Dealing with Noise Complaints A Landlord's Guide

By PropsManager Team | Dec 17, 2025

Dealing with Noise Complaints: A Landlord's Guide

"The neighbor is playing drums at 2 AM!" Noise complaints are common in multi-family units. As a landlord, you have a duty to provide "quiet enjoyment" to your tenants.

1. Verify the Complaint

Don't assume the complainer is 100% right. Ask for details: When? How often? What kind of noise? If possible, try to witness it yourself.

2. Encourage Direct Communication

Often, the noisy tenant doesn't realize they are being loud. Encourage the complaining tenant to talk to their neighbor politely first.

3. Send a Friendly Reminder

If that fails, send a text or email to the offending tenant. "Hi, we've had reports of loud music late at night. Please be mindful of the quiet hours (10 PM - 7 AM)."

4. Formal Notice (Cure or Quit)

If the noise continues, it becomes a lease violation (breach of "quiet enjoyment" clause). Send a formal warning letter.

5. Soundproofing Solutions

Sometimes the building is just thin. Consider:

• Requiring rugs (often 80% floor coverage rule).
• Adding weatherstripping to doors.
• Installing sound-dampening curtains.

Conclusion

Be fair but firm. You don't want to lose a good tenant because a bad tenant won't turn down the volume.