Loud music upstairs and they won't answer the door

why is that?

If every party in the building speaks to the owner of the building, re the level of noise that can be heard from the neighbours, albeit being normal noise levels, then he may take action, there could be something he can do to help reduce the noise.

I don't know the legal status, but isn't a certain level of soundproofing required?

Anyway, I do think that speaking to the neighbours really doesn't do any harm, communication is imo always a good thing - his neighbours are probably up there angry as hell thinking he turns his telly up to a ridiculous volume, if they know that this is not the case and that it's the thin walls then surely that can only be good for neighbourly relations rather than sitting in your flat with headphones on all the time getting equally as angry about the situation.

One should stay upstairs and the other should play around with the volume, then have them trade places. And you should have a friend or someone else as a witness for your side that they did this just in case there are any further complaints although your TV is at "Zimmerlautstärke".

In my old place we heard everything from the ground floor (we were 3rd) because the sound carried up the chimney. Where we are now the TV is louder in the loft bedroom (3rd floor) than in the living room, same reason: The sound carries up the stairwell that is open from basement to loft.

There were some interesting replies to my post.

First off, at all headphone suggestions:
I have a couple different pairs I use on a regular basis. It's not always practical though, they can be bad for your ears even at nominal levels and headphones of the best quality still do not reproduce sound as it is intended to be heard.

As for talking to them (the complainy neighbours), my German is weak at best. The previous tennant (a friend) had explained how he would try and listen to the radio while making meals and things and he would get the same treatment.

If I wanted to make noise, believe me, I could. (Yes, i'm a musician like everyone else. I don't record or play at home though). But the kinds of things I am talking about are no louder than people simply talking to one another at regular volumes. Especially when what i'm trying to enjoy is something involving almost strictly talk anyway (IE recorded/podcast radioshow, drama on tv, etc). I have very tough weekends working and I need to unwind when I get home. Not being able to kick back and watch a movie once or twice a week is annoying. I always end up having to be tethered to my computer with headphones and that feels more like work than relaxing.

I can imagine.

Perhaps just give it a go in English, or do you have a friend who speaks German?

What Sarabyrd said is exactly what I would do... if you can find a way of communicating with them things might get easier. You (as they) have an equal right to some peace.

Do you not think that this is pertinent information that you should have included in your first post? A number of people have taken the time to try to help you based on what can be considered to be a partial description of a problem. Hopefully the information will be useful for others in the situation that you originally decribed.

(Edit) A thank you to the people who have tried to help you would also not go amiss.

I can assure you that if someone has their music cranked up with loud bass or it sounds like someone us bowling upstairs or there is a lot of screaming and yelling, I'll be up there knocking on the door if it goes on repeatedly. I'll speak to them politely the first time. The second time, not so politely. I won't talk to them a 3rd time. That's when I call the authorities. If they have a problem with that, they are more than welcome to come see me and we can sort it out however they like. Or they can just kiss my bald white ass (sorry, I'm not one of those hairy fookers that look like a yeti). I will not tolerate rudeness or inconsiderate behavior from others in a building that I am paying rent to live in. There are rules in place for these types of issues.

***See note 2 posts below, I misunderstood what STB wrote.***
STB, I think your headphone idea is weak and selfish. Trust me, if you told me to wear headphones so you could listen to you music so loud, you'd require medical assistance to get those headphones out of your ass. While I do agree that noise is permitted outside of the quiet hours in Germany, DURING the quiet hours is when we expect to have quiet time and when we expect inconsiderate pricks that insist on blasting their music to turn it down. But during non-quiet hours, there is a limit where just enjoying your music turns into being an asshole neighbor.

I think you totally misunderstood that. STB was referring to the other post, where it was said that watching TV at a normal noise level meant banging etc. from the neighbours, STB then suggested wearing headphones whilst watching TV so that the other neighbours do not complain...

Ah, ok. I did misunderstand. /blush

Sorry STB

a pair of headphones,

small town toy, what planet are you on?? lol

Not quite sure what all this means, but anyway I just wanted to add that after about 10pm I use headphones so as not to disturb my housemates and it's no problem at all.

Edit: Ah, Stevie-boy is back. According to your earlier advice, shouldn't cosine "the fucker" be sued?

housemates as in flatmates or neighbours? I think doing that as to not disturb people living in the same flat as you is slightly different than having to do it so as not to disturb your neighbours.

Both. Whether I share a kitchen with them or not seems irrelevant to me.

if you don't mind doing that - then great. but as the poster said, she/he doesn't feel like he/she is ever really just relaxing when sat there with the headphones on. I personally, wouldn't feel comfortable like that either, so it wouldn't be an option for me, I think I'd sooner move as I just wouldn't feel at home, when at home anymore, if you can understand that.

Not in the slightest. It's just reaffirming/another example of what I had already talked about.


I never said anything was unhelpful. I merely expanded on my post based on the feedback received in hopes to narrow down the situation.
When re-reading my post, I can see how it may have been misinterpreted as being short and ungreatful, and if that's the way anyone read it... I am sorry. When I said I recieved many "interesting replies" or whatever I said, I really did mean to say thanks / meant it in that tone.

Your post wasn't any more helpful, to say the least. I'd accuse you of being a "troll" or whatever forum people call people who just sit around waiting for opportunities to incite chaos and arguments, but i'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're just someone bored at home whom wants to protect the treatment of Toytown posters and ensure they get their proper thanks.

toy boy..

I have never called anyone on this forum "a fucker"

I may think one or two are though.

You called someone a "fucker"; I never stated they are on this forum.

Listen up.

have you nothing better to do?