How to deal with noise in a strata property

Often noisy neighbours in your strata property can be a nuisance when you’re trying to enjoy some peace and quiet. If they are causing you angst, here are some ways you can try to help solve the issue.

Common types of noise in strata that can give rise to complaints:

• Flooring: Noise generated from hard floors is one of the greatest sources of complaint within residential apartments. Poorly installed and noise insulated flooring may mean your downstairs neighbour can hear your every footstep
• Neighbourly noise: Noise generated from general living activities such as TV, music, extra loud talking or music, pets, air conditioning, or late-night parties.
• Building work: Noise generated from building works inside a unit such as a kitchen renovation.

PICA Group’s top tips on what to do when dealing with noise in a strata property:

How to deal with noisy tenants in your strata property

If an owner in your strata property is renting out their property to noisy tenants and communication from you/their agents hasn’t helped, you may approach the owner or landlord for assistance in mediating matters with the tenants.

You can find out if they have a tenancy agreement in place. Ideally, the tenancy agreement should outline the responsibilities and guidelines for tenants. Also, the owners are required to provide a copy of the by-laws to the tenants within two weeks of moving in so they’re aware of the do’s and don’ts whilst living in the strata property.

You can ask for help from your strata manager or committee to send formal letters to communicate the concern to the owners in writing and record the instances of the noise occurrences for future reference. If the tenants are consistently breaching the by-laws, your committee can issue the owners or landlords with a notice of breach, as well as contravention notices.

What to do if you feel threatened by noisy neighbours in your apartment?

If peaceful talks with your neighbour and mediation doesn’t help, you may take up the matter with the council or the local police who generally govern noise regulations. We recommend that you keep a log of the times and dates when the noise issues occur and report these to council.

If you feel threatened by the noise and/or language (i.e. swearing, threats or abuse) you should report it to the local police immediately by calling 000. Noise abatement orders can be issued, and fines can be imposed if breaches of these orders occur.

Responding to a noise complaint in strata

If your neighbour is complaining about noise from your home the first step is to try to talk to your neighbour about the problem. If your neighbour has made a complaint about noise, you may have been given a warning, a direction or a notice to stop or reduce the noise. If you believe their compliant is unreasonable, talk to your committee member or strata manager.

What if your strata by-laws don’t mention issues around noise?

If your by-laws are insufficient or lacking clarity on noise related matters, they can be amended. You may file a motion to be included in a general meeting and work with your owners corporation to pass a special resolution to have the by-laws amended.

Four ways on how to deal with noise complaints in strata

 We always recommend talking to your neighbour first, and if that fails, approach your committee to act. However, if the noise is unreasonable and temporary, such as noise emitting from a party, or you have been unsuccessful with other avenues, here are some other authorities that can also assist with unreasonable noise.

1. Adjudication

If all the above steps have failed, a noise abatement orders can be applied for from your relevant state governing body (VCAT, NCAT, QCAT). If breaches of these orders continue to occur, fines can be imposed. If the problem continues and there is a second breach within 12 months, the strata committee can apply to the state governing body for orders including that your neighbour pay a fine to the owners corporation.

2. Make a noise complaint to the police

If the louder-than-acceptable noise is occurring at night, you are entitled to call the police who have the power to issue a Noise Abatement Direction if they are satisfied the noise is obtrusive and offensive. Once issued, the Noise Abatement Direction must be obeyed immediately and the offender cannot breach the direction for the following 28 days.

3. Make a noise compliant through The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)

The Environment Protection Act 1970 makes it an offence to cause unreasonable noise from any residential premises. Residential noise may be considered unreasonable at any time of the day, depending on its volume, intensity and duration, and the time, place and other circumstances in which it is emitted. The EPA works in partnership with local government, Police and Roads and Maritime Services to enforce noise control regulations. You may also be able to report neighbourhood noise issues to your state’s EPA office.

4. Make a noise compliant to the local council

Local council can also act under the nuisance provisions of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008. Councils are obliged to investigate noise nuisances. Under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act, councils can serve prevention notices on residents and business people requiring them to control offensive noise.

If you’d like to find out more on dealing with noise on your strata property, download our FREE Community Living guide on managing disputes. Or for a consultation to review your by-laws by our Kemps Petersons Legal team, click here.