Should I Send A Demand Letter To Get Rent Back?

Hey everyone,

I need some advice about a situation with my neighbors and apartment complex. My upstairs neighbor has been causing nonstop noise, yelling, and fighting for over six months. It’s gotten to the point where I can’t sleep in my master bedroom (2bd 2 bath) because of all the stomping, screaming, and yelling above me. They even yell at each other out the window, and the whole complex echoes with their shouting.

The wife especially yells incoherent things, saying she has PTSD and just screaming stuff. One time, she ran down the stairs to my front door crying and yelling, “hello I’m bleeding between my legs and I need help. I’m beat up and I need help,” then ran around the complex saying other things. She wasn’t actually bleeding, but it was really disturbing and bizarre.

They also have some kind of machine that shakes and vibrates my bedroom and living room ceiling. It’s disorienting, and one time the property manager came to see the noise herself after I called the police because they were fighting. She even said that the vibrating of my bedroom made it feel like pressure in her ears and head. It’s honestly ridiculous.

I met with the property manager once to show all my evidence of police reports, photos, videos, and emails when the only solution they offered was for me to break my lease and move out, either to another unit in the complex or to their sister complex. That would put a huge financial strain on me and cause a lot of emotional stress. Honestly, the idea of changing my address on everything and going through all that is so annoying.

I’d rather just get a rent reduction and be reimbursed for all the months I’ve been dealing with this, and finish my current lease because I have plans after it ends. If I break my lease and move, my timeline and plans would be all messed up.

Despite reporting everything, management hasn’t done anything to fix this. I actually have a demand letter drafted and ready to go, but I want to make sure I do everything the right way.

Questions:

Is it a good idea to send that demand letter legally?

What should I include in it?

Are there any risks I should be aware of?

Will this affect my lease or any future claims?

Location: Southern California