Help with Dog Barking in the Building!

Hey everyone… here’s a topic I haven’t seen much of, but I know we’ve all dealt with it at some point. Dog barks! I live in a building that used to be super quiet, but now it’s non-stop barking all day and night. I’ve talked to the dog owners, but it seems like I’m the problem when I bring it up. I’m sure if I make an official complaint, nothing will happen, but if anyone has had a different experience, I’d love to hear it.
Any advice, past experiences, or solutions would be so appreciated! Let’s help each other out!

Ugh, I totally get it! I’ve had the same issue before. I tried talking to the owners first, but it didn’t work out. What helped me was leaving a note on their door politely asking if they could keep the dog quieter, especially at night. Some people are just unaware! If that didn’t work, I’d suggest checking with the building management to see if they have any rules about noise levels. Good luck!

I totally get where you’re coming from! I went through something super similar, and honestly, it was so frustrating. That’s actually why I always try to rent in buildings that don’t allow pets, it just avoids so many problems. One thing that worked for a friend of mine was recording the barking and sharing it with the building manager to show how constant it was. Sometimes having that proof helps them take it more seriously. Hope it gets better soon!

It's terrible the lack of respect locals have with noise. My first apartment I rented long term here I had to move out. The neighbor's dog barked all night. No one in the building would do anything about it. He was a deranged lunatic. I confronted him once and he threatened to kill me. Same with people blaring their music all night.

I’ve been there, and it’s super draining when no one takes it seriously. Have you checked the building’s bylaws or co-ownership rules? Most of them have specific clauses about noise and disturbances, especially during certain hours. If talking to the owners and building management doesn’t help, maybe it’s worth chatting with a lawyer, just to understand your rights and see if there’s anything more you can do. It sucks to go that far, but sometimes it’s the only way to be heard.

Melibaires said:

bylaws or co-ownership rules?

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this! i'm out of the game when it comes to looking at apartments and PHs, but there's a name for the document that is sort of the HOA rules; @earlyretirement and the veterans here would know it off the top of their head. the building has rules for renovating and all that. but it's still pretty wild west in Argentina, even in nice places in BsAs, and there are many savages that don't give a f### about anyone else. i watched a cop sit on her phone directly below a 2nd-floor balcony where a poodle mix was just barking non-stop. no one cares. it's the latino land of big flete trucks with loudspeakers on Sunday morning...this is why i ended up moving to Mendoza and looking for a house 😛 people are just assholes sometimes

Rusher said:

politely

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smart move. winning friends is easier than conquering enemies

Melibaires said:

I’ve been there, and it’s super draining when no one takes it seriously. Have you checked the building’s bylaws or co-ownership rules? Most of them have specific clauses about noise and disturbances, especially during certain hours. If talking to the owners and building management doesn’t help, maybe it’s worth chatting with a lawyer, just to understand your rights and see if there’s anything more you can do. It sucks to go that far, but sometimes it’s the only way to be heard.

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🤣 Getting a lawyer is NOT going to help in Argentina for noise. Even with buildings that have bylaws there isn't much you can do. These administrations don't get paid enough to get involved in disputes. And even with rules like noise you can't do much push comes to shove. Heck you can't kick someone out even if they stop paying. People here do not respect with common sense like in the States where most people are civilized about noise.

I'm in Recoleta and we had a long term tenant renting that had 2 very loud dogs and played music all hours of the night. Even though we have a clause about that there is nothing you can do for the most part. We sent legal notices but do you think the courts will do much? We did send them Carta Documentos and legal notices but they did not care. It was 2 years of living hell for most of us.

We tried to get the owner to do something but she lived in Spain and couldn't have cared less as long as she was getting her money. This is one of the things that is a negative here. People don't respect about noise and police are no help at all.

StatusNomadicus said:

this! i'm out of the game when it comes to looking at apartments and PHs, but there's a name for the document that is sort of the HOA rules; @earlyretirement and the veterans here would know it off the top of their head. the building has rules for renovating and all that. but it's still pretty wild west in Argentina, even in nice places in BsAs, and there are many savages that don't give a f### about anyone else. i watched a cop sit on her phone directly below a 2nd-floor balcony where a poodle mix was just barking non-stop. no one cares. it's the latino land of big flete trucks with loudspeakers on Sunday morning...this is why i ended up moving to Mendoza and looking for a house 😛 people are just assholes sometimes


smart move. winning friends is easier than conquering enemies

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Most buildings that have a HOA (home owners association) have a set of rules but you have to remember that some of these buildings are very old. The newer buildings in the past 15 years or so sometimes have specific clauses about noise and fines but many do not. People in Buenos Aires don't respect basic common sense and respect when it comes to noise.

And the police won't care about things like this. It is a pain but usually you have to confront people about it. But most times they won't care. In ALL the properties I own and manage for other investors I have a clause and clearly put on the Airbnb listing if we get a complain from a neighbor we have the right to immediately evict them with NO refund of funds paid. We make it very clear. But unfortunately most other owners of Airbnbs don't do this and people have loud parties.

Argentines unfortunately don't have the sense of respect for noise pollution like Americans and other civilized first world countries have. On the weekends you will constantly hear some people blasting music and there isn't too much you can do. I own an apartment in Palermo Hollywood and fortunately I don't have many complaints but I go down to Buenos Aires about every 3 months now for work and a few times I will hear music blasting at night on Thursday/Friday/Saturday. I have gone over before and they will turn it down a little but then turn it back up eventually. Many just don't care here.

Meantime in my properties in Mexico they are very good about it. If I have a guest complain I will send a WhatsApp and the security guard will tell them if they don't turn it down they will get fined. And they bring up decibel meters and they have specific terminology in the HOA rules.

Some people don't like living in HOA buildings or communities but I LOVE it because there are rules for common courtesy. Fortunately many of the newer buildings in BA have some clauses like this but still, if someone is being a jerk in Buenos Aires there isn't too much you can do. In Mexico the big security guards go up and if they don't turn it down they fine them and keep increasing the fees if they do it again.

The weekends can be bad as the locals love to drink and party and listen to music and they do NOT sleep. Same thing happens in other Latin American countries but I find it's worse here.

Fanny said:

Hey everyone… here’s a topic I haven’t seen much of, but I know we’ve all dealt with it at some point. Dog barks! I live in a building that used to be super quiet, but now it’s non-stop barking all day and night. I’ve talked to the dog owners, but it seems like I’m the problem when I bring it up. I’m sure if I make an official complaint, nothing will happen, but if anyone has had a different experience, I’d love to hear it.
Any advice, past experiences, or solutions would be so appreciated! Let’s help each other out!

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I had problems with this in 2 out of the 3 Airbnbs that I stayed in. One time it was a dog barking nonstop and another time it was nonstop Reggaeton blaring. What is with reggaeton and why do locals love it so much? It was so loud. I had an apartment in Soho and the neighbor on the weekend kept blasting music on their balcony. I asked them to turn it down one night and they just laughed at me in Spanish. I went to the doorman to ask him and he said there wasn't anything he could do and happened every weekend.

I contacted my Airbnb host and they were no help. I reached out to Airbnb and asked them to move me. I took a video of it and sent it to them. They immediately allowed me to move. So if you stay in an Airbnb you do have some remedy. The 2nd was also in Palermo and non stop barking. It wasn't as bad as the reggaeton but had to sleep with earplugs in.

BA is a loud city. Street traffic is tough enough but music and loud dogs are annoying.