frequent noise complaints about upstairs neighbors

Drew McLoughlin · 2025-11-26T12:29:33-08:00

Looking for suggestions in dealing with frequent noise complaints from downstairs tenants about upstairs neighbors. In an early 1970s build quadruplex, nearly all downstairs tenants I've had complain emotionally every few weeks about noise upstairs. Main issue is litte kids upstairs running and playing. One person downstairs works from home; the noise occasionally impacts their work. I live downstairs, and my roommate just moved out largely due to noise from upstairs.Whenever there is a complaint, I speak with the people upstairs. These are younger kids so I have not given any official noise violations as long as the noise stops once I speak to them. But it keeps happening. Tenants know that noise "after hours" can be grounds for noise violations - which is included in the lease. After hours noise has not been a frequent issue. Unfortunately, a decent amount of noise can be heard through the subfloor from people just walking upstairs. One upstairs tenant is extremely irritated and threatening not to renew because they think they need to walk on eggshells and claim to just be just trying to live their life. I generally believe them as I have lived in 3 of the 4 units myself. Doesn't take much to cause noise downstairs.From a leasing perspective, I restricted the number of people who can live in upstairs units. Hard to tell in an application/ screening who is going to be a busy body... Open to soundproofing renovations but don't have much budget at this property. Probably shouldn't have replaced the carpet with LVP in the upstairs bedrooms/ hallway last year (~1000 sq ft)... new carpet could probably be done for around $4k, but not sure it would solve the bigger noise issue. Maybe the spend is justified if turnover/ vacancy increases due to this. There are pets upstairs and just put in new good quality LVP last year, so I'd rather treat the source of the issue (better than I have been) beforethrowing replacing LVP with carpet. Do I enable tenants to manage themselves: give the people downstairs license to take a broom to the ceiling (as they have expressed a desire) and tell the people upstairs it's not personal? Only half kidding... Have had one person upstairs come down to my downstairs unit to hear what it can sound like. Think that helped them empathize. Just need everyone to internalize (1) the people downstairs are not being unreasonable, and (2) the people upstairs are not trying to "stomp on your head when you are sleeping."

Polo VazquezPro Member

Real Estate Agent · McAllen, TX · Member since 2017 · 382 posts · 281 votes

10mo

Hello,

Unfortunately kids are a delicate issue. You can't kick out kids or not lease to someone because they have kids (unless the community itself is 55+ or similar). I would say the best think you can do is just not renew their lease or up their rent so much so that they don't renew themselves. You don't want to tell them you are not renewing because their kids make too much noise.

You are right that carpet helps with the noise but carpet does have its issues. Things you can do to soundproof are: Add insulation between floors or add a layer of underlayment for lvp. I know new LVPs don't need it but if you add it it does help with the noise some. Adding insulation is your best option but more expensive. Either way, I doubt either one of these would solve your problem since kids running simply produces too much vibrations.

1 Reply

Adekunle Babatunde
Investor · Dallas, TX · Member since 2026 · 52 posts · 9 votes
8mo
Quote from @Polo Vazquez:

Hello,

Unfortunately kids are a delicate issue. You can't kick out kids or not lease to someone because they have kids (unless the community itself is 55+ or similar). I would say the best think you can do is just not renew their lease or up their rent so much so that they don't renew themselves. You don't want to tell them you are not renewing because their kids make too much noise.

You are right that carpet helps with the noise but carpet does have its issues. Things you can do to soundproof are: Add insulation between floors or add a layer of underlayment for lvp. I know new LVPs don't need it but if you add it it does help with the noise some. Adding insulation is your best option but more expensive. Either way, I doubt either one of these would solve your problem since kids running simply produces too much vibrations.

You're right Polo, vibrations from active kids are indeed hard to fully block; good call on underlayment/insulation trade-offs.

As a property finder working with investors, I always flag: Familial status is federally protected—no non-renewals or selective rent hikes based on kids or typical child noise. Stick to documented lease violations only Consistent enforcement is key.

Quick investor tips I've shared: mandate thick rugs in leases, offer minor soundproof incentives, or screen for upstairs/downstairs compatibility upfront.

What's your top fix in TX multi-units?
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Srinivasa Subramanian

Property Manager · Waterville ME · Member since 2020 · 43 posts · 39 votes

10mo

@Drew McLoughlin

I think you’re already handling it really well.

This really isn’t a “bad tenant” problem — it’s a 1970s construction + LVP upstairs + young kids + WFH era combo. Even great tenants will sound loud in older buildings because the sound transmission is just poor.

I’ve dealt with something similar in my office space before, and what actually helped was sound-dampening panels. They’re inexpensive and surprisingly effective for the downstairs tenant who’s working from home. Even a small environmental change can make a big difference in perceived noise.

If the downstairs tenants are long-term and reliable, sometimes offering a small goodwill rent concession for a month or two helps reset the relationship and shows you’re trying to be fair.

On the upstairs side, little things help a lot:

Felt pads under furniture

Area rugs with thick rug pads

Encouraging soft shoes / socks indoors

And I definitely would not advocate broom diplomacy — that escalates tensions quickly and can turn neighbors against each other. Better to keep all communication flowing through you so no one feels personally attacked.

You’re doing the right things by addressing complaints promptly and helping both sides understand each other’s perspective. In buildings like this, it’s mostly about setting expectations, adding a few inexpensive sound buffers, and keeping emotions from overheating.

2 Reply

Jules Aton
MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
10mo
Quote from @Srinivasa Subramanian:

@Drew McLoughlin
I think you’re already handling it really well.

This really isn’t a “bad tenant” problem — it’s a 1970s construction + LVP upstairs + young kids + WFH era combo. Even great tenants will sound loud in older buildings because the sound transmission is just poor.

I’ve dealt with something similar in my office space before, and what actually helped was sound-dampening panels. They’re inexpensive and surprisingly effective for the downstairs tenant who’s working from home. Even a small environmental change can make a big difference in perceived noise.

If the downstairs tenants are long-term and reliable, sometimes offering a small goodwill rent concession for a month or two helps reset the relationship and shows you’re trying to be fair.

On the upstairs side, little things help a lot:

Felt pads under furniture
Area rugs with thick rug pads
Encouraging soft shoes / socks indoors

And I definitely would not advocate broom diplomacy — that escalates tensions quickly and can turn neighbors against each other. Better to keep all communication flowing through you so no one feels personally attacked.

You’re doing the right things by addressing complaints promptly and helping both sides understand each other’s perspective. In buildings like this, it’s mostly about setting expectations, adding a few inexpensive sound buffers, and keeping emotions from overheating.

"I’ve dealt with something similar in my office space before, and what actually helped was sound-dampening panels. They’re inexpensive and surprisingly effective for the downstairs tenant who’s working from home." @Srinivasa Subramanian where exactly did you install the panels?
0 Reply

Lydia Winn

Member since 2025 · 91 posts · 55 votes

10mo

I agree with everything shared here. Soundproofing sounds like your best option, despite the cost. You could also cover the cost of inexpensive area rugs for the upstairs tenant if they sign a 1 year lease. You really can’t give a noise violation to kids clattering around their home. Keep in mind floating (not glued down!) carpet shouldn’t ruin LVP should you decide to remove it, so don’t rule it out.

1 Reply

Jules Aton

MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes

10mo

I suspect it is more vibration noise which unfortunately it is complicated. My STR has this issue and it drives me crazy but the truth is the people are just walking around or in cases of kids running around excessively but that is a different topic lol. Area rugs can help and I've considered decoupling the ceiling but had just renovated when I realized the perils of first floor in stick built building.

0 Reply

Stuart UdisPro Member

Attorney · Philadelphia · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes

10mo

It sounds like you're handling the situation well from the communication front. As others have noted, this is a construction & more specifically a ceiling assembly issue. You're not going to like it, but the best solution will be removing the existing ceiling drywall and installing sound dampening insulation, with resilient channels installed directly on the joists followed by 2 layers of 5/8x drywall with green glue in between each layer. This assembly is required to meet fire rating and STC rating requirements in newly renovated multi-unit and new construction units in many areas. Even that won't eliminate the noise, but it will reduce the sound and vibrations significantly. There are a lot of costs associated with keeping up with current permitting and code requirements associated with heavy renovations or new builds of multi-unit buildings that drive me crazy but the STC rating requirements don't really bother me because there's nothing worse than having sound transmission issues in buildings, which is why I can certainly sympathize with your situation. I recognize this becomes a logistical challenge with added costs. Carpeting can help mitigate but won't solve the issue.

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3 Reply

Marcus Auerbach

Investor · Milwaukee - Mequon, WI · Member since 2010 · 5k+ posts · 7k+ votes

10mo

Effective sound proving is expensive.

You are looking at two principles: dampening by adding mass and insulating/decoupeling to stop the transmission. It starts with the underlayment under the LVP, you could upgrade that. Next the subfloor itself. Below you can replace the drywall. Make sure you have a decoueling layer between the drywall and the joists. And then another layer between the two sheets of drywall.

Or you find new tenants.

0 Reply

Peter MckernanBusiness Member

Residential Real Estate Agent · Irvine, CA · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes

10mo

This one is hard, because there is really nothing you can do with the noise issue since it is a kid(s) running around upstairs and that does not warrant you kicking them out. I have seen this a lot where the older buildings are just old and not as insulated as well as the newer construction.. I lived in a place years ago, the place was built in 2005 and the same thing, a kid would run back and forth at night when the parents would get home. So, even with newer construction it happens too.

You can give these people an easy out when their lease is coming due, or to end early as long as you feel comfortable with it. Not the best option, but it gives them the notice they can leave when they are ready. There is only so much you can do, which is the majority of what you have done thus far. I would say you can let them out of the lease, and then the new tenants coming in notify them and put it in their lease too.

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Colleen F.Pro Member

Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes

10mo

@Drew McLoughlin I actually do tell them to talk to each other. If the downstairs tenants is in fact unreasonable I have offered them out on the lease. That was one time and that guy was never meant for apartment living. You couldn't walk above his head. The best thing you can do is set the stage when you rent and let people know it is an older building and sound travels.

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frequent noise complaints about upstairs neighbors

frequent noise complaints about upstairs neighbors

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