Prayers to get through this.

[SinIsWack]

I am in need of some prayers to make it through the situation I am in. I have tried to hold off as long as I could as I know there are people going through something worse than I am but I am now desperate.

The situation is that at the beginning of this month new neighbors moved above me. My landlord thought it was a nice young girl moving into the apartment above me but it turns out she lied about more than one thing. Instead, of it just being her it's her and 2 very young kids and her boyfriend and two small dogs. This is a lot of people to be above me considering the apartment is 300 sq feet...and that's being generous. It's just not enough room for everyone and the noise the make is more than enough to just about drive me mad.

They are inconsiderate to the fact that they live below someone. They allow the young toddler to run around, jump on the bed, jump from the bed on to the floor. I can understand kids will be kids but I also feel they should have consideration for those below them. Her and her bf also fight and the fights get out of hands at time. On one occasion when one was going on I was afraid to step out of my own apartment because of the fight going on.

The dogs don't really bother me but I know the landlord never would have allowed them to be there after the last tenant that had a dog and did over $3k in damage to the apartment. Apart of me feels bad for the damage these new tenants may be doing to her apartment.

They also smoke on their balcony and flick their cigarette butts to the sidewalk below which annoys me as there are other children that live in the same building as we do and I do not want them around that nor picking it up.

There are people constantly coming and going from the apartment and a few times when people stay there can be anywhere from 4-5 adults and a total of 5-8 kids... again in a 300 sq foot apartment.

I finally broke down and made a complaint to my landlord about them and was (sort of) happy to find out I wasn't the only neighbor making a complaint. My landlord heard me out and told me that they would write up a letter to get them out of the place. It just will take 30 days.

I am struggling to deal with all of this even knowing that it will eventually end. I work evenings and sleep during the day but with the amount of noise they create I cannot sleep. I try to take benadryl to sleep through it all but they still end up waking me up. Being tired all the time is going to start to have an effect on me at work and I cannot afford that. On top of everything I also have Asperger's and no matter how hard I try to not have a meltdown from all the noise a few times it has happened.

I just feel like I am going to shortly loose my mind from all of this. I am tired and just want the noise to stop. I know that it will end shortly but I am just not sure how much more I can take before I fall apart. Whenever I am at work I think about this constantly and think about how I don't want to go home even though I am tired. I cannot afford to move right at the moment nor do I have anyone I can go stay with until they leave. I am stuck here dealing with it all and it's beginning to take all that I am.

I would appreciate any prayers towards strength to make it through this, to not fall apart, or just for the noise to cease. If anyone has any advice on how to deal with all of this it would be appreciated as well. Talking to them about the noise is not possible they don't care and I feel that they create more noise knowing my circumstance to annoy me more, on top of that the guy that lives up there also scares me. There's no way I could confront him.

I thank anyone who helps out and I am sorry for asking for prayers on something that may seem so minor but it's beginning to take all that I have. I cannot sleep, think, or even eat because of all of this. It's starting to make me feel like just giving up and I don't want to feel like that because I know God has great plans for me but right now I am struggling to just exist with all of this.

 

[plopster]

Praying!

 

[paul1149]

It's not minor to me. I had a TV addict over me once, who also kept a reverse schedule, and it was torture. I would suggest you use a small fan by your bed as a white noise machine to sleep by, or even at other times. If these people are so volatile, it may be best not to confront them directly, but to rely on the landlady doing what needs to be done.

On the downside, it may take more than 30 days to get rid of them, and perhaps quite a bit more, depending on whether they fight it and where you are. That's the way things are these days.

It may help to document the infractions by keeping a journal. That will carry a lot of weight in court if it comes to that.

On the landlady end, she can make sure there's enough insulation in the ceiling, or that the floor above has carpeting, or she can install a sound-deadening ceiling in your apt. Each of these is an investment, but it's worth it in terms of tenant happiness and rent stability.

In my case, the woman eventually unsubscribed from cable because of the cost - among other reasons perhaps (that is, my prayers), and peace descended on the house.

Anyway, I hope you have peace while this plays out, and safety from their behavior.

 

[ThyLovingkindness]

Hi! Hopefully you've put your complaint against these errant tenants in writing to your landlord. Be glad that something's being done and that they should be gone soon. What's with your landlord anyway, that he/she didn't do a thorough background check, i.e., whether or not the tenant in question has kids, etc... I mean, who's remiss here, really? So this tenant (tenants??) should be out in 30 days? It isn't fair that you should have to pay rent because your landlord let slobs move in above you; it seems you should be compensated somehow, since it's causing you lack of sleep for work, etc. Again, I'd document all of this if you haven't already. I know nothing about rental law... but what's happening is more than just a renter problem... it's also a landlord (slumlord??) problem! And what's with the traffic of adults in and out? Might drugs be involved? Sorry my prayer here isn't all prissy, but these are my thoughts, and I hope you get through this, I really pray that you do. Please keep us posted! Blessings!

 

[rowantree]

Oh my! It is NOT minor at all. I truly sympathise with you. It would drive me mad too, and given that you have to go to work and that you have Aspberger's, I can totally understand your desperation. Sleep deprivation is a real problem and I am wondering if there is anything your doctor can do to step in in this situation.

I like the idea of the fan to make the white noise. I haven't any better ideas, apart from ear plugs, but not sure that they would work too well.

Praying for you that this soon stops.

Lord, please step into this situation, and make this noise and anti-social behaviour stop. Please may SinIsWhack get some peace. Thankyou Lord. Amen

 

[servant of Merciful Love]

Welcome to CF

Just a thought ~ Benadryl can make you tired the next day, and even cause depression.
*Be careful to just use it as directed; overuse can cause mental changes as well

Perhaps try EAR PLUGS when you sleep?
You can get them in the ear drop section of any pharmacy; they work for me.
Soothing background music may also help.

Praying for your strength and hope until this passes ~ peace and adequate rest.

May God bless you in His Merciful love

 

[puppii]

I'm so sorry about your situation. I pray for peace TOTAL peace and that you will be delivered from this soon

 

[Linus]

Welcome to CF!

Praying for a good resolution to the problem and for peace and rest in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank You Lord!

 

[SinIsWack]

I thank everyone for their prayers they are greatly appreciated during this time. After posting this I was able to get a small amount of rest before they were back up to their antics.

On the landlady end, she can make sure there's enough insulation in the ceiling, or that the floor above has carpeting, or she can install a sound-deadening ceiling in your apt. Each of these is an investment, but it's worth it in terms of tenant happiness and rent stability.

This would be ideal but I don't really see her doing it. There seems to be very little insulation all around the house/apartments. It's a drop down ceiling with not much in between my tiles and their floor. I am sorry to hear you had to go through something similar. There has been other tenants up there that I have heard all the noise they made but they were considerate.. these people are not.

Hi! Hopefully you've put your complaint against these errant tenants in writing to your landlord. Be glad that something's being done and that they should be gone soon. What's with your landlord anyway, that he/she didn't do a thorough background check, i.e., whether or not the tenant in question has kids, etc... I mean, who's remiss here, really? So this tenant (tenants??) should be out in 30 days? It isn't fair that you should have to pay rent because your landlord let slobs move in above you; it seems you should be compensated somehow, since it's causing you lack of sleep for work, etc. Again, I'd document all of this if you haven't already. I know nothing about rental law... but what's happening is more than just a renter problem... it's also a landlord (slumlord??) problem! And what's with the traffic of adults in and out? Might drugs be involved? Sorry my prayer here isn't all prissy, but these are my thoughts, and I hope you get through this, I really pray that you do. Please keep us posted! Blessings!

I don't really have any qualms with my landlord. She got into this business when her husband was still alive he has now passed and she is in her late 80's and has always been nice to me. She got fooled by this tenant and I feel bad for her as she has to deal with removing them and then deal with the damage that many in a small apartment may have done. I have held off on contacting her about my (same) complaints again only because she said she was taking care of it but I think I might phone her again to see if there is anything more she can do about it for me.

I don't know if drugs may be involved as well. The way they seem to act at times makes me think they may be. Even if drugs aren't involved I would think they would be aware that having 8 or more people in a very small apartment is not only very unsafe but also a nuisance to those below. But that's the problem they don't care.

Welcome to CF

Just a thought ~ Benadryl can make you tired the next day, and even cause depression.
*Be careful to just use it as directed; overuse can cause mental changes as well

Perhaps try EAR PLUGS when you sleep?
You can get them in the ear drop section of any pharmacy; they work for me.
Soothing background music may also help.

Praying for your strength and hope until this passes ~ peace and adequate rest.

May God bless you in His Merciful love

I know the effects of Benadryl are not good nor are they helping but it is unfortunately the only way I can fall asleep even for a couple of hours while they are making noise. I don't like having to do it and miss being able to fall asleep without having to take something to help me. It's kind of a catch-22. I may try the earplugs for nights when I don't work but I am worried about not hearing my alarms for the nights I do work. Having this a effect my job anymore than it has is not something I can afford.


Again, I thank everyone for their advice and prayers. I think after reading everything I may phone the landlord again to just see where she is at with things and to let her know about how much this is still bothering me.

I do feel a bit bad for the girl upstairs as she told my landlord that she is trying to get out of a bad relationship (which is why she wanted the apartment) but and, if that was true, it seems she just allowed it to follow her as I can tell from their fights. It's a bad situation all around but for my mental well-being I just really need it to stop.

 

[paul1149]

Actually, if you have a drop ceiling that makes reinsulation much easier.

Regarding the woman tenant and her original intentions to get free - it may be that external pressure to get right is exactly what she needs. She's trapped in a stronghold, and people like that often need tough love to form the impetus for change. This story may have a tremendous upside if handled correctly. With that in mind you can do the right thing and still hope for a positive conclusion for her.

 

[TriumphInTruth]

Praying for your difficult situation

 

[brinny]

praying.

 

[SinIsWack]

Little update for everyone praying:

I stopped up to see the Landlord today (to pay rent) and we discussed this situation a little bit more. Turns out the landlord never physically came out to talk to the neighbor upstairs but instead made a phone call letting her know there were some complaints...and that was it. So I told her that things have not quieted down at all but in fact seem to have gone up more since then. I also showed her some photos of damages they have made on the outside of their place. It seems that with telling her this and showing her the photos she now says that she will be out here tomorrow in the morning to talk to her.

I'm a little frustrated as I thought things were already rolling and working on them leaving but now I don't know what to think and the thought of having to deal with another month or so until she can remove the upstairs neighbor is just too much right now. I'm trying to hold on to hope right now but this is tough. I was woken up early this morning to the sound of the little kid upstairs bouncing a ball against the floor and wall.

 

[ThyLovingkindness]

Little update for everyone praying:

I stopped up to see the Landlord today (to pay rent) and we discussed this situation a little bit more. Turns out the landlord never physically came out to talk to the neighbor upstairs but instead made a phone call letting her know there were some complaints...and that was it. So I told her that things have not quieted down at all but in fact seem to have gone up more since then. I also showed her some photos of damages they have made on the outside of their place. It seems that with telling her this and showing her the photos she now says that she will be out here tomorrow in the morning to talk to her.

I'm a little frustrated as I thought things were already rolling and working on them leaving but now I don't know what to think and the thought of having to deal with another month or so until she can remove the upstairs neighbor is just too much right now. I'm trying to hold on to hope right now but this is tough. I was woken up early this morning to the sound of the little kid upstairs bouncing a ball against the floor and wall.

Now I feel sorry for your landlady. If she's in her 80's, I wonder if this group of people are taking advantage of that. I hope she gets things done. Bad neighbors might be the worst thing on earth sometimes! One thing I do for a neighbor of mine is pray... I don't want to wear her anger or bitterness... but it would seem to me that if your landlady can't set limits, maybe one of her children should step in. I haven't been a renter in awhile, but it seems as if you'd have rights... right? It's worth checking out. Anyway, thanks for enduring my senseless blab... Blessings!

 

[SplendidTree]

Praying!

 

[SinIsWack]

Now I feel sorry for your landlady. If she's in her 80's, I wonder if this group of people are taking advantage of that. I hope she gets things done. Bad neighbors might be the worst thing on earth sometimes! One thing I do for a neighbor of mine is pray... I don't want to wear her anger or bitterness... but it would seem to me that if your landlady can't set limits, maybe one of her children should step in. I haven't been a renter in awhile, but it seems as if you'd have rights... right? It's worth checking out. Anyway, thanks for enduring my senseless blab... Blessings!

I feel for her as well on many levels as well. Part of me didn't want to complain because I didn't want to upset her about the situation when I know she has other tenants and renters that cause problems or don't pay but at the same time if this neighbor is destroying her property or is chasing other tenants away then I believe she needs to know about it. Her children do seem a bit involved in her rental business as she won't come out without one of them and she's not afraid to phone lawyers either. She's a sweet lady though which is why I don't blame her for any of this. I hope for the both of us this gets taken care of effectively.

 

[vcs]

Prayers.

 

[SinIsWack]

Update for anyone following:

Talked to my landlord the other day and made yet another complaint against the neighbors upstairs she said she would write up a notice to tell them that they have to leave. For those following, yes, she said she would do this before but when she did the neighbor called and fed her some lies about how she's not doing any of that or that the noise if coming from a neighbor in the front of the apartment, with which I share absolutely no walls with. So this time she gave another notice after my last complaint and when I asked if she would be taking it back again, she stated that No she will not be. And that I am not the only one who complained.

That was a few days ago, I'm not on a countdown for 30 days (24 more to go) and hopefully be back to being able to live in my own apartment again. But until then it's pure madness. Here it is after 10pm and the kids are upstairs running back and forth, jumping, and bouncing a ball. The other two people up there are just as noisy. I would have thought if you were told that neighbors were complaining about noise that you would attempt to be quieter so you could stay there, but they haven't. They have no regards when it comes to the fact that people live below them.

I guess they care even less now that they are being told they must leave. I, still, feel bad for the girl upstairs if she was in fact trying to get out of a bad relationship. She is young 19/20 and has a child to raise. I grew up where one parent cared more about the relationship they kept, or tried to keep, than the quality of life for their children. It's not fun but painful and hope that she gets things together for the best of her children. I held off as long as I could and bit my tongue as much as I could but now it's effecting the quality of life that I have.

Today was a bad day noise wise. It's my night off and instead of relaxing and getting some things done I had lost it mentally. Continuous meltdowns and the part that makes it almost worse is knowing I cannot complain to the LL anymore as she already has the ball rolling and legally is doing all she can at the moment. I just hope and pray I can make it and keep calm during the next 20+ days.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I'm just exhausted and on the brink of tears from it all. I appreciate everyone praying for me and talking to me throughout this whole thing. It's nice to just be able to do that. I just hope the next person that moves up there has more respect than these people do. The neighbors before these people was a young kid and his dog. The kid would leave for hours at a time but leave his dog at home and he would just bark and bark for hours. Ironically, the barking never really bothered me and I was able to sleep through it. The kid playing fetch with the dog upstairs is what would annoy me. A 100+ dog running and stomping back and forth was an annoyance but right now I'd so rather that.

Again, I'm rambling, sorry for that. But I do thank you all for the prayers and kind words. If it wasn't for you all here and this forum I'm not sure I would have had the strength to make it this far with all of this.

 

[SinIsWack]

Wanted to update again. Still dealing with the neighbors they got a couple more weeks and are enjoying the fact that any complaints to the landlord now are pointless as they are already being told to leave.

This means they have amped up the noise they create and any attempt to try and make them aware that they are making too much noise not only goes ignored but has them keeping it up more. It's the point now where there is absolutely no break from it at all and it's beginning to have me wearing extremely thin.

On Monday, their hot water heater blew sending a Niagara falls into my apartment. They seemed annoyed at the fact that my landlord and her son entered their apartment while they were sleeping but it was an emergency so it was called for. They didn't seem to enjoy the plumber coming in either. Thankfully, the landlord handled it quickly for me and got the water to stop running into my apartment not long after I had called. But despite that it just feels like one thing after another right now that is really wearing on me more.

I could really use prayers to keep being able to make it through this and to keep calm as the more that goes on the more I see myself loosing it.

My neighbors have absolutely no care for anyone around them. They smoke on their balcony and flick the cig butts to the ground that end up being on the sidewalk where other children walk and also into the yard of our neighbor who isn't apart of our apartments. The other week they annoyed me with it and I made a pile of them hoping they'd get the hint and clean them up. No, they didn't. Yesterday, they woke me up and I decided to grab a small bucket and pick up the butts again from the pile, and their new ones laying around and laid the bucket in front of their baby stroller. I left my apartment last night headed to work and noticed they moved the bucket to in front of my window and then when I returned home from work saw more butts lying on the ground.

They're not very smart either it seems. As that is littering and a matter I could involve the police into, not the landlord. But I realize that this is not very smart of me as they could do harm to me but it's all really a result of being tired and growing angry. Which is why I really need some prayers towards keeping me calm through out this and not to loose it as I could really cause them more anger to get back at me with, and cause them to harm me.

There's just too much going on with me right now and this is really not helping and starting to tear me down in ways I don't care to be.

 

[SinIsWack]

Not sure that anyone's following this but just wanted to update that I had to just call 911 after hearing the girl upstairs scream "stop" and start sobbing loudly after I assume her boyfriend attacked her.

They were fighting all morning and it sounded rough from the start so I debated early on to call the police, when I heard the screaming is when I knew to call. Unfortunately, it looks like she was able to lie her way out of another scenario. I feel bad for her, but more for her daughter. I grew up like that and it has effected the way I live my life today. But this girl doesn't seem to think about her daughter much.

I felt more empathy towards her during having to hear that, but after hearing her lie to the police I just lost it all. I wish they would just move and take their drama elsewhere. My comfort is gone; and my feeling of safety and security has just been heightened.