Asking about soundproofing your space in tenant screening

You’re a professional whose job is in the music industry. Or you may just be on your way to landing your first job with an amateur band. You may be a composer whose mind always works in different hours of the day, wee morning hours included. You may be attending a college in the arts and you can’t help it when you need to practice your musical instrument upon arriving home. You are a dancer who needs to practice with music on every chance you have. The question is, is that allowed by your landlord when you move in to your new apartment? You should bring up this matter to your landlord at your scheduled tenant screening.

If your work is similar as those above but don’t have a house of your own yet and moving to an apartment, please be concerned of the needs of your neighbors. You should know that although court decisions in past noise nuisance disputes have been sympathetic to the need of musicians, you wouldn’t want to cause rubble at another person’s property and quality of life.

Be honest to the landlord about your purpose of moving. Let him know the possible materials or equipments you’ll be bringing in with you that are relevant in your profession. When he brings up the issue of noise, then you must be ready in assuring him that you are soundproofing your space at your own expense if he wouldn’t mind at all.

There are many ways to soundproofing your space. First, ask for a unit with no walls adjoining another unit. Second, use sound absorbing materials like carpets and pads, drapery, upholstered furniture, acoustical wall padding, and ceiling. Take note that the total surface area of any material should be at least one-fourth of total room surface area. Sound proof boards are also widely used and can be purchased anywhere.