable to want to sleep in my home? I even asked her to let me know when she plans to have people over late so I could make myself scarce...nothing. I have apologized relentlessly for using the bathroom in the middle of the night because it disturbs her.

Never once has she suggested or done anything proactive to address the situation --when I approach her the consistent response is "you...fill in the blank...too." I have begged her to tell me specifics of what I can do to keep the noise down on my end, and though she claims I make noise equal to her brothel she can never give me any specific cause or possible intervention to amend the problem...only "you're noisy too" to deflect from taking any responsibility (she's significantly older than I am by the way).

I said that if it happened again (after months of trying to work things out, all one sided) that I would get an attorney. So if anyone has referrals or other suggestions as to what to do please let me know. I'd like to stay but if the only option is to move I will, but I refuse to pay a cent to leave my home because of someone else.

A previous tenant who was my neighbor for over two years has agreed to attest to the fact that my noise level is very respectful. These are old apartments with little insulation in a high traffic area so I expect a regular amount of noise. And I feel that living her for so long I have an extremely reasonable expectation of other neighbors behavior/noise level. Basically I feel taken advantage of --the owners (who otherwise are quite great) made a bad decision in the interest of filling the apartment quickly; my neighbor is unstable self absorbed and immature and creates the problems; and then I'm left to make suggestion after suggestion; agreement after agreement only for her to blow me off. And not to play the cancer card, but I am ill and seriously need my sleep.

Thanks for listening...

[MsTerry]

you have two basic problems that you don't have control over, but that you would like to get a handle on.
The other tenant is older (we don't know how old you are), that means she is set in her ways and thinks you are the problem.
The landlord doesn't like a vacancy, and landlord prefer to rent out to women. (we don't know if you are female)

your best bet is to continue to document the events by calling the police and having it documented. The landlord has a duty to provide a reasonable use (call Len Tillum) of the apartment. If you can't sleep,(disturbing of the peace) you don't have reasonable use of the apartment.
It would behoove you to find someone else to take over the apartment, so that you can go to the owner and tell him, you already found a new tenant, all they have to do is kick her (the nuisance) out.
I believe you can take both of them to small claims court for disturbing the peace and breaking of agreements.
Get the agreements in writing, otherwise it is just talk-talk-talk-talk


I have lived in my studio for over five years --I am the longest tenant the owners have ever had as they bought the property only a couple years before I moved in.

I have been extremely happy here and have had EXCELLENT relations with neighbors (as I have had every else).

This last year a new neighbor moved in and has caused multiple repeat problems --I have had to call the police because she invited two different guys over at 4am for a little action and one was drunk and started a fight. Another time I had to call the police because she had multiple drunkards over at 2am and they were vandalizing my property. These are only examples...

This is a small peaceful property with a house, office, and my unit in which I live upstairs and she's downstairs. That's it. It's not a complex in Chico! Mostly young professionals live here.

I have done everything I know how: I have discussed it with the owners twice who have spoken with her. I have suggested agreements that we both committed to THREE SEPARATE TIMES and every time she disregards them. I have clearly told her that (save the violence) I have no problem with any of the noise culprits except for the fact that they are weekdays between midnight and 5am. Like it's so unreasonable to want to sleep in my home? I even asked her to let me know when she plans to have people over late so I could make myself scarce...nothing. I have apologized relentlessly for using the bathroom in the middle of the night because it disturbs her.

Never once has she suggested or done anything proactive to address the situation --when I approach her the consistent response is "you...fill in the blank...too." I have begged her to tell me specifics of what I can do to keep the noise down on my end, and though she claims I make noise equal to her brothel she can never give me any specific cause or possible intervention to amend the problem...only "you're noisy too" to deflect from taking any responsibility (she's significantly older than I am by the way).

I said that if it happened again (after months of trying to work things out, all one sided) that I would get an attorney. So if anyone has referrals or other suggestions as to what to do please let me know. I'd like to stay but if the only option is to move I will, but I refuse to pay a cent to leave my home because of someone else.

A previous tenant who was my neighbor for over two years has agreed to attest to the fact that my noise level is very respectful. These are old apartments with little insulation in a high traffic area so I expect a regular amount of noise. And I feel that living her for so long I have an extremely reasonable expectation of other neighbors behavior/noise level. Basically I feel taken advantage of --the owners (who otherwise are quite great) made a bad decision in the interest of filling the apartment quickly; my neighbor is unstable self absorbed and immature and creates the problems; and then I'm left to make suggestion after suggestion; agreement after agreement only for her to blow me off. And not to play the cancer card, but I am ill and seriously need my sleep.

Thanks for listening...

[Sylph]

I feel for you. I own my property and live 'out in the country'... and I have neighbor issues (stinky, noisy dogs and parrots) right next door and another new neighbor who likes to fire up his extremely loud Cobra sportscar early in the morning...this engine is louder than a Harley's, it's earthshaking. My enjoyment of my property is affected but I definitely have no wish or real option to move somewhere else. I have been 'round and 'round with the dog lady but I haven't told the new neighbor I don't love the roar of the Cobra.

The difficulty for you is that I think it’s the property owner you will have to sue. The owner hasn’t been responsive to your problems so far, and is not going to like being sued! If you want to sue, if that is even advisable, you need to document with details and dates every incidence of the disturbances and have testimony from your former neighbors.

I think your best bet is to wait her out if you really don't want to move. She sounds pretty wild and she may be somewhat of a rolling stone and move on in a while.

About nuisance suits through small claims:
https://books.google.com/books?id=JBgb2w_8UNQC&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=nuisance+neighbor+sue+renter&source=web&ots=NobKGVNXNF&sig=YK9r6-qc59CmRR1y2-ZZv1k7ttA&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA45,M1 (https://books.google.com/books?id=JBgb2w_8UNQC&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=nuisance+neighbor+sue+renter&source=web&ots=NobKGVNXNF&sig=YK9r6-qc59CmRR1y2-ZZv1k7ttA&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result)

From "How to file and small claims suit in Oroville, California:
3. Notify the Nuisance Owner
Write a letter to the property owner letting her or him know
that if no action is taken within 10 days, the neighborhood
group will collectively sue her or him in Small Claims Court
for maintaining a public nuisance. Send the letter certified
mail, return receipt requested. If the property owner still
does not act, then you may proceed with your Small Claim

[Malene]

I would pull the landlords to the side to talk to them. I would tell them that at this time the apartment they rent out to you is not fulfilling the purposes to which you rent it.

I would also tell them point blank that at this time the situation has become completely untenable. Let them know that in no uncertain terms you expect xyz of your apartment. Make sure to have copies of the police reports with you. Even if they know the police reports are there its an extra weapon to have them actually available. It is also a good idea to run a tape recorder to actually tape noises.

Then ask them if they are prepared to do the work to get rid of their other tenant - Remind them that people who live like this tenant lives often dont last long in a place. And with the noise level she produces it might be difficult for them to rent out your place.

A statement such as "you should know by now that I stay for the long term as a renter, but with the way this other woman lives she might not be here as long, would you rather hold on to her or me?"

If they dont give you an absolute promise that they are willing to get the noise under control then you know where you stand - Time to look for something else :(.

If they say something about talking to her again, or getting another promise from her then remind them about the amount of promises already given and broken, remind them what you expect of the apartment, and give them a limited time frame to get it under control - 1 or 2 weeks. Continue to document the disturbance and continue to take the documentation to them.

If they do want to get rid of their tenant then it shouldnt be hard to do with the police reports in hand. That should be sufficient cause to get rid of that lease. It will take 1 or 2 months though to get all the paper work lined up, and the eviction put through.

Good Luck!

Malene





I have lived in my studio for over five years --I am the longest tenant the owners have ever had as they bought the property only a couple years before I moved in.

I have been extremely happy here and have had EXCELLENT relations with neighbors (as I have had every else).

This last year a new neighbor moved in and has caused multiple repeat problems --I have had to call the police because she invited two different guys over at 4am for a little action and one was drunk and started a fight. Another time I had to call the police because she had multiple drunkards over at 2am and they were vandalizing my property. These are only examples...

This is a small peaceful property with a house, office, and my unit in which I live upstairs and she's downstairs. That's it. It's not a complex in Chico! Mostly young professionals live here.

I have done everything I know how: I have discussed it with the owners twice who have spoken with her. I have suggested agreements that we both committed to THREE SEPARATE TIMES and every time she disregards them. I have clearly told her that (save the violence) I have no problem with any of the noise culprits except for the fact that they are weekdays between midnight and 5am. Like it's so unreasonable to want to sleep in my home? I even asked her to let me know when she plans to have people over late so I could make myself scarce...nothing. I have apologized relentlessly for using the bathroom in the middle of the night because it disturbs her.

Never once has she suggested or done anything proactive to address the situation --when I approach her the consistent response is "you...fill in the blank...too." I have begged her to tell me specifics of what I can do to keep the noise down on my end, and though she claims I make noise equal to her brothel she can never give me any specific cause or possible intervention to amend the problem...only "you're noisy too" to deflect from taking any responsibility (she's significantly older than I am by the way).

I said that if it happened again (after months of trying to work things out, all one sided) that I would get an attorney. So if anyone has referrals or other suggestions as to what to do please let me know. I'd like to stay but if the only option is to move I will, but I refuse to pay a cent to leave my home because of someone else.

A previous tenant who was my neighbor for over two years has agreed to attest to the fact that my noise level is very respectful. These are old apartments with little insulation in a high traffic area so I expect a regular amount of noise. And I feel that living her for so long I have an extremely reasonable expectation of other neighbors behavior/noise level. Basically I feel taken advantage of --the owners (who otherwise are quite great) made a bad decision in the interest of filling the apartment quickly; my neighbor is unstable self absorbed and immature and creates the problems; and then I'm left to make suggestion after suggestion; agreement after agreement only for her to blow me off. And not to play the cancer card, but I am ill and seriously need my sleep.

Thanks for listening...

[shellebelle]

I think there are bits and pieces that are great in everyone's responses.

From what I can tell this has become your issue regarding your landlords property. If by chance this can become their issue regarding their property it would take on more value for resolution to them.

With the above in mind:
I would not call the police over the drunks would "seek safety" at your landlords since they share the property with you. I would have the landlords call the police. Now it becomes their issue not yours.

Next incident whatever it is simply call the landlords and ask for intercession. Now this will be very powerful if it is at 3am since no one wants to be bugged then.

Prepare though for making the call so it is friendly, sweet and supportive. Not so and so is being an ass and you need to deal with it. Also if they are farther away from the situation physically (thus maybe not disturbed) making the call to the landlords from the loudest position would be encouraged.

[typewriter]

UPDATE:

Thanks to all who have responded! Your support was very well-received and luckily I was prepared to protect myself with many of the provided suggestions.

Luckily the owners gave her a 30 day notice. I am relieved though sad it came to an end this way...and I hope it truly is the end as it still means thirty days with my not-so-lovely friend and no potential consequences for her since she's already been kicked out. However this is sadly what I hoped for and I am thankful it didn't draw out. I always try to put myself in the other person's mindset to understand their perspective and act compassionately, but this is one of those situations in which I know absolutely that I am right and in the right.

When I posted I felt like I was going to unravel (moving really would have been near-impossible) so I appreciate all the kindness here!

And if anyone knows of someone who needs a great small studio in an excellent location (especially for those who are car-free or aspire to be) let me know! I'll post in the housing section further details.

Thanks again!

[tommy]

Solution = find another place to live. I know this is not what you want to hear.

As a Landlord, I know that it can be extremely difficult to get someone to move. I am towards the end of an eviction of a tenant who was always late with their rent, remodeled & let someone move into a garage, and other things I can't prove. I served the eviction in August, he contested it & it went to court in Sept, and he finally was evicted last week by the Sheriff. I am left with a house, garage and yard/driveway full of junk. It can be extremely difficult and costly to get someone to move who doesn't want to move. It's easier for your landlord to just let it ride.