New York, NY asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York

Q: I have loud neighbors next door constantly partying late hours. Can i with hold rent due to excessive noise?

I have contacted the police on several occasions, I have reached out to the landlord which he ignored my messages. These people are coming out to their backyard at 12am and dont stop until the next morning. Theyre very loud, playing music on a speaker, singing, talking loudly, being aggressive and drinking. It is disruptive to the whole entire building and more specifically to my mental health. I dont feel comfortable or safe in my own home due to this issue. I was wondering if i can withhold rent from the landlord until my lease is up in August?

Related Topics:
2 Lawyer Answers
Elaine Shay
PREMIUM
Elaine Shay
Answered
  • Landlord Tenant Lawyer
  • New York, NY
  • Licensed in New York

A: Noisy neighbors are frequent problems for tenants and landlords. Depending upon whether the tenants causing the problem are rent regulated or free market can significantly impact the likelihood of the landlord's ability to address the situation. Withholding rent will likely get your landlord's attention but don't be surprised if you get hit with a nonpayment eviction case.

Peter J. Weinman and Steven Warren Smollens agree with this answer

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
Answered
  • Landlord Tenant Lawyer
  • New York, NY
  • Licensed in New York

A: Dear Tenant:

Guess what? You become the low-hanging fruit and easier for the landlord to pick when you choose to not pay rent than it is going against the obnoxious tenant for nuisance or for other objectionable behavior that would be considered a breach of the lease.

Simply declining to pay rent and continuing to suffer daily while living in this building until your lease ends does not help.

Why not just declare the landlord's failure to control or prevent the disruptions to your living caused by the bad neighbor caused a constructive eviction and forced you to move out?

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.