Upstairs Tenant Playing Loud Music All Night, Downstairs Tenant Called Cops

[Matthew Slaughter]

Hey BP Community!!  I woke up to a text this morning from a tenant living below a tenant who was up all night blasting music.  The cops were called by the lower tenant.  Wondering what the next steps are for me as a landlord.  Should I get the police report and send a letter to the upstairs tenant reconfirming with them the stipulation in our lease of quiet enjoyment?  Thanks!!

[Kevin Sobilo]

@Matthew Slaughter, I would probably start with communication and talk directly with the upstairs tenant.

If that tenant confirms what happened with the police coming etc, then I would explain to them that the lease contains clauses prohibiting disturbing other tenants and neighbors etc. I would also explain to them that repeated incidents like this could result in eviction. I would let them know they will be receiving a written lease warning documenting this incident and the conversation. I would then send a lease violation notice aka notice to correct indicating which lease section they violated and that they need to refrain from disturbing others as the corrective action.

If they deny the incident entirely, then I would get a copy of the police report and use that as justification to send that lease violation notice and include a copy of the report so that they know they can't get away with lying to you.

I would then follow up with the upstairs tenant and let them know that I had issued the offending tenant a written warning about the behavior.

If the behavior repeats within several months, I would move to evict.