February 2017
The closer people live to each other, the greater the potential for noise complaints.
The problem, from a management perspective, is that one person`s music can be another’s noise.
Condo residents are expected to tolerate a limited amount of noise. People walking on floors, children playing, music and television are all part of daily urban living. To mitigate these and similar noise concerns, condo buildings contain barriers to help prevent a certain level of noise from bothering residents. These barriers may include a structural design that minimizes the transfer of noise.
Problems occur when noise limits are exceeded. The television or music may be too loud. Teenagers playing music or games at high volumes may create a disturbance. Pets barking for extended periods may be a problem. Construction noise or even a noisy air conditioning unit may create a problem.
If you need to put an ear to the wall to hear noise it is likely within tolerable limits. If it is continuous and heard throughout your suite, the noise may be unacceptably intrusive.
Condo rules, where they exist, are to establish limits on what is acceptable or tolerable noise. When floors are replaced or repaired, the condo corporation may require a certain standard of flooring or sound absorption material.
Yet condo rules are an incomplete solution.
Dealing with noise issues is the responsibility of condo management. Noise enforcement may be in the form of a conversation or written communication with an offending resident.
Most noise problems can be resolved with simple solutions.
Moving a television away from a shared wall, use of headphones when listening to music, placement of rugs over floors or having children refrain from jumping from furniture to the floor are all simple solutions.
While condo owners or tenants cannot be fined for noise violations, they may be responsible for costs of enforcement should they choose to ignore warning notices provided to them.
