Tenant's rights in regards to noise?

[phaedras.livejournal.com]

The landlord has been renovating the apartment above us for the last 2-3 weeks and plans to continue for another 2-3. The laborers usually start around 7 and continue until 5. I usually work nights so I'm here during the day and sleep late. The noise is close to unbearable, since they are tearing out everything and are using saws, drills, etc. Lately they've been destroying the yard and cutting down trees for a *parking lot* so that adds to the din. Can I demand a reduction in rent? I don't see how they can charge me the same for an apartment that was relatively quiet when I moved in, and now sounds like a logging camp.

Comments

[lena-a-mermaid.livejournal.com]

One problem here is that your landlord wants to or needs to make renovations to the apartment. If he did it when you weren't home and sleeping, for example at night while you are working, he'd be violating the quiet time of other neighbors and he probably wouldn't find anyone who would be willing to do the work at that time of night and the work would take much longer. Renovations take power tools and create noise.

When would be a good time for him to make the renovations? As for working 7-5, those are long hours. Often they only work 7-3. So with those extra hours, they hopefully will finish sooner and then you can rest.