Summer celebrations are gearing up, and the commemorative fun often includes the bright, colorful addition of fireworks! Safety and consideration for others should always be a priority, and are especially important when handling or viewing fireworks within and HOA. As firework season approaches, it’s worth reminding association members of the following tips to ensure a […]
How to Handle Noise Complaints as an HOA Board Member
As an HOA board member, you’ll find yourself needing to deal with some issues–and one of those issues may be noise complaints. Neighbors who believe that they’re in the right will quickly bring their complaints before the board, leaving you scrambling to decide how to handle these common issues appropriately. From music played too loud […]
St. Augustine preschool tries to be ‘a good neighbor’ amidst noise complaints (FL)
During recess, the children at Island Prep, a private preschool in St. Augustine, do what every child does during their time on the playground. But all that running around and laughter can be too much for at least one resident in the nearby Ocean Trace subdivision. “It has been peaceful in the last couple of […]
What to Do When Your Neighbor’s Dog Won’t Stop Barking
We’re all in agreement here – dogs are simply amazing. But, there are few things more annoying than a dog that barks nonstop, especially if it’s not your dog. Perhaps you work a night shift and can’t sleep during the day because a neighbor’s dog is barking nonstop; or you have just put your baby down […]
How to Drown Out Your Neighbors’ Psychotic Lovers’ Quarrels: Noise reduction solutions for the noisiest of noisy neighbors
I thought I had gamed the system this time—after two years of living below Marcus, a photographer with an appetite for swarms of high-heeled women and 4 a.m. weeknight furniture shuffling, my husband and I had secured a top floor prewar Chicago condo. With a brick exterior and solid wood floors, the loudest sound we […]
The Nuisance – You Know It When You See It?
Many common interest community declarations contain provisions prohibiting “nuisances”, and homeowners and directors alike use these provisions as a “catch-all” category when it comes to annoying people and situations in their communities. But what exactly is a nuisance and how do you know if one exists? For example, it is not uncommon to receive complaints […]
A New Way to Defuse Noise Complaints
New York City is loud and getting louder. The number of noise complaints filed with the city’s 311 line has more than doubled since 2010. The main culprits, in no particular order, are raucous parties (which the police no longer interrupt), construction work (which takes place at all hours), sirens, air-conditioning units, bar patrons, barking […]
Singapore: Condo unit owner fails in bid to end ‘noise’ from pool pumps
For over two years, a condo unit owner tried to get his estate’s management corporation (MC) to resolve the noise from a swimming pool pump system, which his occupier had found “unbearable”. The unit is located below the rooftop pool at Luma, a 27-storey development in River Valley Grove. The MC tried everything, from hiring […]
What Can an HOA Board Do About Barking Dog Complaints?
So you moved into a beautiful new luxury homeowners association. Your home is on a quiet street in an established neighborhood. Every evening you sit on your newly purchased adirondack chairs in your shady backyard, sipping on a bottle of wine — while your roommate is lapping his water from an old beat up water […]
Selective Enforcement and Violations When Installing Hardwood Floors (FL)
Earlier this year the Third District Court of Appeals narrowed two significant unit owner defenses to enforcement actions, selective enforcement and waiver/ estoppel when it decided Laguna Tropical, a Condominium Association, Inc. v. Barnave, Case No. 3D16–1531 (Fla. 3d DCA January 25, 2017). For more on the doctrine of Selective Enforcement, please review our October […]
Dealing with A Noisy Condo Tenant – Court Declines to Make an Eviction Order
In a recent case, NNCC No. 6 v. Temedio, a condominium corporation applied to the Court for an order requiring a tenant to permanently vacate the leased unit due to loud noises and voices emanating from the unit, which constituted a breach of the corporation’s rules. The unit owner brought a separate application seeking an […]
Neighbor Annoyances In Your HOA
When people live in close proximity, as with homeowner association common wall living, lifestyle clashes are more likely. Noise is the most common complaint followed closely by odors, health and sanitation issues, cigarette smoke and curb appeal. The board is challenged from time to time to sort out various nuisances that interfere with a member’s […]
When Residents Are Disruptive: Tips for Keeping the Peace
Despite living in association, sometimes disputes erupt. Some residents just can’t be reasoned with. They’ll bother the board or other residents in various ways: noise at all hours, smells, maybe even just being a pest. No matter what it is, issues like these need to be dealt with before they become bigger (and more expensive) […]
Noise Complaints: Co-op and Condo Boards’ Worst Headache
Noise complaints are the migraine of the headaches besetting co-op and condo boards. They come without warning, they tend to be brutal, and there’s no simple cure. Worst of all, they can come from almost any source – stereos, TVs, musical instruments, renovation work, appliances, parties, children, footfalls, even the noise people make when they […]
Noise in your HOA Community
3 Steps for community peace; we’ll tackle world peace next time. Noisy neighbors… Almost everyone will have to deal with them at some point in their adult life, whether they live in a single family home, condo, or apartment. It can be anything from the early bird next door who starts the lawnmower at […]
Bring the Noise! Community Noise Rules
Multifamily buildings like condos and apartments can have a lot of noise that seeps into everyone’s home. Controlling this noise can be difficult, but it is up to the board to create rules and regulations that promote a pleasant environment in which to live. These four tips can help control noise within a multifamily building. […]
Noise Rules: Keep it Down—But Keep it Fair
When you live in a multifamily building, however, peace and quiet can be hard to come by. From the guy upstairs who gargles loudly at precisely 6:47 a.m. every morning to the neighbor with the yapping Chihuahua—at some point the soundtrack of your neighbors’ lives will inevitably intrude upon your own. Read the article………….
Upper-unit Hardwood Floors Pose Condominium Problems
People who purchase a condominium unit that has another unit above it are liable to be concerned about the potential for noise coming from the upper unit. It is a legitimate concern and one that is not assuaged simply by being reassured that the current occupants of the upper unit are quiet and considerate. What […]
Tips from an HOA Board: Are You Unknowingly a Noisy Neighbor?
Does your HOA board deal with noise disturbance complaints from members? Noise is an inevitable reality in a condominium homeowners association. Condominium dwellers live in such close proximity, it’s essential that all residents consider the effect that noise will have on their neighbors – especially when it comes to long-term considerations, such as deciding on […]
HOA Obtains Injunction Requiring Floor Covering
The recent case of Ryland Mews v. Munoz dealt with an increasingly common issue in homeowners associations – the installation of hard surface flooring. Ryland Mews (“the HOA”) sued Munoz (“Homeowner”) in response to Homeowner’s installation of hardwood floors in his unit. Specifically, Homeowner replaced the carpets in his unit with hardwood floors to accommodate […]
Kids in condos and noise complaints
With a growing number of Ontario households raising children in condominiums, many in the condo industry may have read a recent news report from British Columbia with interest: A family — consisting of mother, father and two sons, aged two and five — facing a noise fee of $50 per week, decided to move rather […]
Adverse Impact on “Quiet Enjoyment” in Your HOA, What Does That Mean?
Legalese is challenging sometimes. Words and phrases like fiduciary duty, waiver and hold harmless, and impact on quiet enjoyment are bandied about like everyone should know that they mean. Most HOA or condo documents have a prohibition of some kind on activities that disturb the “quiet enjoyment” of an owner. Read the article………..
Insidious Noise Issues in Your Condo – What Can Be Done?
Noise is a difficult issue when rearing its ugly head. Here is the latest question. Read more………
Dealing With Noise in Your Condo
Question: I recently purchased a condominium unit and live on the third floor. I have a noise problem with the unit above me. I can hear the people walking back and forth, getting out of bed and everyday normal activities. New owners purchased that condo last week. I believe the previous owner installed a low […]
Tips from an HOA Board: Reducing Noise Sounds Like a Good Idea
Noise is a concern for every resident and because you live in a homeowners association community, it’s important to understand that some degree of noise is to be expected. At the same time, residents need to consider the consequences of their noisy behavior. To keep everyone happy and maintain civility among neighbors, the HOA board […]
Developing Effective Noise Policies
Neighbors in condominium units live as close to each other as neighbors can. Consequently, excessive noise is one of the most common complaints condominium association management companies receive. If your condominium community is experiencing a rash of noise complaints, there are better solutions than trying to insulate walls against sound. Below are some helpful tips […]
Homeowners Association Tips: Noise Disputes
One of the most persistent and difficult issues landlords, managers and community associations must face are noise disputes. They can be quite difficult to resolve since they cause much unrest and issues with the people involved. If the association acts fast though, the problem could be solved effectively and quietly without things being dragged into […]