Noisy neighbors, who to complain to and how

Step 1. Talk to them. This isn’t a formality you can skip. A good share of noise cases end right here, because the person simply didn’t realize how well their sound system carries.

Step 2. Keep a record. If it continues, start writing things down, the date, the time, how long it lasted, and what kind of noise it was. A regular log counts as evidence. A single complaint doesn’t.

Step 3. Call the municipal police. In cases of disturbing the night’s peace, they record the violation on the spot.

What the manager can and can’t do. The manager isn’t the police and can’t issue penalties. But they can send out a notice, remind residents of the house rules, and step into the conversation as a neutral party.

If the noise is technical. A humming ventilation system, vibration from the elevator, rattling pipes. This isn’t a neighbor issue, it’s a building issue, and reporting it once is enough.

What not to do. Don’t leave anonymous notes and don’t respond with noise of your own. In practice, that always makes things worse.