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They say you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar… well, it turns out that assuming ignorance rather than malice with neighbour noise is productive.
A few months ago, I had a neighbour in a nearby flat who decided she liked watching TV as late as 1am with the volume up very very high. Unfortunately, she did this in her bedroom, which was very annoying as all the bedrooms are on the same side building. A polite (and carefully worded) note in the letterbox pointing out this un-neighbourly behaviour and there hasn't been a loud TV program since. It was simple ignorance.
A similar problem arose with a different neighbour who had never considered how much sound travels to nearby flats. (They would leave their noisy exhaust fan on all night.) Again, a polite and well-thought out note pointing out the extent problem and the desired solution and a few days later, all is well.
Saves leaping to the OC as the first resort.
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Good on you for taking the initiative and leaving a nice note for your neighbours. That's the way to do it. We have had residents previously who have complained about noise from their neighbour but it is hard for the EC to get involved when they haven't experienced the noise, and infact no other neighbours have!
Just a nice polite note, because most people would not realise how much you can hear from next door until you point it out. And if you don't point it out, they won't know!
It can be a tricky situation. We have often have the same problem. Currently an owner-occupier is causing noise issues for several neighbours (running, stomping, loud music, noisy visitors, noisy exhaust fans left on all night etc). I'm sure it's mostly just carelessness. We have pointed out the issue a few times. All is good for a week or two and then the issue returns.
What a good news story. Strata is meant to benefit those who live in it & use it & not be confrontational.
as a working strata manager this is the approach I always advocate first
Sharyn Machin
Strata Choice
staticsan said:
I should add that the notes were very carefully worded and took me a few days to think about. The key was to unambigiuously address the adverse effects of the noise, not to criticise the people making the noise. I didn't want any reason for them to take offense and to say “screw you, I'll do what I like” but rather to say “oh, I never realized I was doing that, how terrible”.
Sounds a good approach. Would it be possible to post version one of the notes here (minus names/places etc of course)? I think it's a tricky exercise but can see the merits. I'm quite sure our noisy neighbour is not realising the problems he is causing others.
And nearly two weeks later… nothing…
With many years of experience in managing strata plans, I know it can be difficult.
Sadly, I know that there are 'problem' residents who will not respond to reasonable requests. And not to 'honey'.
And let's face it , most reasonable people don't tend to make the problem in the first place. It's the usually the unreasonable people that are the problem!
If being nice, fair and reasonable solved all our problems we would not policing or laws on strata living. But alas, we sure need them
Have a look at this state government website HERE. It seems to be saying that the fan has to be off after 10 pm.
Also, your basic by-laws – unless they are very unusual – should make it an offence to disturb the peaceful enjoyment of other lots, etc etc.
Perhaps it's time to add some heft to that note and explain to your neighbours that they are breaking both Environmental Protection laws and by-laws, both of which could lead to hefty fines.
But really, since this affects more than one unit, it should be your EC that's or strata manager who's issuing the friendly warnings.
The opinions offered in these Forum posts and replies are not intended to be taken as legal advice. Readers with serious issues should consult experienced strata lawyers.
staticsan said:
Austman said:
Would it be possible to post version one of the notes here (minus names/places etc of course)? I think it's a tricky exercise but can see the merits. I'm quite sure our noisy neighbour is not realising the problems he is causing others.
Here is what I posted on the noticeboard for the second problem:
Some unit in this stairwell is leaving their exhaust fan on all night. Please be considerate of your neighbours. The sound of it carries a very long way at night. Thank you.
It was handwritten in a thick marker. Within a day, some had scratched out “Some unit” and written in the offending Unit number. About 4 days later, I write on the bottom in a different colour: “Yeah: this means PLEASE DON'T”.
The fan still runs for hours some evenings, but almost never past midnight.
I have, of course, tried that. It might work sometimes, but mostly (in my experience) it does nothing . Sadly, it's because 'unreasonable' residents don't tend to respond to reasonable requests.
Our 'problem' resident (a problem for many in the building – with some complaining in writing to the OC manager) needed a visit from the police at 04:50 the other week.
We know the laws (strata, council, state) but it is still a difficult issue to solve.
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