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Dealing
with Noisy Neighbors Who Are Keeping You From Getting Good
Sleep
Blocking
noise from entering your house and bedroom or drowning it out
can be effective in helping you to get a better night's sleep.
However, the most effective (and usually the least expensive)
way to battle the noise is to prevent it at its source.
While some sources of noise that enter your home, such
as traffic, are often beyond your control, other sources of
noise are in your control to an extent. Barking dogs, car
alarms, screaming children, loud music and more, often come
from your neighbors.
Overcoming Fear of Confrontation
Most people, I have found, avoid confrontation at almost all
costs, including confronting a neighbor about noise. A few
years ago, I moved into a new neighborhood. One of the homes
on the block had a dog that barked day and night (especially
night) with the loudest volume I've ever heard. The dog had
one of those higher-pitch barks that would go right down your
spine.
Several neighbors told me that the dog had been barking like
that for years and that it really bothered them. When I asked
what steps had been taken to deal with the problem, they told
me that nothing had been done. Keep in mind that the man with
the barking dog was not some mobster who would have anyone
who complained shot dead. He was just a normal guy.
But all of my neighbors were so irrationally afraid of confrontation
that they preferred suffering with the barking dog (and losing
sleep) instead of doing something about it. (The end of the
story, by the way, is a happy one. I did speak to the man
with the dog a couple of times and the dog stopped barking.)
Assertiveness Help
If the above story hits home for you -- if you don't talk
to your neighbors about noise because you hate confrontation
-- then I hope you will find the links below helpful.
How
to Confront a Noisy Neighbor(s)
Once you are ready to confront your neighbor about noise, here's
what to do:
- Talk
to the problem neighbor(s). This should be the first step
that you take. And you should make sure that you are polite
and respectful. Don't approach the neighbor when you are
angry. If you prefer, you can leave a note instead of talking
to them directly. Inform the neighbor of the problem in
detail and that you would appreciate their addressing the
issue. Remember that many people, for one reason or another,
are not aware that their noise is a problem for others.
- Warn
the problem neighbor(s). Many times the first step ends
the problem. But if it doesn't, repeat your request to the
neighbor either in person or in writing, and also tell them
that if the noise does not stop you'll be forced to contact
the authorities.
- Call
the police. This should be done only as a last resort because
any relationship you have with your neighbor will likely
be damaged beyond repair once you call the police on them.
If you do call the police, you'll likely get better cooperation
and sympathy from them if you've tried your best to reason
with the problem neighbor on your own beforehand.
Click
here
for more detailed information on how to handle noisy neighbors.
See how dealing with noisy neighbors compares to other noise
solutions in the comparison
grid.
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