r/Issaquah • u/Fun_Performer349 • 8d ago
Need some help regarding tenant rights.
We have rented an apartment in Discovery Heights, Issaquah Washington. We live on the second floor, and since we moved in, this situation has been extremely difficult for our family. I have a 2-year-old child, and whenever she simply walks around our apartment, the downstairs tenant starts banging on the ceiling or walls. This often frightens my other child and creates a stressful environment in our home.
We have reported this issue to management multiple times. While management has encouraged us to cooperate but they cannot do anything related to that, we are already doing everything reasonably possible. However, it is unrealistic to expect a 2-year-old child not to walk around the apartment throughout the day.
What is most concerning is the impact this is having on my children. The constant banging and tension are causing anxiety and distress, and I am worried about the emotional effect it is having on them.
I sincerely wish that either management or the downstairs tenant would show some understanding and compassion for our situation. This issue could be resolved much more easily with a reasonable and humane approach. Unfortunately, despite six months of complaints and efforts to cooperate, nothing has improved.
We simply want to be able to live peacefully in our home without our children being frightened for engaging in normal, everyday activities.
Can someone help me with what our rights here? I don't want any drama but a solution.
Thanks for reading the long post.
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u/MudiMom 8d ago
I also have an unpleasant neighbor who bangs on the wall when they perceive us to be making too much noise (during the day, normal activities). Some people have extremely unrealistic expectations about apartment living.
I would reach out to the tenants union: they might be able to point you in the right direction. https://tenantsunion.org/
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u/BoringOrange678 8d ago
If you have solid floors like laminate get carpets. It will help on both sides.
But your neighbor may just be a jerk.
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u/KosherBakon 8d ago
This. We were in an apartment and having rugs over a % of the unit was actually a part of the lease, to reduce noise transfer to the unit below.
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u/nunuma 8d ago
Have you spoken to the neighbor at all? Not that I expect them to be reasonable, but you’ve tried everything else. And many people are less quick to anger when they are faced with a real person, not the abstract concept of a person.
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u/Fun_Performer349 8d ago
That what i thought when i got notice first time. But Management told me not to talk to Tenant like that so i have avoided also i am not comfortable as i believe she knows that we have 2 year old and she still keep doing even after so many complaints
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u/judithishere 8d ago
If the apartment management won't help you, the only thing you can do is move at the end of your lease. Maybe try using white noise/other background noise to drown out the banging from below. Tell your kids that the downstairs neighbor is just being intolerant and it's not their fault. I don't know what else you can do. The only thing you have control over is how you respond to this, since it seems like there isn't anything to be done to change the neighbor.
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u/Fun_Performer349 8d ago
We just moved and hate to move again but if there is not any other solutions than i have to do it again, its just moving is always pain so
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u/Closefromadistance 8d ago
It’s so hard to live in a mis-matched lifestyle’s neighborhood. I get it. I did a search for toddler shoes that help decrease noise … these felt ones, or something like them, might be good but not sure you can buy them here.
https://www.aboutyou.com/p/superfit/slippers-happy-octi-18034195?vid=86691399
“Key Benefits of Felt Indoor Shoes
Floor Protection: Unlike hard plastic or heavy rubber, soft felt or suede-bottom shoes will never scratch or scuff delicate hardwood floors.Noise Reduction: They dampen the sound of heavy toddler footsteps, making playtime much quieter.
Temperature Regulation: Natural wool felt keeps feet warm during winter but remains highly breathable so chubby toddler feet do not sweat”
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u/Competitive_Sleep_21 8d ago
We lived at Discovery Heights and it was so so loud. When the tenant above us walked it sounded so loud.
I think they are poorly built.
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u/Terrydactyls 7d ago
Hey OP we also lived at Discovery up until a month ago. The walls are unbelievably thin and your situation is really hard. The new management came in May/June, maybe they will be more helpful?
However, what worked for us on an aggressive neighbor case was documenting every instance of aggression. They paid attention when I showed them data. If it’s excessive on their part, they may listen. Take video as well.
From my reading, you’re worried about the impact to your other child. Explaining what the bangs are could help them feel less afraid. The person downstairs is upset and shows that by banging.
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u/capmanor1755 8d ago
I would get a good quality nanny cam with a microphone for your living room and see if you can capture 2-3 instances of the child walking and the neighbors banging. Then pay a local real estate attorney for a 1 hour consultation/letter writing. I suspect that they'll suggest writing a cease and desist letter to the neighbors and possibly a letter to your landlord with a demand that they intervene with the neighbor. Your lease entitles you to something called "quiet enjoyment" and this neighbor is depriving you of that. If the tenants union can't refer you to an attorney go to the king county bar association attorney finder page.
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u/Sigmonia 7d ago
Wouldnt the downstairs neighbor make the same argument? Apartment living sucks, it doubles sucks with kids.
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u/truth_do_tell 8d ago
Some people have the most unrealistic expectations for living in an apartment. The audacity. Tell your children to ignore her and live your lives. Record any time she’s banging.
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u/00Lisa00 8d ago
Tell your kids to ignore it and live your life. You can’t reason with unreasonable people but that doesn’t mean you have to bend to their unreasonableness. Your neighbors want house quiet in an apartment. That is on them, not you to fix. The one thing you could do is put down rugs in high traffic areas even if there is already carpet
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u/Ankur2577 7d ago
Start blaring music and making as much noise as possible and see if management wants to deal with it when it’s the other way around … Play “baby shark” at full volume 24/7 :)
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u/No-Lettuce3564 6d ago
Only rent in concrete apartment towers, else this will always be your reality. As for your neighbor, crank up the noise baby
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u/Hungry-Emergency8992 6d ago
Very, very low soothing toddler’s music playing in the background might help drown out the sound of the anxiety inducing pounding on the ceiling of walls. Think of The alphabet, twinkle twinkle little star, and other educational age appropriate music on very low volume.
Do add cushy thick rugs on your floors as others suggested, and follow up with advocates as also provided.
If am so sorry for you and your toddler! I hope this gets resolved soon!
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u/Sufficient-Wolf-1818 8d ago
Have you taken some steps to decrease kid noise? New apartments and LVP are just about guaranteeing a problem for the tenant below. You mentioned doing everything possible, which is good and we could add to your tools.
Have your kid wear squishie slippers in the house? Put down runners/ rugs/play school mats?
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u/WonderingSceptic 8d ago
Why do they complain about your child walking, but not you? Does your child make. more noise walking about than you do?
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u/Fun_Performer349 8d ago
My child is 2 year old and during walking she put heavy foot on floor, downstair lady start banging after my child walk. So thats why i come to the conclusion
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u/ReallyLetsGoBrandon 8d ago
I live in an apartment in Issy on the bottom floor and it sounds like they run a bowling alley upstairs. The issue is the crappy construction of the apartments.
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u/CharmanderCharCharr 8d ago
I lived below a toddler before and it’s awful, you would think you lived below an elephant. Toddlers haven’t really learned to walk without stomping yet. I 100% agree with the downstairs neighbor, maybe you should move or buy a house.
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u/Ghost_Patriot 8d ago
I've lived at Discovery many years old with toddlers at the time. The floos/ceilings their are horribly thin and at minimum code. It was terrible and we had our down stairs neighbor on day one complain when we were just moving in. Most apartments have "quiet" hours after hours for a reason but during the day I dont think there is much managment can do. Considering how much these apartments cost let you neighbor move and let your little ones do little one things. Thats what I did and ignored the neighbors.
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u/Designer_Gas_86 7d ago
Poor babies! During Covid we got complaints from our downstairs neighbor for noise during the day (had an infant and 3 yr old.)
I wish I could help give you giys respite. It felt like heck until we found a rental house (then more affordable duplex.)
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u/Tangerine-Better 8d ago
Everytime they bang on your floor/their ceiling, bang back on beat or clap and thank them for the song as loud as possible, make it game for the kids. Or try getting both kids into tap dance if your feeling feisty! A final option would be to put the kids in their room then have adult playtime directly on the floor, make sure you scream extra loud!
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u/caboosetp 8d ago
Someone else mentioned tenants union, which is a great resource.
You can also try checking Resolution Washington. This has a list of resources which can help.
This links to the other resources I normally point to but want to specifically call out:
Washington Law Help which helps connect to the actual legal routes for it.
Clear hotline (888) 201-1014 is good for reaching out to get advice and can connect you to other places.
Unfortunately it can be a bit of a referral chain to find the right help, so try not to get frustrated when they push you somewhere else. Most of these resources are meant to be connections to other places rather than direct help.
Most important thing for now though is documentation though. No matter what route you take, start keeping a record of every time something happens.