QUESTION: I have moved into an older building and my problem starts EVERY night at 1.30 am when my upstairs neighbour has a shower.
Without fail I get woken by the pipes humming or whistling quickly followed by the noise of water gurgling down drains, all of which keeps me awake for 30 to 40 minutes.
I’m reluctant to confront the neighbour as I live by myself and I have another eight months to go on my lease so there’s no easy escape.
ANSWER: There are probably two issues here – pipe noise caused by water pressure and lack of sound insulation between the waste pipes and your bedroom.
This is more than likely a common property ‘defect’ and, if so, the Owners Corporation should attend to it. Meanwhile, the landlord should be offering a rent reduction until the problem is fixed.
The neighbour is entitled to shower whenever they want (as long as they don’t sing after 10 pm). The fault is in the building so it’s up to the landlord to get the Owners Corporation to rectify it.
Talk to your landlord or agent and if that doesn’t work go to www.tenants.org.au for more information.
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