Can this problem with my landlord be solved ?

Question

I live in an apartment building in Massachusetts. My landlord said she has to ventilate the halls and turned on a machine that is located right above my apartment which "feeds" a ventilation duct located a few yards away of my door. The noise produces vibration in all my apartment and it interferes with my sleep. It feels like having a car engine on all the time, the walls vibrate, floors too. Is my landlord doing something illegal? are my tenant's rights being violated ? what can I do ? This problem is causing a lot of problem in my place. Thank you for advice.

Answer 1

Any tenant WITH A LEASE has the right to quiet tenancy, therefore this is unacceptable. I don't know how hard it is to get a rental property in your state but if it's not difficult, then start looking, but if you like the area and apartment you live in, then approach the landlord and ask her to come in to your apartment while the machine is going, and listen to what you have to put up with. Maybe she has a rising damp or another issue to deal with, and this ventilation was going to be a quick-fix, but if it interferes with your life you need to do something about it. Surely, to ventilate the halls there would be another way of tackling the problem other than a loud machine. Good luck.

Answer 2

It's hard to tell if it's illegal or not. I would talk to the landlord about the problem first and see if it can't be fixed. Then at least the landlord is aware of the problem. If then, the landlord doesn't fix the problem(since they are responsible) then you need to contact a lawyer. Good luck!

Answer 3

Tell her you cannot live with the noise and that you will have to find another place to live.