I, Mark Roemer, know that you, as well as your neighbors, have the right to be free from disturbances.

One of your tenant rights is the implicit promise of quiet enjoyment of your space, which allows you the right to enjoy your rented property without being disturbed or interfering with your happiness of it. Quiet hours may be established by your landlord and included in your lease in apartment complexes or heavily crowded districts in order to ensure that everyone has the right to quiet time.

What exactly are the quiet hours?

When it comes to noise, everyone has a different opinion. What you consider normal may be regarded as disruptive by your neighbors and vice versa. Considering that most landlords don’t have the time to constantly negotiate noise complaints between renters and neighbors, establishing noise restrictions sets tenants’ expectations and can help avoid disagreements.

Quiet hours are defined as specified times of the day (usually at night and in the morning) during which excessive or unneeded noise is not permitted to be produced. If your lease agreement specifies quiet hours, be incredibly considerate of your neighbors and the noise you’re making during these hours; failing to comply with quiet hour restrictions may result in a breach of your lease agreement and eviction. Even while most municipalities have their own set of “quiet hours” built-in, your landlord has the authority to establish their own policy as long as it is reasonable and clearly stated in your lease agreement.

Activities such as mowing the lawn, listening to music, or watching television at a volume that can be heard outside of your unit, noise from parties, or even children running about can all be considered infractions if they cause disturbance to your neighbors during the designated quiet hours. Please take into consideration any needlessly loud noises that would interfere with your neighbor’s everyday activities or that could legitimately disturb their sleeping patterns.

My landlord has stated that he will be severe when it comes to quiet hours.

It is necessary to have suitable quiet hour policies in place, which should be detailed in your lease agreement. For the most part, landlords will adhere to pre-existing municipal guidelines to alleviate timeline concerns. In addition, your lease agreement should detail the consequences of violating the agreement, which is often a fine for multiple disturbances. In nearly every case, the landlord will issue a formal warning for repeated complaints, which may be followed by a fine or even an eviction notice in extreme circumstances.

When it comes to considering noise complaints, each landlord will have their own set of criteria. Your young children’s cries will be more readily accepted if they occur just a few minutes before quiet morning hours officially cease. Still, you will most likely be subjected to punishment if you hosted an after-hours party that was broken up by police authorities at one in the morning. Remember that the only way your landlord would know you’ve violated quiet hours is if your neighbors file a complaint, so be considerate of your neighbors’ rights.

What should I do if my neighbors are disturbing the peace during quiet hours?

If you believe you are dealing with noise concerns on a regular basis (especially from the same neighbors), you should ask yourself a few questions. What is the severity of the violation? Specifically, is it taking place around the beginning or end of quiet hours? Try to be understanding, but don’t let your right to peace and quiet be compromised. Compile a list of the dates and times when you believe your neighbors are acting inappropriately. If you wind up needing to involve your landlord, you’ll have examples to refer to if the situation arises.

Your best course of action is to try to resolve the situation with your neighbor first. It’s possible that your neighbor does not even notice a loud television or a barking dog as being the source of your problem. In any case, your landlord is likely to advise you to resolve the situation on your own, so begin by addressing the matter immediately. If your neighbor has been unhelpful or unpleasant in the past, you should speak with your landlord directly.

If you’ve attempted to resolve the situation with your neighbor, but the noise continues to be an issue, it’s time to seek assistance from your landlord. Your landlord may contact your neighbor to remind them of the terms of their lease agreement, or they may choose to address the matter in writing with your landlord. Consider looking into your lease agreement to determine whether you might be allowed to break your lease and relocate if your landlord is reluctant or unable to provide assistance.

What should you do if my neighbors believe I am violating the quiet hours?

If you receive a single complaint, make every effort to resolve it as quickly as possible while also respecting your neighbors’ right to quiet pleasure within reason. If you’re dealing with many noise complaints or your landlord keeps getting in touch with you, it may be time to look for a different living situation that better meets your needs and lifestyle. Close quarters, such as apartment complexes or densely populated districts, are not suitable for all individuals. You might want to consider looking for a rental opportunity that offers you a little more room and solitude than your current living situation.

If you breach quiet hours on a regular basis and do not correct the situation, you may be subject to a fine or possibly eviction.

Regardless, everyone has the right to be quiet.

I, Mark Roemer, know that your rental property is your home, and you should be able to use and enjoy it as you see fit without restriction. On the other hand, specific forms of accommodations demand you respect your neighbors in the same way you would expect them to do the same for you. So, if you want some peace and quiet around your house, you need to be prepared to provide that same level of silence to your neighbors.