Loud, continuous music and bright lights at all hours of the day and night are the reasons why the property at 2212 Meredith Rd. in central Nanaimo now has as a nuisance property designation after over a year of neighbour complaints. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

unneighbourly

‘Two years of hell:’ Nanaimo property declared nuisance due to loud music, ‘blinding’ floodlights

Dec 2, 2024 | 5:27 AM

NANAIMO — Songs playing loudly on repeat for hours, profanities and insults shouted day and night, and multiple floodlights permanently activated have led to a nuisance property designation for a central Nanaimo home.

The actions of the tenant living at 2212 Meredith Rd., located in the Northfield neighbourhood off Bowen Rd., were described by City bylaw officers as an “attempt to threaten, agitate, demoralize and rob neighbours of peace.”

A neighbour who lives adjacent to the nuisance property, told NanaimoNewsNOW the trouble with the occupant began shortly after he moved in.

“It was two years of hell. He’s bats*** crazy. Having to listen to music…the same song (Beautiful Day by U2) on a loop for seven, eight hours a day.”

The neighbour, who requested to remain anonymous, said the man would yell remarks such as “don’t lose any sleep” and “have a good night everybody” and profanities after playing music loudly outdoors, sometimes until 3 a.m.

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The property was given the designation during a Nov. 21 Nanaimo Special Council meeting.

Neither the property owner nor the current tenant were at the meeting to comment on the designation.

The nuisance property designation allows the City to bill the property owners for municipal services with a starting rate of $250 per attendance, including bylaw, RCMP, fire rescue, building inspectors or members of the public works.

Neighbours say the floodlights at 2212 Meredith Rd. have been on 24/7 since the tenant moved in, with additional lights activated by motion sensor. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Complaints started in August 2023, with neighbours reporting the male resident would sit in the backyard and play music at high volume until the early morning hours, clearly audible to adjacent properties.

A second complaint the same month mentioned installation of multiple floodlights in the backyard directed into the yards of adjacent homes, projecting “blinding” light in their direction all night.

Neighbours also reported a mirror was placed in the backyard, reflecting the floodlights to cover all sides of the house.

“He lets his car alarm go off at 2 or 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning, and he does it over and over and over again,” said another neighbour. “He does it on purpose I’m quite sure.”

They said the man would return home and turn on his car alarm before going inside, allowing it to cycle a few times before turning it off.

Neighbours said the alarm would go off a few more times overnight prior to sunrise.

They added they have only seen the tenant in person a handful of times, with no face-to-face interactions. They also said he has done no outdoor maintenance or yard work on the property since moving in.

A third complaint in June 2024 reported the noise and lights were continuing, prompting the bylaw department to send letters to the resident warning of future enforcement action if the disturbances continued.

A fourth complaint in August 2024 from multiple people said the noise and lights were escalating, with one neighbour providing sound and video files to bylaw officers.

A neighbour who lives across Meredith Rd. from the nuisance property had to install a wooden fence to block the floodlights from shining through his bedroom window. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

“He has those lights on night and day,” said the neighbour with the wooden fence. “I get up in the morning cause I’m retired and I have to be careful how I open the drapes cause otherwise I’ll be watching the morning news and the light will be in my eyes…when it gets dark it’s worse. We’re just making do right now, we had to get blackout curtains for the one bedroom.”

The neighbour said the nuisance house’s alarm system was a “siren” and “Second World War type stuff.”

“I just think it’s inconsiderate. There’s nothing we can do about it legally, but just keep quiet. And he sneaks in and backs up his vehicle and it’s like he’s being spied on.”

Bylaw has issued 12 tickets related to noise coming from the home and has spoken to the property owner and informed them about the complaints.

The Nanaimo RCMP have been contacted at least three times, but have not taken any enforcement action at the property.

Neighbours said the music issues were mostly in the summer months and have since ceased since bylaw officers issued the tickets, and the floodlights in the backyard have been removed while the lights out front remain on.

NanaimoNewsNOW made several attempts to speak with the resident of 2212 Meredith Rd. but were unable to get a response.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNOW