Hours of Silence: Fighting Noisy Neighbors

You are surrounded by neighbors with constant renovation and loud gatherings, musicians rehearsing, or simply people with loud voices about whom you know more than you'd like. All these disturbers of peace don't let you live peacefully in your own apartment? Let's find out how to solve the problem.

1. Acceptable Noise Level

The concept of «noise» can include any loud sounds. This includes a person's raised voice, music, television, playing musical instruments, and moving furniture. The acceptable noise level in any apartment during the day is 55 decibels, at night – 45 decibels.

For comparison: ordinary human speech equals approximately 40–50 decibels.

2. Silence Hours

When referring to daytime hours, it means the period from 07:00 to 23:00. But this does not mean your neighbors can start drilling and hammering from early morning. In case of renovation in a multi-apartment building, residents can carry out work from 09:00 to 19:00. During this time, there must be a quiet hour from 13:00 to 15:00. Absolutely no noise on Sundays and public holidays.

Exceptions are only new buildings. For the first one and a half years, residents can do renovations during daytime without interruption.

3. If They Still Make Noise

Under no circumstances should you ignore the issue. First, try to achieve maximum sound insulation in your apartment. It's very important that the building has quality plastic windows. You can also install special acoustic ceilings that muffle sounds.

If all measures are taken but the noise still bothers you, it's time to talk to your neighbors personally. If that doesn't help and the time is already late, you have full right to report to the police or the local officer. By the way, they are required to consider complaints about noise in the entrance hall and the courtyard.

4. Constant Renovation

If your neighbors not only drill constantly but also break walls, you can check the legality of such renovation. For residents of Moscow, this means contacting the Moscow Housing Inspection. If the noise comes from aviation traffic, contact the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing. If it comes from a road – the Department of Nature Use. And if it originates from a construction site – the Moscow State Construction Supervision.

It is not advisable to measure noise levels in your apartment on your own. It's better to contact specialists from the sanitary-epidemiological station, who will carry out necessary measurements and compile a legal document. It will be needed when filing a lawsuit. You also have the right to sue an unscrupulous developer who failed to provide proper sound insulation in apartments.

5. Harm of Noise

A comfortable noise level for perception is no more than 70 decibels. Loud sounds not only disturb a person's peace but also harm their health. First of all, it affects hearing organs. Noise can also interfere with normal sleep. Over time, this impacts the nervous system, causing irritability and distraction.

6. What Consequences Await Violators?

Don't think that those disturbing peace won't face consequences for their actions. They will receive a warning and a fine. The amount increases with each subsequent violation.

Don't hesitate to take decisive measures and remember that everyone has the right to quiet and peace in their home.

Read also:

• How to Properly Insulate Sound: Tips from Professionals
  
• Plastic or Wooden? Choosing Windows for an Apartment
  
• Check How Comfortable Your Apartment Is for Living