Someone told me recently, "People rarely have nice things to say about their first apartment or home." Man, no kidding…

First, let it be known that I'm a guy who likes my quiet. I moved to the South Natomas area of Sacramento from Vacaville a little over nine months ago -- with the thought in mind that I was moving from a suburb to a metropolitan city. And with that thought came the understanding that metropolitan areas have some environmental noise that's unavoidable -- landscapers, garbage trucks, emergency vehicles and the occasional loud car stereo from some inconsiderate person.

Sure enough, when I moved, I experienced all of that and more -- loud car stereos nearly every night, a child living above me who enjoys stomping on the floor at 10pm and throwing what sounds like extremely heavy boccie balls onto the ground, college kids who yell and shout at midnight during the weekdays -- this definitely is not a place of serenity.

When I moved, I signed -- as part of my lease -- an understanding of the quiet ordinance within the community. No loud car stereos, no excessive noise, no audible parties. To quote from the lease:

"The conduct of Lessee and such others for whom Lessee is responsible shall not, in any manner, disturb the quiet enjoyment of other lessees, their children, invitees, or visitors, in or near where the Unit is located, including the pool area, recreation and other common areas."

You tell me -- does it seem like my neighbors adhere to the promise they signed in their leases?

You might be asking yourself, "why not complain to management, or call security?" I've done both. Yet nearly a month later (check the video for the date in an atomic clock on the wall), nothing has been done. And security has told me "there's not enough noise for us to do anything."

But there is something I can do -- I can terminate my lease, under California Civil Codes 1492 and 1941.1, which states that a tenant of an apartment community is entitled to peace and quiet free from the disturbances of other people. That process is already starting to take place, and I've already discovered a much nicer, much quieter apartment community (this time in North Natomas) that I look forward to moving to soon.

Throughout the process though, I started to question whether or not I was being extremely sensitive as to the noise that I hear on a daily basis. This is Sacramento, after all. It's a metropolitan community where total peace and quiet is probably unavoidable. But then a much larger part of me questions whether I should have to experience discomfort because of the excessive noise of two neighboring units.

In the end, I think my complaints are justified. I wish the apartment complex -- and the apartment's security -- held other tenants to the same promise signed in their lease regarding noise that I hold myself accountable to.

(By the way, for legal reasons and out of respect for the company I work for, I'm unable to publish the name of the complex that is driving me crazy, but if you look around the internet, you might just be able to find a review or two written about said complex -- in a completely balanced way -- published by yours truly, along with plenty of high-resolution photos)

Read more: What makes an apartment inhabitable under California law?