Good evening,
We live in the second floor of a three floor apartment. One year ago, the landlord elected to take in Section 8 families into both the upstairs and dowenstairs apartments (we are not Section 8).
These tenants have unfortunately chosen to behave beyond disruptively (screaming and yelling at/to one another, children of all ages running and stomping at ALL hours, blaring rap music at all hours - you can easily hear the music down the street, well over 50 feet away); evidence of drug activity is all over the lawn in drug bags, and last weekend we were met with thes fresh smell of marijuana when we encounted the teenaged upstairs neighbors on the front porch by the mailbox (we have witnessed drug deals and even the police arresting one of the teenagers as well).
We tried addressing the issue directly with the tenants, but each time they quieted down for a short time, then the barage of activity and disruption would begin again almost right away. We have called the landlord at least 15 times, and each time he says that he will call them directly. We do not want conflict, and to be honest, we are concerned about retaliation (these "hoodlums" invite friends over constantly, and to be quite honest several of us are concerned for our safety - no threats have been made, but when you are outnumbered by people who are clearly dealing/doing drugs with very little eveidence of respect for fellow neighbors, you are sometimes reluctant to call the police each and every night). We have called the police three times as well.
It is clear that any action taken to date by the landlord or visits by the police have been completely ineffective at bringing the noise levels down to a reasonable level. What are our options? One roommate does not want to pay the rent in protest until the landlord takes more serious action. But based upon my research, we should not go that route beause we will be in breach of contract.
What can we do in this case (we reside in the state of Massachusetts)? We are completely unable to enjoy reasonable quiet, haven't had a good night's sleep in so long, we even dread the weekends because the noise is even worse. We have no physical evidence of complaints, but we have telephone records of calls to the landlord. I learned today that written eveidence is a must.
Thank you for your consideration and advice.
Regards,
Desperate in Mass.
We live in the second floor of a three floor apartment. One year ago, the landlord elected to take in Section 8 families into both the upstairs and dowenstairs apartments (we are not Section 8).
These tenants have unfortunately chosen to behave beyond disruptively (screaming and yelling at/to one another, children of all ages running and stomping at ALL hours, blaring rap music at all hours - you can easily hear the music down the street, well over 50 feet away); evidence of drug activity is all over the lawn in drug bags, and last weekend we were met with thes fresh smell of marijuana when we encounted the teenaged upstairs neighbors on the front porch by the mailbox (we have witnessed drug deals and even the police arresting one of the teenagers as well).
We tried addressing the issue directly with the tenants, but each time they quieted down for a short time, then the barage of activity and disruption would begin again almost right away. We have called the landlord at least 15 times, and each time he says that he will call them directly. We do not want conflict, and to be honest, we are concerned about retaliation (these "hoodlums" invite friends over constantly, and to be quite honest several of us are concerned for our safety - no threats have been made, but when you are outnumbered by people who are clearly dealing/doing drugs with very little eveidence of respect for fellow neighbors, you are sometimes reluctant to call the police each and every night). We have called the police three times as well.
It is clear that any action taken to date by the landlord or visits by the police have been completely ineffective at bringing the noise levels down to a reasonable level. What are our options? One roommate does not want to pay the rent in protest until the landlord takes more serious action. But based upon my research, we should not go that route beause we will be in breach of contract.
What can we do in this case (we reside in the state of Massachusetts)? We are completely unable to enjoy reasonable quiet, haven't had a good night's sleep in so long, we even dread the weekends because the noise is even worse. We have no physical evidence of complaints, but we have telephone records of calls to the landlord. I learned today that written eveidence is a must.
Thank you for your consideration and advice.
Regards,
Desperate in Mass.
