Do you experience frequent back ups in pipes?

I stay in an apartment. I'm at the very bottom. Ever since I've been here, I occasionally get water coming up from my pipes in my sinks. I'm told this is because of what my neighbors above me put down the drain. I know this has some truth to it, but is it normal for it to happen so often? This is an older apartment, so I believe this has a little to do with it. If you are at the bottom of a unit or know of someone. Is this normal for bottom floor people, or does my apartment need new plumbing/pipes?