Did you know that over half of all Americans have been annoyed by noisy neighbors?
While anyone can live near a noisy person, this issue tends to be worse for renters who live in buildings with shared walls. Taking care of noise complaints as a landlord is often tricky because everyone has a right to live their life and enjoy the quiet whenever they want. The ultimate goal is to find tenants who respect others around them, but this isn't always the case.
Are you wondering what your duties are as a landlord when tenants complain about their loud neighbors? Read on for our ultimate guide on how landlords should address noise complaints.
Create Rules About Noisy Tenants in Your Lease
Lots of landlord-tenant issues are clear-cut because there are concrete laws that set boundaries. However, it's important to know that landlords have to deal with noise complaints on their own since no laws exist yet.
Since you can't refer to the law, it's your job to add information about noise levels in your lease. You can describe what kinds of behaviors aren't appropriate and outline how noise complaints will be addressed so tenants know what repercussions to expect.
Ask for Written Complaints About Loud Noises
To avoid legal trouble, landlords should always have a paper trail. This is crucial when it comes to conflict with tenants in case they do decide to take legal action. You should have an organized filing system so you know where all of your evidence is.
Tenants should feel free to talk to you about issues. Sometimes people feel better after venting. However, if they're serious about complaining, ask them to write you a detailed email for your records.
Let Tenants Know When Noise Complaints Have Been Filed
Most landlords have a lenient policy when it comes to noise complaints. A lot of tenants aren't aware of how loud they're being and they'll adjust their behavior to avoid more problems.
You should also inform your tenants through email as well to maintain your paper trail. If your tenants file multiple noise complaints about one tenant after the first warning was issued, you can look into more drastic measures like eviction.
Consider Getting Rental Property Management Services
Managing a rental with the perfect tenants is already challenging enough. Once you add in conflict, your job becomes even more stressful. If you've been feeling like you could use some help, then you should do some research on property management services.
Not only will your property management company communicate with all of your tenants to resolve this issue, but they'll also work hard to increase tenant satisfaction to reduce your turnover rate.
Now You Know How to Handle Noise Complaints From Tenants
Nobody likes dealing with noise complaints, but they're a normal part of life. After reading this guide, you'll have the confidence to face these issues the right way.
Do you want to learn more about property management services? Contact us for more information.