RentSimpli is a full-service San Diego property management company specializing in single family homes, townhouses, condos, mobile homes, small commercial buildings and small apartments. Sometimes, we are called upon to manage noise complaints from our tenants, especially when they live in a multi-family building or they’re extremely close to their neighbors.
There isn’t always much we can do, especially if the neighbor is not in a property that’s also managed by our team.
But, we believe in providing exceptional customer service to all of our residents, so we put as many systems in place as we can to help them deal with noisy neighbors.
Here are some of the things you can do if your tenants come to you with noise complaints.
Listen to Your Tenants and Encourage Communication
Your San Diego tenants have a right to the quiet enjoyment of their property.
When they come to you with a complaint about noise, listen to them. Sometimes, tenants are simply looking to be heard. Show them that you’re empathetic, then follow a couple of important steps:
- Put something in writing so the complaint is documented. This can help you later, if you need to involve law enforcement or address the situation again.
- Communication is always important, and if your tenants are comfortable talking to their neighbors, you’ll want to encourage them to communicate. Perhaps the neighbors don’t even realize how loud they’re being.
Loud noises can be especially problematic at night, so if one tenant is kept awake by another tenant’s barking dogs, loud music, or constant parties, a simple conversation may make things better. Coach your tenants to be respectful. Maybe the offending tenant doesn’t realize their noise is so loud.
Include a Process in Your Lease Agreement
If one of your tenants is complaining about another of your tenants, check the lease agreements. You should have something in there about respecting quiet hours, which are generally from 10 p.m. until 6:00 or 8:00 a.m.
Having a lease that talks about quiet hours and respecting neighbors can help you establish expectations before the tenancy begins. And, if you’ve established what the lease actually states, you can send a written notice to the noisy tenant that you have received complaints. Include the lease verbiage that needs their attention and ask them to be mindful of the noise they’re creating.
When you’re renting out a property in an HOA or a condo association, there are likely rules about noise that all residents must follow, whether they’re owners or renters. Check the rules and regulations and if necessary, make a complaint to the association board.
If things get out of hand, calling the police is always an option that tenants and landlords have. Parties can quickly get out of hand, and you can ask local authorities to get involved if things are escalating or friendly communication is going nowhere.
We understand the stress and inconvenience a noisy neighbor can cause. If you have any questions about how to hold those tenants accountable, please contact us at RentSimpli.
RentSimpli is a full-service property management company serving landlords, investors and property owners in San Diego & Riverside Counties, including La Mesa, El Cajon, Chula Vista, Santee, Rancho Bernardo, Escondido, Fallbrook, Temecula, and Murrieta.