Texas tenant help needed

Hey, everyone. 👋 Long time listener, first time caller.

Location: Austin, TX

Tl;dr: the brand new apartments I’m living in were poorly insulated when they were built, so dozens of tenants are complaining about excessive noise. What are my options in Texas? Does this qualify for some kind of class action suit? I’m in this lease for another year.

I live in a new apartment complex in Austin, Texas (moved in Nov. 2024). The complex is mostly wonderful except for one giant issue: neighbor noise. I knew immediately when someone finally moved in above me (around April 2025) because the noise was immediate and incessant. There’s the normal human noise (furniture moving, walking, voices, slamming doors), but there’s also this consistent, almost mechanical sounding “thudding.”

Back in early June, family visited and advised that I put in a maintenance request because the “thudding” could be an appliance or even a water/piping issue. I started recording at that point to be able to provide more insight to the maintenance crew. At the same time, I began emailing the leasing office letting them know about the noise and they responded asking me to submit a maintenance request.

Maintenance stopped by my apartment a few days after I submitted the work order and let me know they 1) inspected the apartment above me and 2) spoke with the tenant, and they concluded nothing was wrong. They advised me to begin filing complaints with the leasing office. I let them know that it was the leasing office who told me to submit a maintenance request. They were obviously irritated by that and said something along the lines of “why would they tell you to do that - they’re the ones who have to deal with all these noise issues.” It seemed like the maintenance worker caught himself there because he even alluded to his own issue with his upstairs neighbor (this all happened quickly and I should have recorded the convo, but they stopped by unexpectedly. I don’t remember precisely what was said - but it felt as though he knew he said too much).

Since then, I have sent emails just about every other day asking for next steps and advice on what to do about the noise. I’ve recorded 30 different times in which the “thudding” sound has occurred (for hours on end, day and night), and sent it to the office.

They said, in writing, that they have approval from their parent company to allow me to move apartments. They did not clarify 1) if I would have to pay for the moving expenses or 2) why I would be moved instead of my noisy neighbor. They answer me about once every other week and do not answer or return my phone calls. I’ve tried to visit in person twice but the manager wasn’t there (the office hours are also during my work schedule so dropping by in person is difficult when I’m in meetings all day).

Last week, I finally left a one-star review on Google and that’s when I discovered SEVEN other negative reviews that also mentioned the noise and lack of communication from the office. I ran into a neighbor today and asked if she has noise issues. Get this: THEY MOVED HER FROM A DIFFERENT BUILDING TO THE THIRD FLOOR OF OUR BUILDING!!!! This is a chronic issue across the whole complex and they’re just moving people around instead of dealing with it head on!!!!!!

So, experts, what are my options? What should I do? I’m in this lease until spring 2026 and I LOVE this apartment!!! The amenities are amazing, the layout is great, and I love the neighborhood. But the noise is diabolical. It’s beyond disturbing - I’m losing sleep over it and I’m becoming a total Karen, banging on my own ceiling trying to get my neighbors to shut up. HELP.