Noise pollution from your neighbours: How to deal with it effectively

Living in an apartment means taking each other into account. A bit of living noise is part of it; you sometimes hear a vacuum cleaner, a door slamming, or someone walking down the hall in heels. But when the noise from the neighbours interferes with your night's sleep or ruins your daily concentration, your lovely home turns into a source of stress.

Tackling noise pollution in an apartment complex is a delicate process. You want to solve the problem without permanently ruining your relationship with your neighbors. The key to a successful solution lies in a step-by-step approach that focuses on communication and file formation.

First step: Start the conversation

It may sound exciting, but most of the inconvenience is caused by ignorance, not malicious intent. Your neighbors often don't notice that one wooden floor board is creaking or that their bass sound is rumbling straight into your living room through the walls.

Don't wait for your bucket to overflow, but go to your neighbors at a quiet moment. Do not do this when the music is loud and you are trembling with anger, but rather the next day. Explain what is bothering you in a friendly way and ask them if they are aware of it. A simple request to turn down the TV after ten o'clock in the evening or to put felt pads under the seats is often the solution.

Build a file and measure objectively

If a good conversation doesn't help, it's time for a more business approach. In order to take action with a landlord or the police, you need proof. A vague complaint such as “they always make noise” is difficult for an authority to deal with.

• Keep a log book: For two weeks, write down exactly when the nuisance occurs, how long it lasts, and what kind of noise it is (e.g. loud music, shouting, or jobs).
• Make recordings: Use your phone to capture the sound in your home. This provides an objective picture of how loud the sound comes to you.
• Check your rental contract: Almost every rental contract and the internal regulations of the Association of Owners (VvE) contain rules about noise. It is often forbidden to make loud noises after 22:00.

The role of the landlord and neighborhood mediation

If you can't figure it out together, you can call in external help. You don't have to solve this problem alone.

Neighborhood mediation

Many municipalities and housing associations offer free neighborhood mediation. These are independent volunteers who are trained to supervise conversations between neighbours. Because there is a neutral third party involved, conversations escalate less quickly and more concrete agreements are often made.

Report to the landlord

A landlord has the duty to offer you “undisturbed living pleasure”. If you can demonstrate that there is a structural nuisance and that you have tried to solve it yourself, the landlord must take action. This often starts with an official warning to the nuisance provider. In extreme cases, structural nuisance can even lead to termination of the neighbor's lease, even if this is a lengthy legal process.

What if the nuisance is acute?

Sometimes the nuisance is so extreme that you have to take immediate action, for example in the event of a noisy party late at night or in case of aggression.

In that case, you can call the police at 0900-8844 (no emergency, but police). They can check on site and order the neighbours to stop the noise. The advantage of a police visit is that it is made into a mutation (report). This document is very valuable evidence for your file to the landlord.

Practical adjustments to your own home

Although you're not the one making the noise, you can sometimes improve your own living experience with small adjustments while the procedure is ongoing.

Think of placing heavy curtains, placing a thick rug on the floor, or moving your bed to the other side of the room. This won't solve the cause, but it will give you some much-needed rest. Also check whether the inconvenience is caused by an architectural defect, such as a missing subfloor in the upstairs neighbors. If that is the case, the solution lies with the landlord to make the home meet the requirements.

Remember that you have the right to a quiet living environment. By staying calm, having your file in order and involving the right authorities, you increase the chance that the problem will be solved structurally.