recording noisy neighbors?
DjArcadian
3,632 Posts
So I have some asshole Frickin' drunk neighbors that live above me. They wake me up almost every other day late at night. Screaming, stomping around like elephants and on Monday they were riding a Frickin' SKATEBOARD in the hallway above my room. It's been an issue for about a year but the last few weeks have been unbearable.I tried speaking with them about it but they claim that was an isolated incident when, in fact, they Frickin' wake me all the time. Usually at about 2:30am when they stumble home from the bars.I want to record their noise from my room but need to know what equipment or mic I need which can record these noises and replay them in an accurate volume. Basically, I want to be able to replay exactly what I'm hearing. I'm gathering evidence now because I think it's going to come to a point where I'll have to take them to court.Any recommendations? Anyone dealt with similar neighbors and have any advice? It's SF so complaining to the landlord (which I'm doing) probably won't go anywhere as renter rights are solid here. This, I guess, is the dark side to those renter rights.
Comments
I had a similar problem at my last apartment, and after several efforts to talk to them about it, I started taking their clothes from the communal laundry room a little bit at a time and donating them to Goodwill. I probably took two full trash bags by the time all was said and done. I know it sounds petty, but it's better than resorting to violence.
I felt terrible for the older lady next door who had to listen to them and she owned the house, not like she could get up and leave. Her sons tried to talk to them and get them to cool out, but nothing.
In this place, the new people below us had a few late and noisy week-night parties that we just rode out to see how frequent they would be and after the fifth one, Man had to go down three times til they quieted down - they were so trashed I guess reaction time was slow. They left an apologetic note on our door the next day which we repsonded to saying no hurts feelings, here's our number, let us know if we ever get too loud - and it's been fine since.
I think it really depends on how you approach them and even more so, them and how cool they are or choose to be.
Keeping a record of dates, times and exchanges around asking them to quiet down is a good idea and speak to your neighbours to see if they feel the same.
oh yea, I went back a few months later for mail and they had a f*cking mini ramp on the front lawn.
After ascertaining that she was still alive and apparently not seriously injured, we hefted her 160 pound ass back up the stairs, and got her into her bed. Her roommate said she was routinely that drunk. We found an apology note taped to our door the next day.
But it took me about 15 years to find them.
maybe you could record it on video? that way the time of the awakening will also be part of the proof.... good luck man.
I've used those. They don't work. When I'm asleep they always fall out and they really don't block out sound anyways.
Hmmm, good idea.
I doubt they will say "The microphone on that is innacurate. The decibel reading is not true." If they are not 100% idiots they will be like "oh shit, it sounds like that? Sorry, we'll try to keep it down."
Maybe they are complete dickheads though.
This is part of living in apartments. I made a post a year or two ago about being woken up by your neighbors having loud sex. You have to move to a single unit place to avoid all of this. Either your neighbors are too loud or they are so quiet that you feel like you need to be quiet.
Donating their clothes to goodwill had me laughing. That's funny.
Oh yeah, the other thing to do, which is a real eye opener is to ask them if you can go up there while they go in your apartment (with someone else watching them of course) and walk around and stomp and do whatever they do so that they get an idea.
"brand new 52" LCD flat screen tv $150, please call after 3 am only"
they are now scared of me and don't say hi anymore, but hey... it worked out fine. and if your neighbors are not big folks looking for trouble, then it's the most peaceful solution. they did not take anyone else serious. the other neighbors called the police and it didn't stop them...
very similar to my views on foreign policy.
Go down there and tell them what for (not some meek-ass "I'm really sorry, but you see, we're um, we're just trying to, you know, sleep..."), tell them you will call the police next time. Then speak to the landlord, and call the police.
Enough bitching to the cops and the landlord you will solve your problem. I don't know why you'd ever go out and spend money on recording equipment for assholes.
for like when they leave the house and shit like that. stealth sniper style.
you can even get ones filled with dust. they use em in the movies for old west gun fight scenes, I think they have ones that make sparks too. that could be hilarious. I'm all for revenge.
too true. There's really no win in this situation.
Or, if you are a puny wimp, call in some muscle!
Paycheck don't take no mess.
record a cd of some annoying ass noises, like babies crying and shit like that, and put your speakers on something high up and point them straight at the ceiling. turn that shit up, put it on loop and put in some ear plugs and go to sleep.
http://www.liquidass.com/
WHILST I DO AGREE WITH pAYCHECK, PICK YOUR BATTLES.
Oh shit Capslock...
Anyway... if all else fails, take a piss, pour your piss onto a dinner plate, put it in the freezer.
Next day take out the frozen piss frisbee and slide it under their door.
(tuna oil works too).
oh my god I LOVE that one, that's new to me. keeping that in the revenge book fo SHO
another good one, if you can get something into an open window. Get some foam shaving cream, freeze the cans overnight, and then cut em in half with a hacksaw, toss said halves into an open window and let em thaw, fun stuff.
that one works better in a car, if you use a few the whole car fills up. it's great.
YEAHHHHHH!
get on a workmates PC, open word, go to autocorrect and start having fun.
I have watched dudes absolutely melt down as a result of changing the word 'thank' to 'fuck'
As in 'thank You'
the only limit is your imagination.
i do recommend these replacement words:
cockboy
philistine
throatfuck
jizzbomb
sycophant