Buying or living in a duplex can be a great way to start out in your real-estate journey. But, there are some drawbacks that may weigh out the benefits. Noisy neighbors, can affect how comfortable you are in the privacy of your home.

Are duplexes noisy? Yes, you may hear fragmented noise from the other neighbor, because of the one shared wall that extends from the front of the unit, to the rear. However, they are much quieter than an apartment or condo.

Before choosing a duplex to live in, there are certain aspects that you’ll want to pay close attention to. Observing the building layout, backyard structure and ensuring the utilities are separately metered, can give you a comfort in your newly found home. Continue reading below to help you make a better decision on the perfect duplex to live in.

Choosing the right Duplex to live in

Layout

The design and layout of the duplex drastically, affects the noise levels within your unit. If the duplex is attached then by nature there is a shared wall which causes more noise than a duplex that has separated units.

Backyard

Many duplexes normally have a backyard that is shared between both units. This setup is completely normal; the problems can arise when there is no clear agreement which part of the backyard belongs to whom. Ensuring that your landlord has a clear agreement on which section of the backyard the tenants share.

Makes it easier for the tenants to understand where their personal area begins and ends. It’s also very important that the landlord adds this information to the lease. This would remove any confusion for the tenants as to which section of the backyard belongs to whom.

Utility meters

Gas, Electricity and water utilities can be separately metered, but it doesn’t apply to all duplexes. Some duplexes may have one water meter, and one electric meter; there are several different variations. This criterion is important because of the pay structure.

If there is only one water meter then the land lord may require you to pay for a fraction of the bill, based on factors like square footage and bedroom count. It doesn’t hurt if you and your neighbor are splitting water, gas or electricity. It’s just calming to know that if all utilities are metered, you’re paying for the exact amount of usage for all of your utilities.

By no means is this a deal breaker when searching for a property, it’s just another factor to consider if your choosing to rent or considering house hacking a duplex.

Duplex Layouts

If your living in a duplex, triplex or quad, hearing noise from your neighbors is normal. One strategy that you can use to reduce noise is choosing a duplex that has separated units. Residential multi-family comes in all shapes and sizes, and there are certain layouts that may create more noise than others.

Attached duplex

A duplex that is attached is a single building with two separated units and one share wall. Out of the format options for duplexes, this is one of the layouts that produce the most noise. There is one wall that is connected dividing the two units. The drawback to the design is that the connecting wall stretches from the front of the unit, to the rear of the unit.

Often times covering several areas: kitchen, living room, and bedrooms. One of the buildings I purchased is a triplex; two units are connected and the third unit is by itself. There were several times when the tenants were complaining about excessive noise. However, that was a peculiar situation, and the renters turned out to be problem tenants.

If noise is a concern, then when looking to buy or rent a duplex, the layout is definitely something you should keep in mind.

Detached duplex

When it comes to living in a duplex, the detached duplex layout is by far the best option for dealing with less noise from the neighbors

The design of the individual units is completely detached with no shared walls. The distance between the buildings vary by design. Ranging from 4 to 20 feet. The duplex I live in has a 20 ft gap between both units, and is separated by a garage. This setup cuts noise down tremendously. There are times when several days may pass before I even see the next-door neighbor, making it one of the best design options for peace and quietness.

Related questions

What to do about loud neighbors?

1. If noise gets to a point where its unbearable, then you should began documenting the occurrences. If it ever got to a point where you would have to present your case to the landlord; having evidence would help make your case more valid.

Paying your neighbor a visit

2. The good thing about living in a duplex is the rapport you can develop with your neighbor. Developing a sound relationship makes it that much easier to pay your neighbor a friendly visit when issues come about. Sometimes it’s best to directly tell your neighbor that he/she is being a bit too loud.

3.This approach works much better than a letter, sending a letter may come off as disrespectful or passive aggressive. A simple gesture about the noise level works quite well. So, try this before taking the next approach.

Contact the landlord

4. If the gentle gesture didn’t solve the problem, then send your landlord an email about the noise complaints you’ve been experiencing. If further information is needed then that’s where your documented evidence comes into place.

What is noise law?

Noise law is an ordinance created by the state, to provide people with a peaceful and quite environment, reducing noise to provide a sense of health and well-being for home owners, renters, etc.

Local ordinances

Cities and counties establish varies laws that create protection for their citizens, against excessive and overbearing noise issues. The noise ordinance times, can be found by a quick search online for your particular locale. Locations may vary slightly but generally a weekly noise ordinance time would be 11 pm to 8 on weekdays and 12 pm to 8 on Sundays and holidays.

Rights in California

As an example of the noise ordinances times, will look at California. The ordinances prohibit excessive noise between 11 pm and 7 on weekdays and 12-8 on weekends, once again all ordinances may vary, but the typical time falls in-between that window.

Final thoughts

Performing due diligence usually applies to evaluating a potential real-estate investment. But it can also apply to scoping out an area of interest and a property that you’re interested in to determine if it best fits your needs as a renter.

If noise from your neighbors is a concern, then implementing a few techniques can prevent future problems from arising. Focusing on the layout of the units, making sure the landlord is clear on the boundaries for the backyard and checking to see if the utilities are separate. Can improve your overall living experience in your home.

This method may not completely eliminate noise, but it sure can help you chose a conformable living situation when it comes to duplex living.