Noisy Neighbours in Strata: What You Can Do

Living in a strata building means sharing walls, ceilings, and communal areas with others. While everyday noise is part of urban living, excessive or ongoing noise can seriously impact comfort and wellbeing. If you’re experiencing this, there are steps you can take and legislation that supports you.

Step 1: Know What the Law Says

Under section 153 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW):

“An owner or occupier of a lot must not use or enjoy the lot, or permit it to be used or enjoyed, in a manner or for a purpose that causes a nuisance or hazard to the occupier of any other lot.”

This is supported by the model by-laws set out in the Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016, particularly Model By-law 6:

“An owner or occupier of a lot must not make noise that is likely to interfere with the peaceful enjoyment of another lot or the common property.”

If someone’s noise is interfering with your right to enjoy your home peacefully, there are clear pathways to resolution.

Step 2: Speak to Your Neighbour

Many noise issues are resolved with a simple, respectful conversation. The person may not realise how far the sound travels or how often it occurs. Try to approach the situation calmly and explain how the noise is affecting you.

Step 3: Keep a Noise Log

If the problem persists, begin documenting the details. Note the dates, times, type of noise, how long it lasted, and how it affected you. This record will be helpful if the issue is escalated to the strata manager, local council, or legal proceedings.

Step 4: Check the By-Laws

Your building’s registered bylaws may include further provisions around noise, such as quiet hours, renovation restrictions, flooring requirements, or pet rules. Many strata schemes adopt or adapt the model by-laws, but some have their own. Your strata manager can provide you with the latest copy for your building.

Step 5: Contact Your Strata Manager

If informal approaches fail, you can contact your strata manager or committee. The strata manager may:

• Issue a Notice to Comply with the by-laws under section 146 of the Act
• Facilitate mediation between parties
• Escalate the issue to the owners corporation or legal channels if needed

If the resident ignores the notice and continues breaching by-laws. In that case, the owners corporation can apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) for orders and financial penalties under section 147.

Step 6: Consider External Authorities

For some noise issues, especially those outside strata jurisdiction (like late-night parties, loud music, or industrial noise), other agencies may assist:

Police (NSW Police Force)

If the noise is extreme and occurs outside of permitted hours (typically after 10pm), particularly if it’s causing distress or breaches the peace, you can contact your local police station. Police have powers to direct noise to stop under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) (POEO Act), and can issue fines for non-compliance.

Local Council

Local councils can investigate ongoing domestic noise disturbances such as:

• Power tools and machinery are used out of hours
• Loud air conditioning units
• Animal noise (e.g. barking dogs)
• Most councils have noise officers who can issue warnings, notices, or fines.

NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA)

The EPA deals primarily with industrial, commercial, and environmental noise, such as construction sites or traffic noise. In some cases, they may refer you back to council or police if it’s a residential matter.

Final Notes

Dealing with noise in strata can be frustrating, but there is a clear legal framework designed to support resolution. The key is to address the issue early, document incidents, and follow the appropriate channels.

If you’re not sure where to begin, contact your strata manager at Strata Plus. We can help you interpret your by-laws, issue notices where appropriate, and guide you toward resolution.