Being a Good Tenant (plus: learn how to tip)

Between a bastard boss, bountiful bills, and a bitching boyfriend, there is enough stress in life. There’s no need to exacerbate things by starting a cold war with your neighbors where you end up blasting “Sexy Back” to counter they’re all-night marathon of Paul Anka’s greatest hits, or by pissing off the super to the point that he doesn’t fix that strange brown water dripping from the ceiling. Most people are wary of recent graduates as a rule of thumb, so you will probably have to try hard to get your neighbors and super in your side. That being said, once you lay the groundwork with some social niceties, you can be reasonably confident that you're not treated like an apartment pariah. Another good preventive measure is to actually read the lease before you sign—it may be exceedingly boring, but it contains all the minutia that will suddenly become essential if something goes awry.

Make Nice With Neighbors

Driveway, hallway, lobby...there are a lot of places to run into neighbors. Getting to know them will not only relieve elevator awkwardness, it will also provide someone to borrow a mop from or take in the mail when you’re maxing in the Caribbean.

Mind the Manners

Besides saying “hello,” establish a good relationship by being respectful. If you throw a party, warn neighbors a few days in advance. If your guests stay late, the music gets too bumpin’, or people parked in their rosebush, stop by the next day with flowers, a bottle of wine, or leftover dessert to apologize. Learn more about being a good neighbor.

Handling a Hooligan

Whether their alarm blares in 9 minute intervals from 5-7AM every morning or frequent fights involve all-night screaming and door slamming, a noisy neighbor can disrupt sleep and sanity. To deal with the decibel disturbance, learn to deal with the neighbor from hell and try the approaches below:

• The Ned Flanders Way – Smile, nod, and get to know the person. In an off-hand way, mention that his music (or other noise) can be heard through the walls or across the yard. There’s a good chance he doesn’t even realize he’s pissing people off and this little hint could be enough. If a week or two go by and nothing has changed, be more direct. If a face-to-face confrontation is overwhelming, write a letter. Be sure to take copious notes and make a copy of anything written or sent in case one of the steps below must be taken.
• Read it and Weep – Most leases have a written clause regarding appropriate noise levels. Try giving the neighbor a copy of the lease with the relevant section highlighted. Seeing the rules in writing may be enough to scare them straight.
• Bring in the Big Guns – If neither tactic above works, bring the problem to the attention of the super or landlord. If necessary, follow-up with a letter documenting the dates and details of all your conversations. Speak with other neighbors to determine if they are affected by the noise. If so, encourage them to complain to the head honchos, as well. The more far-reaching the problem, the greater the pressure on those in charge to take action.
• A Last Resort – When all else fails, bring in the true authorities—call the police during one of the disturbances and/or contact an attorney for advice on legal action.