We all live our lives differently, but most importantly, everyone needs peace and quiet. It is important to consider the level of noise you make, in order not to inconvenience others in your neighborhood.
However, life is not a quiet event; everyone cannot remain silent but let everything be done in moderation. Other tenants in your compound want to enjoy the accommodation they paid for too.
Therefore, how many noise complaints can you get? You can get several noise complaints if you continue making noise without considering your next-door neighbor. However, the amount of noise to get before eviction depends on the hour and number of times the complaints were made against you. There is no specific number.
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What are Noise Complaints?
A noise complaint is a statement in which dissatisfaction about a loud and unpleasant sound is expressed. Noise is a loud or unpleasant sound. To you, you might not be making noise, but to others, you are. Noise is relative, you should note.
Who Can Make a Noise Complaint Against You?
If you produce noise from your apartment or compound consistently, your neighbors can file a noise complaint against you. Your co-tenants, next-compound neighbors, landlord, and anyone affected by the noise you generate can make a noise complaint against you.
You can also make a noise complaint against your neighbor, as well, if you are uncomfortable with the level of noise generated from the apartment.
Noise complaints are typically made in writing by neighbors to the landlord or via text. Some complaints have been made via sound recordings (to serve as proof of the noise disturbance) to the landlord.
Neighbors can also call the police on you if you cause unreasonable disturbances in the compound, a police report is usually made.
How Many Noise Complaints Can You Get Before Eviction?
You may be wondering how many noise complaints you can receive before you get evicted. Well, the good news is you will not get an eviction notice immediately after a noise complaint is made. Though persistent noise disturbance from you can result in a definite response from your landlord.
As you know, tenants in the same compound with you and neighbors in your vicinity are entitled to enjoy their properties quietly. This does not imply that all the tenants should be silent whenever they are in the compound. It means that there is punishment for neighbors who surpass the reasonable noise limit allowed in the compound.
Now, “reasonable” is the keyword here. What is defined as reasonable varies from person to person. The music blaring from your loudspeakers might not be noise to you but it might be unreasonable noise to your neighbors. Banging or stomping your feet on the floor might be overlooked by some, noticed by other tenants, and many other instances.
Your landlord will not evict you based on his or her personal dislike for you, it can not happen. Your co-tenants can make proof of your noise disturbances, approach you peacefully to solve the issue. If you do not desist from making such noise, your co-tenants can use the proof to kickstart an eviction process.
Nevertheless, the number of noise complaints you can get before you are evicted might be stated in your lease.
Some landlords specifically state what the breaking point is. Oftentimes, if a noise complaint results in a visit to the apartment by the law enforcement agencies, your landlord can start an eviction process.
This depends on the content of the lease. By law, landlords are instructed to issue warnings to tenants when noise complaints are received before issuing an eviction notice.
Nowadays, in order to pre-inform the tenants, many landlords set quiet hours and noise limits to regulate the level of noise generated by tenants in the compound. Tenants who violate the limits can be issued eviction notices after several warnings.
As a new landlord, you should learn from past incidences between other landlords and their tenants. Insert noise limits in leases you give to your tenants.
Reports of noise disturbances are usually brought to the notice of the landlord by other tenants. However, you cannot issue an eviction notice to a tenant based on that report only. Proof is needed to issue a warning.
Landlords can also get involved in settling noise disputes between tenants. A peaceful settlement can resolve the noise issue.
In summary, your landlord will need to issue several warnings to you before an eviction notice will be sent to you.
Can You be Jailed if you Pass the Legal Limit for Noise?
According to Seattle Police Department, noise is unlawful if:
- Noise occurs on a frequent basis and is continuous
- Noise is made in a residential area
- Noise occurs late at night or early mornings
- Noise is made repeatedly and knowingly after warnings from the police
The police will issue a warning to you if you are reported for generating abnormal noise in the vicinity. Your neighbors are permitted to keep reporting cases of noise disturbances to the police as much as possible.
After several warnings, you will be fined if it is proven that you are constantly making noise. You can also face up to 30 days in jail for several noise complaints.
To avoid this, when a noise complaint is made against you, make amends and reduce the level of noise you produce. Ensure you check with them from time to time to be sure you have not violated their quietness.
What Can You Do if your Neighbour is Making False Noise Complaints Against You?
If your neighbor keeps making false noise complaints about you, you can seek a civil settlement with the neighbor by talking things through, speaking your mind, and listening to your neighbor’s side of the story. You can also get a witness to prove that you do not make unnecessary noise.
It is advisable to get in touch with your attorney if the noise complaints continue. Your attorney will file a lawsuit against your neighbor and charges will be made.
Some neighbors love to cause trouble and discomfort to others by filing false noise complaints about them. All you should do is talk to your attorney and sue them.
Final Thoughts
A noise complaint can be made against you if you’re in the habit of constantly exceeding the allowed noise limit in your apartment. Your landlord cannot issue an eviction notice to you immediately a noise complaint is made against you though. Warnings will be issued before the eviction notice arrives.
So, try to be of good behavior in the apartment. Peace and quietness is a right and benefits you and other tenants should enjoy in their properties.
