Q&A for How to Be a Good Apartment Neighbor

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If you are visiting a neighbor in your apartment building, is it proper etiquette to use their bathroom or should you go use your own?

Community Answer

It's fine to pee at your neighbor's, but you should go back to your apartment if you have to produce a bowel movement.

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Question

How can I deal with a neighbor who lets their bird feeder rubbish fall into our balcony? They have been told about this by us and another person, and still have not stopped it. The same neighbor also deposits his hair trimmer clippings out another window and it lands in and on our kitchen window.

Community Answer

Your bird loving neighbor should be alerted that hulled sunflower seeds are a low mess option that almost all birds adore. Maybe drop a bag of it by your neighbor's door with a bow on it. Have you told them that their pubes are falling into your kitchen? They would probably be horrifically embarrassed and stop that bit immediately.

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Question

I always try and be polite, but my neighbor knocks on my door every day at least once a day. Today he knocked seven times and hovered outside our doors for a while. Is this strange?

Community Answer

Yes, its creepy. He sounds like a needy, lonely person who lacks respect for others.

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Question

I personally lower volumes and avoid running noisy appliances (vacuum, dishes washer, etc) after 8:30pm. Is this good neighbor behavior?

Community Answer

Yes, though volumes should always be kept at a low level so as not to disturb your neighbors. If the neighbors have infants or small children whose bedtimes might be earlier than 8:30, consider limiting the noisy appliances to before 7:00 PM.

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Question

We share an elevator hall in an upscale NYC co-op apartment. One neighbor always leaves wet boots and her dog's towel by her door, which the other neighbor and I think is inappropriate. It's not a mud room. What do you think?

Community Answer

Is there obvious space for a mud-room inside the apartment? Obviously you and your other neighbors have figured something out, but this particular neighbor may not know where inside to put things -- or may not know that her current system is bothering anyone! Voice your concerns to the tenant and the landlord: there may be policies in place you and the neighbor may not be aware of. Communication is key.

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Question

At what time in the evening should I turn down my electronic devices (ie: radios and TVs) so as not to disturb my neighbor?

Community Answer

Most apartment complexes will have rules regarding curfew and noise. Some require that you keep noise to a minimum after 8pm, while others will ask you to keep quiet after 9 or 10pm.

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I have a stereo system that, although I keep the volume turned down, still has a lot of bass. There is no way to turn the bass down more than it is. Is there any way I can keep the bass from conducting through floors or walls?

Community Answer

Powerful systems have 2 small squawkers (high end), 2 regular speakers, and one heavy speaker, usually low to the ground and hidden. If you can live without the feel of the beat (and have happy neighbors), disconnect the wires to the last one, it eats up lots of electricity and produces a wave that carries. Without it, your sound system should be just as good, and you can conveniently reconnect the heavy speaker when needed again.

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Question

How can I deal with loud woodworking next door?

Community Answer

Try asking politely for them to stop. If this doesn’t work, try drowning out the noise, or ask them again. Talk to management about the situation if all else fails.

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Question

My neighbor across the hall continually moves my shoe tray and little bench in the hallway. What can I do?

Community Answer

Maybe your neighbor doesn't know that you own the tray and bench. Try talking to this person, and let them know they can use your tray and bench if they respect your wishes not to move the items.

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Question

Is it rude for my neighbor to have phone conversations in the hallway if it echoes into my apartment?

Phillip Mulligan

Community Answer

Yes, it is, with a few rare exceptions, like an emergency. Keep your conversations low volume, classy and very brief. You can talk louder once you have left the building and are on the street sidewalk.

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Question

I live on the third floor. The people below smoke a lot of THC, and the smell is sickening. The property manager just says, "They aren't supposed to be smoking in the building". What can I do?

Spaceship

Community Answer

The neighbors can be evicted if the apartment has a strict no-smoking policy.

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