During outages, my neighbor runs a generator beside my bedroom window. How do I raise the concern without giving technical advice?

Our power went out just after midnight, and twenty minutes later an engine started outside my bedroom.

The neighbor in the adjoining duplex had rolled a portable generator onto the narrow strip between our units. It sat on his side, near the fence, but only a few yards from my window. The engine noise was steady. More concerning, a strong exhaust smell reached the room whenever the wind shifted.

I closed the window, moved to the living room and texted him that fumes were coming inside. He replied that the generator was outdoors and that he needed it for his refrigerator and medical equipment. I did not ask what equipment. I also did not tell him to shut it off immediately because I was unsure what his household depended on.

The outage lasted four hours. I barely slept. The next morning, he apologized for the noise but said there was nowhere else level to place the generator. Our yards are small, and extension cords already stretched toward his back door.

I am not qualified to judge a safe placement or recommend a setup. I do not want to improvise rules from something I half remember. I only know the observed impact: exhaust odor entered my bedroom, and closing one window does not feel like a complete plan for future outages.

I want to discuss this before the next storm. The conversation needs to respect that backup power may matter to his household while also making clear that the current location affects mine. I could ask him to consult the manufacturer’s instructions, the property owner or the local fire department about an alternative. That keeps me out of the role of technical authority.

Because we share a duplex structure, the property owner may need to be involved anyway. I hesitate to contact management first because the neighbor did respond and may solve it voluntarily. I also do not want politeness to delay a real safety question.

My proposed message is: “During the outage, generator exhaust was entering our bedroom. Before it is used again, please arrange a location or setup confirmed as appropriate by the manufacturer or local safety guidance and let us know the plan.”

Is that specific enough without pretending I know the solution? Would you include the property owner now, or give the neighbor one chance to return with a documented plan?