Dear Eric: We live in a 14-unit, mostly self-managed condo building. We have been here 17 years. The woman above us had been here 25 years (or more) when we moved in.

Over the last several years, she has become increasingly difficult. It did not help that I was on the condo board when she was not paying her assessments, not fulfilling her chapter 13 plan, etc.

She is upset that she hears noises from other units. In retaliation, she makes noise so that the rest of us will have to experience what she is going through. The worst is when she runs noisy appliances that she is not actually using, sometimes creating a loud, grinding sound. When we ask her to stop, she tells us that these are the reasons she is making the noise.

She plays music or her TV loud enough to interfere with my concentration. And she occasionally bangs on walls or ceilings and screams “Go back where you came from” and other invective at the tenant, who is a refugee.

Worse than that, she has called the police to complain about the noise from the upstairs tenant more than once when it was just a mom and baby.

I suppose I should be grateful that the music is usually not objectionable (no metal, lots of oldies). But I am angry that this continues, and I want it to stop.

What do you recommend?

– Want Quiet

Dear Quiet: This sounds awful, no pun intended. As a former member of your condo’s board, you’re probably familiar with the building’s rules. Is there a quiet enjoyment clause that your neighbor is violating? If so, you should bring this ongoing issue to the current board. Now, as you write, she has a history of not paying her assessments, so it sounds like this board isn’t especially effective at enforcing its own rules. Should the current board prove unhelpful, you can consult with an attorney who specializes in condo boards and HOAs for more options for resolving internal disputes.

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Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.