Searching for a rental in Chico, Redding or surrounding areas in Northern California can be a frustrating and time consuming activity, but once you find one you love, the time you spent searching almost always feels worth it. However, when it comes to rental living, you can’t always control who you end up living next to, and in some cases, you may end up with less than ideal neighbors.

Unfortunately this happens even to people who spend time scoping out the property before signing their rental agreement. While noisy or irritating neighbors can seem like a curse, there are some simple ways to deal with them in a calm, polite fashion that will almost always help resolve your issue, whatever it may be. 

Knock on the Door

If your neighbors are doing something that’s keeping you from sleeping or generally disturbing you, the first thing you should do is just go knock on their door and let them know that their chosen activity is bothering you.

In many cases, a neighbor that’s listening to music too loudly or hammering away at a wall to hang a picture doesn’t even realize that you can hear them. Chances are they’ll turn the music down or stop doing what was bothering you – at least until a more appropriate time of day.

Knocking on the door and talking to your neighbor also helps establish a good relationship, and lets them know that you can communicate like an adult.

Request Notice

Neighbors that routinely have guests over may not seem like the best neighbors, but it’s simply a fact of life that you’ll have to live with when it comes to rental living. After all, people enjoy sharing their lives and home with friends and family, and it can get a little noisy from time to time.

What you can do is ask your neighbors to let you know a day or two before they have a group of people over so that you’re prepared. That way you can be out of the house if the gathering is during the day and will prevent you from getting work done or will generally be distracting to you.

Requesting notice also gives you a chance to ask your neighbors to stop making noise after a certain time of night so they won’t interfere with your sleep. If you do request notice from your neighbors, make sure you let them know if you have any loud gatherings too! 

Talk to the Property Manager

If repeated requests simply aren't doing the trick, it might be time to talk to your property manager about the situation. Start by calling the manager during business hours and filling them in on the problem. That way they can send a written notice to your less than perfect neighbor.

That's usually enough for most problematic residents to stop their irritating behavior. If not, ask your manager how to proceed. An in-person visit may be necessary, but this is usually rare, and most neighbors get the message long before authorities have to be involved. 

In extreme cases where you believe there may be violence or someone is in harm's way, calling the authorities first is an appropriate step before notifying your property manager. 

If you're in a rental living situation in Chico, Redding or one of the surrounding areas in Northern California, your neighbors will most likely become the kind of people you wave to and have a quick conversation with in passing. But if you do find yourself living next to less than perfect neighbors we hope these tips are helpful!

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