Hello everyone,

I've been living la dolce vita for some time in a nice apartment - very quiet environment, fantastic neighbours, everything just peachy. Alas, two weeks ago, my next-door apartment neighbour moved out; a new family moved in and my life has been not-so-good since. What happened? well, my apartment is now stunk up; the positioning of our two apartments and the fact that they refuse to ever use the vent have created a very unpleasant situation for me. I went to see the building manager; he seemed very reluctant to intervene, mentioning "cultural sensitivities". I hardly think this could be applicable - the fact that someone is cooking with their apartment's door open has nothing to do with cultural differences, but with a complete disdain for your neighbours. So I knocked to their door and, very politely, I tried to explained the unfortunate situation I was in. They didn't seem unfazed, although they seemed quite sympathetic. Unfortunately, the key word there was: "seemed". The next day, they resumed their usual behaviour.

So - what am I supposed to do now? I assure you, it's not just a whiff of "ethnic food" now and then, it's absolutely awful, it stinks and it keeps going on for hours, each and every day. Have you ever been in a similar situation? what did you do? what are my options, short of moving out myself?

I dislike having to tell you this but I think it a choice of suck it up or move. The only saving grace is if you could persuade all/most of the other tenants to protest also.

Throw turds through their open door until they get the idea

Get a nice powerful fan, open your door, and switch on. Spraying air freshener into the air stream from the fan will help them get the point about smells wafting too!

Let them complain to the manager and see if he has 'cultural sensitivity' then!

I know where you are coming from.

Our hallway is very potent (i'm being polite about it) .. so i spray my fabreeze around my front door and along the hall .. i have considered buying the plug-in's but don't feel like i should be spending money to keep the place smelling fresh but hey i don't care, i hopefully wont be here for much longer.
So not really much help .. Sorry.

In an apartment building the only way to defeat nasty smells is with other nasty smells. Try cooking garlic fish with blue cheese sauce, and invite a friend over that smokes like a chimney.

Unfortunatley I don't think there is much you can do.

We have a neighbour upstairs who has very HEAVY feet, and when he walks about its BANG BANG BANG. I think he must have wooden flooring whch isn't really fair in an apartment, they shouldn't allow it. (It's carpet in ours by the way)

We like our apartment to move out after six months and I feel that if we complain he will probally do it on purpose.

I did cook burgers last night and it set of the fire alarm, I don't think he would have liked that.

This seems to be the general consensus. However, I think it all comes down to having a firm or indifferent building manager: I read very carefully the leaflet detailing the rules all (tenants, owners) must abide by and it clearly states that any activities causing problems could lead to eviction (eventually). Unfortunately, there is only one person who has the authority to quote the rules and issue warnings - and that person is unwilling to intervene.

I know what you mean - I've already had such neighbours myself. Unfortunately, smells are much worse than noise, as they tend to linger on and stink up your apartment, long after their initial source has disappeared (not to mention the objects, clothes etc that become impregnated with disgusting odours)

maybe another 'word' with the neigbours might help but try and not be so diplomatic and actually 'spell it out' to them in a firm but friendly manner.....write down any conversations afterwards and keep a note of anything, days of pong, duration of pong......at least you'll have a record of it all, if the need arises......but be firm and state your case; maybe the cutural differencies where mis-understood; maybe they thought you were saying 'yum-yum'!!!!!

Or take a tip from the guys on Top Gear and put the blue cheese + fish into the air vent of their car

Um, they cook stinky food....with their apartment door open? It seems to me that you have asked nicely. I would wait till they do it next, then walk over and slam their door shut. That might give them an idea.

I seem to be rather unlucky with neighbours, so I can appreciate how tough it is that they are spoiling your apartment for you. Life is hard enough, if it continues I would start looking at other places.

Or...you could swap with me? I have to listen to the guy in the basement entertaining his lady friend in a very noisy manner. The girl beside me is a loud mouthed, wobbler-throwing nightmare. And on new years eve, the cops came to the house to break up a small riot. Interested in a swap?!

Ok, may be out of line here, but just completed Residential Tenancies Act Canada course here in the UK.

You need to put in a letter to the superintendent in the first instance, complaining about the problem that you have. May sure that you keep a copy, and he is obligated to take action following receipt of your letter. He may only have word with them, but make sure that if the super only comes back to you verbally you keep a log of it, and ask for written confirmation of what they have done Personally I understand there will a large mix of cultural backgrounds in one block, but leaving the door open, Whilst cooking on a regular basis is not reasonable. ( However if they argue they are cooking a special occasion then it mau be deemed reasonable.) As it is obvious that the smell will spread in the building. You need to keep a log of incidents in the form of a diary, and the member that said if you can support from other neighbours even better. This is certainly a behavioural problem of the tenants causing the nuisance, and the super is obligated to take action if you put in writing. Make sure that you request written response of what action he has taken, and how long they have given the other tenants to modify their behaviour!

Why your super will not do anything is beyond me, usually supers like the authority that comes with the role, from what I have seen both in Canada and the US.



Hope this helps.

I am curious what are they cooking?

Finally it is nice to know that tenants in Canada have the same problems as in England.

In my mind I am thinking what I would of done in your block had I been the super, but hey to me working in an inner city up north where this type of stuff is a walk in the park, and I have very serious ASB cases to deal with. A harsh word is the order of the day!!!!!!

I have had PM who kindly reminded that there is no such thing as the Canadian Residential Tenancies Act. I need to clarify that I was referring to the Ontario residential tenancies Act 2006. Which is a provincal act not a country wide act.

Very decent of you to admit your faux pas.

I wouldn't have.

Willingly.