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There are different ways on how you can annoy your neighbor both legally and illegally. In this article, we discuss three important topics:
- Upstairs neighbor stomping revenge
- How to annoy upstairs neighbors legally
- How to deal with noisy upstairs neighbors
The worst thing you could experience as a renter or apartment dweller is a noisy neighbor.
For Christ’s sake, these people because a pain in the @$$ when you need peaceful time alone probably to nap, prepare a report, or meditate.
Changing neighborhoods won’t help because there’s a likelihood that your next neighbor will be worse than your current one.
So you’re left with only one option- to deal with them legally or illegally. So let’s get started:
Upstairs Neighbor Stomping Revenge
Have you tried breaking their legs? You could visit them and break their knee caps, and you’d be sure of no more stomping.
You could hire kidnappers and drive them to another city, or take them across the border into Canada or Mexico. Unfortunately, “people are like dogs,” and they will always find their way back home.
Have you tried smashing a bag of dog poop at their door? There’s a likelihood that this method would backfire as well.
We don’t advocate any of the above mentioned “hacks” because they’re likely to get you in trouble with the authorities.
If you’re serious about dealing with your noisy upstairs neighbors below methods won’t get you in trouble.
How to Annoy Upstairs Neighbors Legally
1. Petroleum Jelly On Their Doorknob
This won’t get in much trouble if you get caught. Grab some Vaseline jelly and apply on your noisy neighbor doorknob for some unpleasant surprise when they return to their apartment.
Beware, there are smart doorknobs that have hidden camera- or else you get busted immediately.
Not only does Vaseline on their door feel unpleasant, but it will also make it harder for them to open their doors. It’ll make the knob slippery.
Ensure that you don’t jam their door lock with petroleum jelly, or else you will be forced to pay for damages if you get caught.
2. Ceiling Vibrator
Photo Credit: SCMP.com
A ceiling vibrator is a device that will help you get even with your noisy upstairs neighbor.
The “vibrator” is a Chinese invention (read about it here) that uses a motor to create vibrations on your ceiling.
The vibrations are subsequently unleashed on your upstairs neighbor’s floor.
The gadget consists of a motor, WI-FI remote, an extendable rod, and a cable and will cost you as little as US$200.
This gadget is sold by Taobao.com a consumer to consumer platform operated by Alibaba.com
You can have the ceiling vibrator shipped your US address.
3. Knock On Their Door at Odd Hours
If you genuinely want to get under your neighbor’s nerves, knock on their door at odd hours. For example during their bedtime hours– like very late in the evening or early in the morning
You should make the knock genuine. For instance, you could try and borrow something and make no mistake of allowing them to discover that you’re just trying to mess around with them.
4. Play a Racquetball against Your Ceiling
This hack is similar to the ceiling vibrator discussed above. It’s a cheaper method and highly effective.
Unleash the Serena Williams in you- grab a tennis ball and a racket and spend some few hours volleying the tennis ball against your ceiling during odd hours- late in the evening or early in the morning.
Make sure to perform this when your neighbor is around. You should do it persistently and consistently.
When your noisy neighbor asks you to stop, tell them you’re seriously training for competitions closest to you.
How to Deal With Noisy Upstairs Neighbors
Owning a house was one of the steps towards achieving the American dream, but with the market prices steadily rising and no relief in sight.
A study conducted by Pew Research Center found out that renters head more of the United States households than in 1965.
Below are the most effective ways of dealing with noisy neighbors.
Pick your battles wisely
It’s important to pick your battles carefully and understand that not every battle is worth the fight.
Confronting your neighbor every time you think they’re loud will only make things worse for you.
You can approach your neighbor and complain about loud music the previous night. However, confronting them every time their stereo volume isn’t to your liking could be an indication that you’re allergic to them.
Speak To Your Neighbor
Did you know that your neighbor may not be aware that they are being loud? So keep calm and talk to the friendly.
Introduce yourself to them if you don’t know them and highlight to them some examples of the noises you can hear.
Are you a good neighbor?
Much as you’d like to complain about your noisy neighbor, one question you should ask yourself whether you’re a good neighbor or not?
Probably you blend your smoothies in the dead of night or run your lawnmower 6 am during the weekends.
You may be surprised to confront your neighbor only for them to confront you back and say, “well, you run your lawnmower early in the morning…. Blah blah blah….” This could worsen the relationship between you and the neighbor.
Don’t write to them or report them
Regardless of how nice you may sound through a formal note of complaint, never leave a note on your neighbor’s door.
According to etiquette expert Emily Post, “ People are not good at writing notes, especially when they aim to correct another person’s behavior.”
Notes, in most cases, are viewed as passive aggressors.
On the other hand, while it’s okay to report your neighbor to property management, try to talk to them if possible.
You’re getting them into trouble without even giving them a chance to correct their situation.
How to Annoy Upstairs Neighbors Legally
Whether you go the legal or the illegal way, it’s essential to know that every route you take has its consequences.
We at SoundproofNation.com highly recommend you solve the problem with your neighbor in a peaceful manner.
If nothing works, it’s time to involve the management or call the cops on them.
Michelle
Monday 15th of February 2021
Call the police and ask for the incident number. The last time the police came he said he was just going to arrest him. Talking to them. Arguing with them only made it worse. I walk to my car with a dagger now. My vehicle has so many scratches I can’t count them. Document everything. Record noise. I have an app on my phone. I record them arguing. Carrying guns and drugs being exchanged. Read your lease. Very state has a noise ordinance. You have a right to live peacefully. And talk to the property manager. Let them know you are documenting everything because they may be held responsible too. I’m done playing nice. I’ll see them all in court.
Ballou
Sunday 11th of April 2021
@Michelle, I have a horribly loud upstairs neighbor. I tried to reason peaceably but the fact that I even complained just spurred her on to be even louder and more obnoxious at all hours. My car has been damaged twice. They just break the windows to let me know they were there. I know it’s her, it always happens immediately after the day that I have tapped on the ceiling to let her know it’s just too loud. It’s so unfair. I’m old, and I’m not cranky and old. I just need to get some sleep and it’s not happening, some days I feel like I’m gonna have a breakdown. I went to the proprty manager in my building and that got me nowhere. He told me maybe I should go for Hypnosis and learn how to deal with it. Yup, that’s what he told me. So every day now I go online, I’m trying to find somewhere I can go where it will be quiet. Unfortunately I live in an area where real estate is very expensive, and if I move from here it will have a big impact. I thought about living in a motorhome, I don’t know what to do. I do know that noise has a really serious impact on your health, and I am really struggling.
Anto
Wednesday 10th of February 2021
I used a simple bluetooth speaker touching the ceiling on top of a pile of pillows starting from the wardrobe (to be sure to convey the max of the sound just to the ceilings). I wrote a small script that was playing from my laptop a single Disney sound (like trumpets, car crash, etc) every 30 minutes for the whole night. My neighbour was an old woman who used to put on purpose very very loud radio from 6am to 8am but completely quiet for the rest of the day. The sounds i was playing were not loud at all but in the complete silence of the night must have been like a nightmare. She made my mornings so awful for so many months but still I regret I did it to her now that I experienced what really annoying upstairs neighbours sound like in my new flat. Time to find that script again...
Juno
Wednesday 6th of January 2021
I own my apartment in a condo and the unit above me was rented out to a family with 3 young children that treated it like a playground every waking hour. They were low class section 8 family, so dealing with the single mom didn't work, nor the owner of the rental ot the management company and board of directors. After being screwed around for years and police called, yeah that's was thier solution, I got an attorney to sue. The people were forced to leave otherwise they would have to pay me since infringing on my right to peaceful enjoyment of apartment. Just the threat of legal action to the owner is enough for someone to take action finally. Document everything in writing, record the noise and time, date, and stay on top of it. You don't have pay to live in hell.
DC
Thursday 31st of December 2020
I’m experiencing this. Reporting them to management doesn’t work because all they care about is getting their rent.
Talking to the neighbour likely won’t help if they are a psychopath as getting a reaction is their endgame.
What I’ve done is simply learnt to ignore it. I use earplugs at night coupled with white/black screen so my sleep isn’t affected by any late night random heavy object-dropping or door slamming.
Eventually the psycho will give up any attempt at getting a reaction. They will still try here and there but at a much reduced level.
Here is a list of my upstairs psycho’s methods:
Loud television Loud stereo Guitar playing Stomping Heavy object dropping Internal door slamming Loud farting (against floor for maximum effect by the sound of it)
He is a middle-aged man with no visitors or social life. He drinks and smokes. I imagine annoying neighbours and getting them to love out is the only form of entertainment/power he has. It’s important not to take it personally.
Unfortunately for me, I signed a three year lease with no break clause. I have one year and eight months to go.
One good thing is that I learnt how to acknowledge and regulate my emotions.
Jason
Tuesday 29th of December 2020
There are legal options, you can take them to civil court over this. If they’re disturbing your sleep, interfering in your daily tasks, or just downright being disruptive you can take them to civil court. A great example is that I own a business and my neighbor wakes me up three times a night, I could charge him $75 per instance plus $75 for each hour of sleep that I lose, overtime that builds up.You take it to a civil court and claim damages, see how well they like having their wages garnished.