Life in an apartment building always involves some sounds, but if a neighbor's actions cause significant disruption to your living, it is worth speaking up. If a friendly reminder doesn't help, file a disturbance report. You can also talk to other neighbors to see if they are experiencing the same noise.
A party is going strong again next door. The teenager downstairs is gaming into the early hours, shouting to teammates online. The shift worker upstairs just took a shower and started the washing machine in the middle of the night. Somewhere, a lonely dog barks throughout the entire workday.
"Living in an apartment building always involves the sounds of life. When I’m showing apartments, I remind people that apartment living is just that – normal sounds of life are always part of it. Every building has house rules that residents must follow. However, if there is disturbance that goes beyond normal living, you should contact property management," says Juha Kastinen, Real Estate Manager at Oiva Isännöinti.
Normal living is always permitted
There is no exact definition of what constitutes a "significant disturbance." How a disturbance is perceived depends heavily on factors like how quiet your own home is or how sensitive a sleeper you are. However, normal living is always allowed, and for a shift worker, for example, that may include showering in the middle of the night.
"We receive quite a few complaints about neighbors walking on their heels or showering at night. If a neighbor’s washing machine is too close to the wall and causes a thumping sound in your apartment during the spin cycle, it’s best to mention it to the neighbor yourself," Kastinen says, giving examples of normal everyday sounds.
If a neighbor's speakers are unreasonably loud or, for instance, sounds from a hobby carry into your home for hours in a highly disruptive way, the best first step is a friendly word directly to the person causing the noise. On the other hand, if you hear sounds of a violent struggle from the stairwell or a rowdy party continues into the early morning, it is appropriate and safer to call the police to de-escalate the situation. If necessary, a police visit provides official evidence of the disturbance. The police will never disclose who made the report – not even to the property manager. Information about the disturbance does not automatically pass from the police to property management; a separate disturbance report must be filed.
The identity of the reporter remains confidential
When filling out the disturbance report form, read the instructions carefully and follow them. The form asks, for example, whether the police were called to the scene. You can find detailed instructions and the electronic or printable disturbance report on Avara's website.
A disturbance report brings the issue to the property manager's attention. While reports cannot be made anonymously, the reporter's information is never disclosed to the person causing the disturbance. In the rare event that a case leads to legal proceedings, the person who filed the report might be asked to testify as a witness.
"It is extremely rare for the person causing the disturbance to challenge the situation in court, even if it eventually leads to the termination of the lease. In eight years, I haven't encountered such a case once, even though many warnings have been issued," Juha Kastinen reassures.
Talk to your other neighbors
Upon receiving a disturbance report, the property manager always investigates the background and, if necessary, asks the person causing the disturbance to restore residential peace. Legally, a property manager cannot issue a formal warning if the report comes from only one apartment.
"In practice, we can only remind the resident of the house rules and issue a notification, which does not have legal standing. We can also release a general notice asking residents to be mindful of their neighbors," Kastinen explains.
A formal warning can only be issued when a disturbance report includes signatures from residents of at least two different apartments, or when reports about the same disturbance have been received from multiple households. A warning is always a legal procedure. Two warnings often lead to the termination of the lease.
If you feel that the residential peace of your building is being threatened, it is worth talking to other neighbors living near the source of the disturbance and encouraging them to file a report as well. If the disturbance is serious and recurring, and reports are received from several apartments, a formal warning can be issued.
Being mindful of neighbors is about caring
Most people are peace-loving and want to be good neighbors. It can be impossible to know if the sounds of your own life are disturbing others. The wisest thing to do is to ask the neighbor directly if noise is carrying into their apartment. This is also a good practice when a new furry family member joins the household – a dog that is otherwise quiet might bark while you are away without you knowing.
For instance, water pipes and other structures can carry sound very clearly up and down. It is worth considering whether a speaker is right next to the pipes, or if the desk where you talk online or on the phone is directly in front of a radiator – especially if conversations continue late into the night. In addition to carrying voices, radiators can clunk loudly; for example, a sofa should be placed slightly away from the radiator so it doesn't hit it every time someone sits down. The amount and placement of textiles also affect how sound echoes, so from an acoustic perspective, it's better not to "KonMari" your home into a strictly minimalist space.
Greeting neighbors and exchanging a few words now and then makes it easier to handle situations if a disturbance occurs. Sometimes, there is a genuine concern for a fellow human being. An elderly neighbor might not seem to remember what was last discussed, or small children seem to be left alone constantly. For situations that cause concern, there are anonymous, city-specific "worry reports" (huoli-ilmoitus) and child welfare notifications. Authorities receiving such reports are obligated to contact the person involved and assess the potential need for help.
