I (38F) moved into my apartment complex in October 2025. Since before I even officially moved in, I’ve had ongoing tension with the neighbor and her adult son who live below me.
On October 13, 2025, before my move-in day, I stopped by to drop off a few boxes. It was a quick trip, but the neighbor already seemed irritated that I was there. I brushed it off, assuming maybe she was having a bad day.
However, after I officially moved in, things continued to feel hostile. I mostly keep to myself and try to be considerate of neighbors. I don’t throw parties or play loud music. Despite that, the atmosphere with them has always felt tense.
One ongoing issue has been their TV being extremely loud. I understand apartments come with normal noise, but this goes beyond that. Their TV is often loud enough that I can clearly hear it through the floor in my unit. After dealing with it repeatedly, I contacted the apartment manager just to let her know what was happening.
When the manager contacted them, they denied that their TV was loud. The problem is I actually have video recordings from inside my apartment where you can clearly hear their television through the floor.
Instead of things improving after that, the tension seemed to increase.
The breaking point happened this morning when I received an email from the apartment manager saying there had been complaints about loud noise coming from my apartment. The complaint came from the neighbor below me.
The “noise” they reported was me assembling a dresser I had recently purchased. I was following the instructions and putting it together in my apartment. I was mindful of the time and stopped working on it before 7 PM.
Our complex’s quiet hours don’t start until 10 PM, so I had stopped three hours before any noise ordinance even applies.
I responded to the manager explaining that I had simply been assembling a dresser and even sent a picture of it so she could see exactly what I had been working on.
After six months of tension and what felt like another attempt to create a problem where there wasn’t one, I finally reached my limit.
I wrote a note asking them to leave me alone and stop the ongoing issues, and I had it notarized before leaving it on their door. In the note I explained that management is aware of the situation, that I have recordings of the excessive TV noise from their apartment, and that I simply want to live peacefully in my home.
My goal wasn’t to threaten them, but to create a clear written record asking them to stop.
Now I’m wondering if leaving a notarized note might have been too much.
AITA?
NTA for leaving a note but I’m genuinely curious what value you think having it notarized brings, because it serves zero purpose.
Legally, sure, but it might look a little scary to the neighbors, if they’re not too well-informed, and perhaps get them to behave better to avoid The Law.
Probably not though.
What the heck is a notarized note going to do? How does it being professionally signed change anything?
NTA for leaving the note, but I too am confused as to the reason for having it notarized. If you wanted proof they got your note, you probably should have sent it certified mail (if you’re in the US) which requires a signature. I hope things get better for you, OP.
Lol what does a notary have to do with jack all?
… I don’t think you understand what a notarized document is 🫠
Inconceivable!
I do not think it means what you think it means….
I dont get the purpose of notarizing the note, there is no need to do that for a note im sure everyone would believe u that it was from u.
NTA but what did you think notarizing the note would do? I have a feeling that you feel it gives it more credibility and power, which is inappropriate on your part. Don’t resort to foolish intimidation tactics.
INFO: What is a notorized note where you’re from and what meaning does it have there?
A notarized note on their door? Sounds like you’ve thrown down the gauntlet…
I’m going to be honest, you don’t describe anything they actually did to be hostile except having a loud TV and then that they filed a noise complaint after you had already filed one against them. You don’t even say that they were being loud after quiet hours. Them looking annoyed isn’t anything. It kinda feels like you’re the one who is being more hostile and escalating rather than the other way around.
INFO: …have you actually tried to talk to them at any point?