A trained pianist and masters student at Aberdeen University claims she has been made to feel anxious and scared in her own home following complaints from neighbours about her piano playing.
Moving from Florida to study under an admired professor, Efrat Berestizhersky was at first very excited to live in Aberdeen.
After finding a quiet and safe apartment to rent at Stoneywood Brae in February, all that was left was for Miss Berestizhersky to begin her studies.
It was then she started receiving anonymous notes through the door of her new flat.
At first, a few neighbours asked her to start playing after 12noon but the student claims it soon turned into frequent knocks on the door from noon to early hours in the evening.
Landlord Dandara had told the student she was in breach of her tenancy by playing the piano – but now say that was issued in error.
The firm has since offered to organise a meeting between tenants to discuss the issue, provide alternative accommodation to her or have given her the option to exit her lease early if she wants.
Meanwhile, neighbours say the recent warm weather has helped the music to travel further due to windows being open.
Studies suffering due to complaints
Miss Berestizhersky said she was “taken aback” by the complaints from neighbours having made sure the letting agent knew she was a performance student before moving in.
After being asked to stop playing at 7pm one evening, the 21-year-old says she received an e-mail the next morning from management asking her to stop playing from 6pm.
She said: “In the e-mail they again suggested that we try to manage the dispute just tenant to tenant which obviously was kind of a hostile environment already so it’s just extremely unhelpful.
“It’s classical piano. It’s nothing raucous or anything loud at all.”
Miss Berestizhersky’s mum, Tanya Kolosova said she and her husband could hear in recordings of their daughter’s playing that not only was it not improving, if anything her playing was “regressing” – something her personal tutor agreed with.
‘I never saw Efrat so scared and frightened’
Since staying with Miss Berestizhersky in Aberdeen, Ms Kolosova, 59, has noticed the complaints have really affected her daughter.
She said: “When I was here at noon in the middle of the day someone knocked on the door and I have to tell you, I’ve never seen Efrat so scared and frightened. She was not going to open the door.
“I would expect the management here to create a safe situation.
“Perhaps by informing or somehow facilitating in this situation and informing tenants that what Efrat is doing is within the rules and regulations and that this is limited hours in the day that she plays – never too early, never too late.”
‘I’m here trying to be as quiet as possible’
In e-mails shared, Miss Berestizhersky says she was told she was in breach of her tenancy agreement as the noise was “affecting too many residents”.
The masters student said playing was “a huge part of her life” and the last few months have left her dealing with severe stress and anxiety.
“It’s just management is kind of leaving me to fend for myself,” Miss Berestizhersky added. “They’re taking a complete back seat, and just telling us to deal with it pretty much.
“I’m uncomfortable practising in my own flat. And I’m here trying to be as quiet as possible. It doesn’t really feel like a home anymore and it’s just extremely uncomfortable.”
‘It’s just repetitive noise, noise, noise’
Neighbours who stay close to Miss Berestizhersky’s flat have said the playing has been “very loud”.
Especially with the recent summer weather, they said the sound really travels with the windows being open.
One neighbour, who says he has tried to speak to Miss Berestizhersky, said the noise was “consistent”.
He said: “Whoever is playing is learning the same songs over and over again. So it’s just repetitive noise, noise, noise.
“If the windows were closed it would be good. I don’t know if that’s unfair on them being restricted in their own flat as well. But that would make it better.”
The resident, who works from home, has stayed in the building for the last three and a half years and said he had not had a problem with noise before.
He suggested perhaps moving the piano and closing the window would help but said it was hard to know what to do.
He added: “I’m working indoors and I’m hearing it and then I want to relax outside in the sunshine and I’m hearing it. I’m not getting away from it. I pay good money to live here, I don’t want to have to feel like I can’t enjoy it because someone’s trying to play.”
‘We take claims of harassment seriously’
Sam Smith, national head of operations for Dandara Living, who manages the flats at Forbes Place, Stoneywood Brae said: “Unfortunately, Miss Berestizhersky was erroneously informed she was in breach of her tenancy agreement.
“We have since confirmed to her that this is in not the case and have apologised for the misunderstanding and any distress this may have caused.
“While Miss Berestizhersky has not been able to provide us with any evidence of harassment or intimidation, we take such claims seriously.
“We have investigated and found the written communications supplied to us from residents to Miss Berestizhersky to be polite and respectful.”
Dandara stressed landlords have no legal powers in dealing with neighbour disputes but said they offered to arrange a meeting to try and find a solution, which was declined.
Miss Berestizhersky has since been offered a new flat by Dandara, which was later reported to be unsuitable and became unavailable.
Mr Smith added: “As the safety and well-being of all our residents is of paramount importance to us, we have also supported Efrat by offering her the opportunity to either move to another apartment in the development or be released early from her lease with no penalty.
“We recently received correspondence from Miss Berestizhersky’s mother confirming that Efrat wishes to stay in the apartment she currently occupies.”
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