{"id":8003,"date":"2022-06-20T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-19T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/blog\/singapore\/?p=8003"},"modified":"2024-10-25T12:34:58","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T04:34:58","slug":"handling-loud-noisy-neighbours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/handling-loud-noisy-neighbours\/","title":{"rendered":"Noisy neighbours: 7 tips on how to handle them"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Whether they live above, below or beside us, we may encounter noisy neighbours in our lives, especially when we’re staying at home more often.<\/p>\n

Most of us have had some experience with unreasonable ones, like those who refuse to keep the volume down while singing karaoke, or stomp around their apartment wearing what sounds like giant clogs.<\/p>\n

While we can hope to be blessed with friendly neighbours (or at the very least, indifferent ones), we need to be prepared for the possibility of encountering the more nasty ones.<\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/a>
It’s worse if your neighbour can’t sing well.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whether you’re living in an HDB flat, condo or landed, here are a few tips that will come in handy if you face a not-so-pleasant neighbour.<\/p>\n

1. Be friendly<\/b><\/h2>\n

As the saying goes: you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.<\/p>\n

If you can establish a good relationship with your neighbours early on, they\u2019ll be more willing to let things slide and not get on your case as much.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a neighbour who quarrelled with pretty much everyone in my block \u2014 except for me,\u201d says Catherine, a longtime HDB resident in Hougang. \u201cI\u2019m big on baking, so I always share my extra baked goods with my neighbours, and helped me stay in his good books!\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re going to throw a party at home or carry out renovation works<\/a>, consider letting your neighbours know beforehand with a promise to keep the volume down. They\u2019re much less to complain if they\u2019re prepared for the noise.<\/p>\n

There’s also a higher chance that your neighbours will reciprocate the kind gesture, including reducing the noise level on their end.<\/p>\n

2. Reach out to the noisy neighbours <\/b><\/h2>\n

Sometimes it helps to check in with your neighbour and hear them out first to resolve the issue, instead of accusing them of disturbing your peace right off the bat.<\/p>\n

Talking to them might help you understand the reason behind the noise levels. They might even be unaware that the noise they’re making is disturbing others.<\/p>\n

Give your neighbour a chance to explain \u2013 it will help prevent the disagreement from escalating to a full-on dispute. Once they’re done with their side of the story, calmly explain why you’re distressed by the noise.<\/p>\n

Understandably, this is easier said than done, but it’s worth a shot. Everyone feels better after a good vent, and the same goes for you and your noisy neighbours.<\/p>\n

3. Keep your cool and rely on logic, not emotion<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you find that you\u2019re dealing with someone who\u2019s being unreasonable, the worst thing you can do is lose your composure and start a shouting match. Keep your wits about you and counter your neighbour\u2019s points calmly with level-headed discussions.<\/p>\n

Bringing emotion into the argument and getting worked up about the situation will cloud your ability to respond effectively to your neighbour, not to mention it\u2019ll also stoke further animosity.<\/p>\n

4. Seek help from a grassroots leader<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you have zero luck resolving the noise issue with your neighbour one-on-one, consider approaching your grassroots leader for help.<\/p>\n

While you can try reaching out to HDB (for those who live in HDB units), neighbourly disputes fall outside their jurisdiction, as they’re simply a housing developer and not a mediator.<\/p>\n

It often helps to have a neutral person involved to provide an unbiased opinion in a tough, emotionally charged situation.<\/p>\n

You can contact your grassroots leader through your nearest Community Club (CC)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, remember they have no authority, so your grassroots leader can only function as a third party to provide mediation. If your neighbour refuses to pipe down and keep their noise levels low, you can consider the next option.<\/p>\n

5. Go for mediation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If going through your grassroots leaders yields unsatisfactory results, the next thing you can do is to opt for mediation at the Community Mediation Centre (CMC)<\/a>. During a mediation session, a trained mediator will be present to help facilitate the conversation between you and your neighbour in the hopes of reaching a mutually acceptable agreement.<\/p>\n

The mediator is not there to provide the solutions or force ultimatums on either party. The aim is for both sides to come to a solution together.<\/p>\n

Do note that the CMC is a voluntary mediation session, and each party has to agree to attend. The CMC has no power to compel either party to come to the table, or abide by the solutions discussed and agreed upon during the session.<\/p>\n

Should you choose to go for mediation, you\u2019ll need to pay a onetime administrative fee of S$5. This is regardless of the number of mediation sessions you\u2019re going to. And your neighbour won\u2019t need to pay for it.<\/p>\n

Mediation is definitely cheaper and less draining than going to court. But if it doesn\u2019t help solve the noise issue, the last resort would be to take your noisy neighbour to court.<\/p>\n

6. Take your noisy neighbours to a tribunal<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals<\/a> (CDRT) aim to help neighbours resolve difficult disputes after they\u2019ve exhausted the community mediation option.<\/p>\n

Although it\u2019s not a must go through mediation before filing a claim, doing so is highly encouraged. This is because the CDRT may order both parties to go for mediation before hearing the case.<\/p>\n

Before you jump into filing a claim at the CDRT, take note that doing so will severely escalate the dispute between yourself and your neighbour as it brings the court processes into the fray.<\/p>\n

Ensure that your dispute is within the jurisdiction of the CDRT. You can only file a claim with the CDRT if your neighbour:<\/p>\n