Hmmmmm … what to do about loud humming noise?

Q: I have an older man who has moved into the downstairs condominium. Ever since he moved into this unit, I have heard a very loud humming noise in my bedroom.

When I told the neighbor about the humming noise, he told me that this was my problem. He must have done something to the ceiling fan because I have lived here for eight years and never previously heard this noise. It is difficult for me to sleep with this noise.

I asked one of the staff members of the management company to listen to this noise in the bedroom. I guess they did talk to the man as he did not turn the fan on for a while. But it is now back on again.

We now have a new management company. Of course, they do not know anything about this problem. Sometimes I wonder why we even have an association. They can't do anything about anything.

Do you mean to tell me that they do not know who the landlord is for this unit?

I had to move my furniture around in my bedroom to help decrease the noise, but I can still hear it even though it is not as loud.

I am concerned that the humming could cause a fire. I called the fire department and, of course, they can't do anything.

My second problem pertains to my other downstairs neighbors. The man and the woman fight. He threw her down on the ground. The other night, I heard loud arguing and banging.

I did call the police and by the time they arrived, the argument was over. There are cigarette butts all over the ground. The day of the argument, there were beer cans on the ground.

I am writing to you because you are the only one that I get some kind of response from. I don't know what to do here.

A: Even though the reader has previously communicated with one of the previous management company's staff members, the reader needs to write a formal request to the new management company.

She should first direct her correspondence towards the humming noise. The management company and the association do have the right to contact the owner and ask the owner to check the ceiling fan to make sure that it is operational.

No one needs a fire in any community. If the fan is operating properly, there is not much more that the reader can do. From the reader's letter, it would appear that her community has poor sound barriers.

One possible suggestion is for the reader to turn on her radio or play soft music on her DVD system that will cover the humming of the noise and hopefully help her fall asleep.

As to the domestic disputes, again, the reader needs to put this information in writing and send it to the management company. The management company and the association can send a letter to both the tenants and the owner of the unit informing them of the association's rules of quiet enjoyment.

The owner could be fined if the disturbances from his tenants continue. In addition, the reader can continue to contact the police department when the domestic disputes accelerate and especially if there is any violence. If the police have to visit these tenants enough times, some action will eventually be taken by them.

The best that can happen is for someone to be locked in jail, but the reader needs to realize that with overcrowded jails the lock-up would be for a day or two, at the most. Unless the woman who is being beaten files a formal complaint and charges are made, nothing permanent will happen to reduce or eliminate the disturbances.

Associations cannot really dictate to whom the owner leases his unit. You would like to think that the owner would want a tenant or tenants who would properly maintain his unit.

After all, if tenants cause damage to the common area, what are they possibly damaging in his unit? Even in the best of situations, a good landlord may be mistaken in selecting a tenant or tenants and find himself evicting tenants who just leased his unit.

The most important action that can be taken is for the management company and the association to notify the unit owner and to place some pressure on that owner, if necessary, to help resolve the issues with his tenants -- and evict them if events warrant eviction as opposed to warnings.

Barbara Holland, certified property manager, broker and supervisory certified association manager, is president and owner of H&L Realty and Management Co. Questions may be sent to Association Q. & A., P.O. Box 7440, Las Vegas, NV 89125. Her fax number is 385-3759. Questions may be shortened and are subject to editing.