Weddingbee boards

Has this happened to you? We have literally been in here two days and I want to move out asap! First off, we live below CHILDREN. Children whose parents literally let them scream and run all over (I'm assuming on the running because there are constant stomping sounds every minute they are awake). This will go on for some time and then the mom will scream her head off so I have to listen to her and then her kids cry for like a half hour because they are upset. ACK! I get that I have to be understanding of noise, I've been in various apartments for 4 years now, but this is terrible. I lived below a family with an active 2 year old and it was NEVER this bad. They play all over the building, not just in the apt and considering my door has a freaking 2 inch gap at the bottom (another issue!) I can hear them out there too. When walking through we checked our cell service..we screwed up. Yea it shows service but the minute you try to make a call it gets dropped. The apartment is not in good condition (we looked at it and signed the lease mid "renovation")...I think once they got us on the hook they freaking cheaped out and its craptastic. Things broken, covered in bugs and dirt, unfinished, poor workmanship,ect. I mean sure...doors are essentially slabs of wood mounted on hinges, but our "doors" are literally left over, ill fitting and unevenly cut slabs of wood, hung on cheap a** hinges and held close with sliding locks (think public bathroom stall locks). There are chunks of trim missing and the wall a/c unit has ancient and what appears to be moldy dishtowels shoved around it to block drafts. I have taken dozens of pictures should this become an issue.

I cried. I want to freaking move and my husbands family acts like I am a baby. Um...no, this is not what I bargained for. We will be moving asap. 30 days notice likely handed in within the month (as fast as I can find another place and sign the damn lease). 

Am I being unreasonable? (No I haven't gotten up the courage to ask our neighbors to quiet down considering everytime I start up the lady starts screaming again at her kids...not the situation I want to walk in on)

I don't think you are being unreasonable at all. It sounds like there are a lot of issues with the apartment that would drive anyone crazy. Happy apartment hunting, I really hope you find one soon!

Just keep in mind that in many states if you break a lease you are liable for the remainder of rent under your rent term (for example: 1,000 a month X12 months) if the apartment is not re-leased. A real attorney could give you better advice, but short of anything threatening your immediate health or safety (ie rat infestation, sewer overflowing) you don't have a leg to stand on if you break the lease over a noise issue.

Frankly, all I can say is i hope the next place is better! It sounds like a bait-n-switch ("Oh yeah, we're totally renovating this place! Excuse the mess!" and then you move into filth and an unfinished apartment.)

I guess I hadn't thought of the potential fees to moving, but really, this is not what I signed up for. I guess I can pretty much get most of the physical problems fixed and there is a part of the agreement about noise...so I'm thinking of complaining about it and seeing what happens because it is absolutely ridiculous. I'm just worried it won't go over well because I think they have a long standing relationship with the landlord so like he's really going to take me seriously if they deny it all. I guess I probably need to keep meticulous records of requests and any conversations should we decide to move out. I would totally go legal on their a**es if we get slapped with a ton of fees to move out. I deserve a reasonable noise level! And the stuff fixed.

Well, okay. So here's what I'm going to do.

_Continue making note of issues and taking pictures which I will provide copies of to the landlord and request that certain things (like the rags around the A/C) are fixed.

_Get the guts and talk to neighbors. Keep notes each time I talk to them.

_If noise doesn't get better talk to landlord and ask him to handle it.

_If improvements are not made, after doing that dance for a while I will send him a certified letter stating that as we are to expect a reasonable noise level (In lease and landlord/tenent law) which he has failed to maintain= breach of contract. Me not get penalized for breaking lease?

I don't know if that will fly though...hmmm. Plus I think a lot of times people go "oh well you have to expect  more noise from kids", um no I don't. If you want to let them scream, buy or rent a single famiily property.

This is not a management company, but a single guy. There was no walk through or form to fill out, which is why I am making one myself.

Document everything with date stamped photos. Keep a copy for you and send a copy to the landlord. Then write a letter with all improvments that must be made, ie the most unhealthy/unsafe ones, and by what date. I would agree that you should document everything, just in case you have to go legal

Well, we've gotten many things fixed now (handling the disgusting part of the place) and while the people up stairs are pretty awful, its better. There is nothing in our lease about fees should we break it. The only part about ending the lease is that, once the term is over (1 year), we have to give 30 days notice to move out and get our deposit back. I'm sure though that we would probably still be liable what with our agreeing to a year. I was just so worked up when I posted.

Ear plugs and headphones are saving my life. Which sort of sucks, but hopefully it will get better as my work and class schedule (coming up) should have me out of the house at their loudest hours.