How to Handle a Noise Complaint

Young couple is sitting on a sofa in their apartment looking up and holding their hands to plug their ears as a neighbor upstairs is having a party and playing loud music or renovating the apartment

How to Handle a Noise Complaint

When needing to handle a situation where you, as the tenant, feel it is necessary to create a noise complaint, it can be a delicate situation, especially if you have a good relationship with your neighbours. However, if excessive noise is affecting your quality of life, it is important to address the issue. Here are some tips on how to create a noise complaint as a tenant.

  1. Keep a record of the noise

Before making a noise complaint, keep a record of the noise. Note the times and dates when the noise occurs, as well as the duration and type of noise. This will help you to present a clear and concise case when you make the complaint.

  1. Speak with your neighbour

Before escalating the situation, try speaking with your neighbour about it. Be polite and respectful, and explain how the noise is affecting your quality of life. Your neighbour may not be aware that the noise is causing a disturbance, and a friendly conversation can often resolve the issue without the need for further action.

Young man and adult handshaking

  1. Contact your landlord or property manager

If speaking with your neighbour does not resolve the issue, contact your landlord or property manager. Provide them with the record of the noise and explain how it is affecting your quality of life. Ask if there are any specific noise restrictions or quiet hours in place that can be enforced.

  1. Submit a formal complaint

If the noise continues, submit a formal complaint to your landlord or property manager. Be sure to include all the details of the noise, including the times and dates, as well as any action you have already taken to address the issue. The complaint should be in writing, either via email or a letter, and should be kept respectful and concise.

A man writing on the paper with pen

  1. Seek mediation

If the noise complaint is not resolved by your landlord or property manager, seek mediation services. Mediation can help facilitate a productive conversation between you and your neighbour, and help find a solution that works for both parties.

  1. Consider involving local authorities

If the noise continues and is affecting your quality of life, you may need to involve local authorities such as the police or noise control department. However, this should be a last resort and should only be used if all other options have been exhausted.

Annoyed adult woman suffering neighbour noise in the livingroom at night at home

In conclusion, handling the process of creating a noise complaint as a tenant can be a difficult situation, but it is important to address excessive noise if it is affecting your quality of life. Keep a record of the noise, speak with your neighbour, contact your landlord or property manager, submit a formal complaint, seek mediation, and consider involving local authorities if necessary. By taking these steps, you can help ensure a peaceful and respectful community for all tenants. For more advice, contact us below via phone, message or email.

FAQS

An acceptable noise complaint is any complaint made about excessive noise levels that exceed the permitted limits set by law during ‘night hours,’ which are between 11 pm and 7 am. According to these regulations, after 11 pm, the maximum allowed noise level is 34 dBA (decibels adjusted) if the background noise is no higher than 24 dBA. However, if the background noise already exceeds 24 dBA, the permitted noise level can only be 10 dBA above the background noise level.

Noise nuisance is typically classified as any sound that unreasonably interferes with someone’s enjoyment of their property or causes a disturbance to their daily life. This can include loud music, barking dogs, construction noise, or any other loud activity that goes beyond what is considered acceptable in a particular area. The definition of noise nuisance may vary depending on local regulations and community standards, but the common factor is that the noise must be deemed unreasonable and excessive to be considered a nuisance. Residents can report noise nuisances to authorities who will then investigate and take appropriate actions to address the issue.

For reporting nuisance noise, your local council should be your initial point of contact, as it is generally not a matter for the police. However, if the noise is caused by people being inconsiderate in a public space, this is an exception, and you may directly involve the police in such cases.

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