Room 408: A Living Nightmare

Dear Megan,

I’m writing to express my continued frustration and deep dissatisfaction with the living conditions in our apartment. My roommates and I are exhausted — both mentally and physically — from the ongoing disturbances caused by the tenants above us.

Our balcony is constantly littered with puke and broken eggshells, creating an unbearable stench and an unsanitary environment. You mentioned you would speak to the people upstairs, yet their behavior has only escalated. They’ve been throwing fireworks off their balcony — a reckless and dangerous habit that has now occurred multiple times.

The most recent incident happened just last night at 2:40 a.m. I wasn’t sleeping this time — I was in the kitchen when it happened. A firework exploded mid-air just feet from our balcony. I watched through the glass door as sparks burst outward and hit our window. My roommate Miles was sitting on the couch watching Adult Swim when the explosion lit up our entire living room like a strobe light. He jumped in shock, and I stood there stunned, thinking about how easily this could’ve ended in injury or fire.

There have also been other instances when fireworks have gone off while I was in a dead sleep — suddenly awakened by explosions that rattled the walls and echoed through the apartment like a war zone.

But the chaos isn’t limited to fireworks. The tenants upstairs have been throwing water balloons off their balcony, hitting random pedestrians on the street below. Strangers — drenched and angry — have come banging on our door, accusing us of doing it. Meanwhile, the actual culprits sit comfortably above us, unnoticed. At the same time, they’ve been throwing eggshells at parked cars in the apartment complex across the street. They’re not just noisy — they’re absolute menaces.

Last night, after the fireworks, I paced around the apartment trying to calm myself down, only to hear the all-too-familiar stomping of footsteps above. Despite multiple police calls and repeated reports to the Franklin Community Assistants, nothing has improved.

We are now entering the third month of this madness, and I genuinely don’t understand how these tenants are still being allowed to live here. I have not received any form of compensation, resolution, or reassurance that our safety and well-being matter to you or the property management team. Frankly, it feels like their rent checks are being prioritized over our right to live in peace.

Please let me know what meaningful steps — not promises — will be taken to resolve this situation. We’re tired of being ignored.

Sincerely,
Aaron Smet
Resident of Room 408