Pros and Cons of Renting a House Where Your Upstairs Neighbours Have Kids

As a strategy for cheaper rent, renting a house where your upstairs neighbours have kids can come with pros and cons. There are more downsides than upsides to consider, although how this affects your experience will depend on your personal preferences, lifestyle, and tolerance for noise.

Renters’ initial reaction is a resounding \”no\”, as nothing can purchase peace and silence. Acoustics in houses and even condos can be subpar, and soundproofing is far from guaranteed. Surprisingly, even a single child can be remarkably disruptive. We rejected a budget-friendly, high-quality rental apartment solely because the upstairs neighbours had a newborn.

Kids jump, run, scream, and throw tantrums. Children who obediently follow their parents\’ instructions are rare. Maybe you like children, and their daytime activities don’t faze you. However, consider the scenario of these disturbances occurring on a Sunday at 10:30 p.m. when you desperately need sleep for a daunting Monday at work. It\’s like a wailing baby on a red-eye flight.

Here\’s a breakdown of the potential pros and cons:

Pro 1 – Negotiation room with upstairs landlords

Many prospective renters actively avoid living near children, giving you leverage if you’re open to tolerating occasional noise. Landlords often possess a vested interest in fostering a long-term relationship with their tenants, which means they have an incentive to manage their children\’s impact on your living experience. They\’re more likely to want to keep you happy.

Negotiating becomes a plausible avenue, and you could even discuss a potential exit strategy. Options range from a flexible month-to-month arrangement to a mutually agreed trial period during which both parties assess the living arrangement. By leveraging the potential inconveniences and stress factors you may encounter, you could even pursue a substantial rental discount. This avenue of negotiation allows you to address potential challenges while securing favourable terms.

Con 1 – Limited incentive for courtesy from upstairs tenants\’ kids

Regrettably, when dealing with the noisy and disruptive kids of tenants who are not the landlords residing above you the incentive for them to be considerate might be quite restricted. You will be limited in your options to address this and you can be left high and dry. While you can voice your concerns and explore potential resolutions, your rental agreement pertains to your relationship with the landlord alone, not the upstairs tenants or their children.

Initiating conversations with the parents of these children could have mixed results. They have the ultimate authority in deciding how to address the situation, and these discussions may lead to uncomfortable situations. Ultimately, navigating and resolving these issues would likely involve communicating with your landlord, emphasizing the fact that your influence over the behaviour of upstairs tenants\’ kids is notably limited.

Pro 2 – Peaceful nights with early kids\’ bedtimes

Here\’s an unexpected benefit of having children upstairs: their early bedtimes. Responsible parents often ensure their kids go to sleep earlier than most adults. This means you can enjoy tranquility from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., depending on the family\’s schedule. During these hours, you\’re likely to experience a blissful stretch of silence, allowing you to indulge in a restful and undisturbed night\’s sleep.

Con 2 – Strained landlord relationship

While fostering a positive relationship with your landlord is possible through mutual respect and consideration, sustained excessive noise can erode even the most harmonious connections. Consistently raising concerns about noise from children could progressively sour the landlord-tenant relationship. There\’s a chance that your repeated complaints might be perceived as nitpicking or petty, especially if the landlord is a parent themselves and believes that noise is an inherent part of family life.

Constantly addressing noise concerns could convey a negative impression, making your landlord perceive you as overly demanding. This dynamic might escalate tensions and hinder effective communication on other matters. Thus, a recurrent noise issue has the potential to cast a shadow over an otherwise amicable relationship, creating a strained atmosphere.

Pro 3 – Delight in polite and sociable kids

In an era where effective parenting can seem rare, exceptional caregivers still prioritize their children\’s social development. Meeting well-mannered kids who engage in conversation, greet you with a smile, and exhibit curiosity can be an unexpectedly delightful experience. These interactions have the potential to brighten your day and contribute to a sense of wholesomeness. From sharing small talk to receiving thoughtful gifts and gratitude for your presence, these interactions can be rewarding for your living situation. It\’s also worth considering that your rent is playing a part in shaping a promising future for these children, making the dynamic mutually beneficial.

Con 3 – Possibility of reprisals from kids and even parents

It\’s important to consider that if you decide to voice your concerns about noisy kids, you might inadvertently trigger negative reactions. This could come not only from the children themselves but from their parents as well.

When parents mention the issue with the kids, they might respond by trying to irritate you. Even without their parents knowing, kids could devise ways to annoy you, opposing their parents\’ instructions to keep noise levels down.

Equally surprising, parents might also react negatively. We\’ve witnessed instances where mothers, for example, deliberately create noise by dragging furniture, vacuuming, and dropping heavy objects late at night. This could be a direct response to your complaints to provoke a reaction from you. Their goal might be to shift the focus away from their children\’s noise and instead draw attention to your response.

In essence, addressing noise issues could lead to retaliatory actions. This chain reaction of reprisals, initiated by both children and parents, could exacerbate the situation, potentially creating an unfriendly dynamic between you and your neighbours.

Pro 4 – Quiet breaks from outgoing neighbours

Here\’s another silver lining: if your neighbours are sociable, have connections outside the city, and enjoy travelling, their presence might be quite sporadic. You might go days or even weeks without noticing them. Their family could be away on road trips or visiting friends, making your living environment exceptionally quiet during these periods. This intermittent absence can grant you periods of serene silence within your living space.

Con 4 – Homebody neighbours creating disruption

A potential downside is if your neighbours prefer a homebound lifestyle and keep their children indoors all day. Children who spend a significant amount of time indoors might experience anxiety-related challenges, and their excess energy often manifests as disruptive noise, right above your head.

This situation could lead to an environment filled with unwanted disturbances, impacting your tranquility and daily routine. In such circumstances, where kids are confined indoors and their energy finds an outlet through noise-making, the peaceful atmosphere you desire might be consistently broken. It\’s important to weigh up these factors carefully before committing to a living situation where disruptive noise from homebound children might be a prevailing concern.