Hi, I need help with dealing with my horrible neighbors.

My husband, nearly 1 year old son, and myself live on the 3rd floor of a house split into 3 apartments. We've had ongoing storage issues with our first floor neighbors that we have recently learned from the landlord is an ongoing problem. There is a basement to the house that is supposed to be available for all three units, as well as a shed. Before the woman on the second floor moved out, we asked her how much space was she taking up in either space, just so we would have an idea on how less cluttered we can be. She laughed at us and said that as long as 1st floor lived here, we'll never get an inch of either space.

Another ongoing issue with 1st floor is their noise. They are a family of 4, with 3 pets. 2 cats and a dog. The kids are 2 boys, 1 in high school, the other is a nearly deaf 4 year old. Whenever the husband is home, it's very peaceful and quiet. Too bad he works 40+ hour work weeks. The oldest we never hear or see, and pretty much can be applied to their fantastic pit bull. The mother and the youngest son are the issue.
She never makes the youngest wear his hearing aids so he is always stomping and screaming. He makes our apartment shake to the point where I'm afraid some of our wall hangings will fall. The mother spends most of the day screaming and cursing at the youngest. If I can clearly hear you scream {profanity removed} on a daily basis, something is seriously wrong.

The latest issue with them is with one of their cats. One they keep inside, the other they refuse to let her in. Now the banished cat is puking, peeing, and defecating on the stairs between each floor, and favoring 2nd floors landing.

The landlord knows about all of this, but can't afford to kick them out. My hands are tied with these horrible neighbors.

Probably the most obvious course of action is to move. If the landlord is not dealing with the problems from the first floor tenants, and it has been an ongoing problem he is aware of, there is little you can do to force him, at least not without a lot more trouble than its worth.

As to the little boy who is being obviously abused, I would do one of two things. Advise both the landlord, and the mother and father that you have serious concerns as to the deaf child's safety. Start keeping notes of dates, times, what you hear. Send a registered letter to both parties, outlining your concerns, and stick to the facts. Tell them if the abuse continues, you will call the CPS. Then do it. It is particularly tragic for this little deaf child to be screamed at with such vulgarity and hate.

I wouldn't hesitate to call the SPCA and ask them to come and get the cat. Or, get one of those temporary cardboard carriers from the nearest vet, get the cat in it, and take it to a shelter in your area. Tell them you found the cat.

So you do have options. You may not get storage space, but you will have peace of mind in stepping up for both the deaf child, and the obviously sick animal that needs attention.

I would send a registered letter to your landlord advising him that:

1. your peace is disrupted by the family downstairs and you need him to intervene by speaking to the family and asking them to keep a reasonable noise level during the day and to maintain reasonable quiet hours in the evening through early morning.
2. That the cat poses a health hazard since it's using the shared stairell as a litterbox and that the family should either be required to keep the cat in their apartment or get rid of it.
3. That as there are three units, one third of the basement should be cleared for your use for storage and that if this is not realistic a discount should be given to you so that you can pay for offsite storage.

Noise is something you have to expect in multifamily housing, and you're only entitled to the storage if it was offered as part of your rent, but there are reasonable limits of noise and if storage was offered you should get it.

If the treatment of the child is abusive I would report it without giving the family a heads up. I would not get any more involved than necessary in the situation, but a hearing impaired child need support services and understanding parents who are themselves getting proper support, and it sounds like that's not happenint for this kid.

I have talked with the landlord again, he is going to talk with 1st floor when they go to pay rent (Monday at the latest) and is going to tell them what needs to be a permanent change and if they fail to do so, to find someplace else to live.

I'd move if it was financially possible, but we have discounted rent because my husband is a long time friend of the landlord.

If in 2 weeks time the 1st floor hasn't made significant progress with everything but the storage, not only will the landlord be notified again, but CPS and the MSPCA.