Loud Music
Loud music is our most common complaint.
Avoid conflicts
Agree noise levels with your neighbours by
undertaking the following exercise:
- stand in each other's properties
- see what it is like with the music turned up, then turn it down
to a reasonable level
- see what it is like with the TV up high then turned
down to a reasonable level
- try it out in both properties
- make sure you know what level would start disturbing your
neighbour
The background noise level at night is usually lower when people
go to bed e.g. around 10:30pm. There is generally less
traffic and less noise outside in the street than during the day.
When people go to bed they would expect not to be disturbed by the
neighbours noise. It is advisable to do the same exercise
with everything quiet in one house and playing the stereo, TV
etc in the other. Repeat the exercise in the other property.
This should demonstrate what it would be like in each property at
night.
Problems With Bass?
The bass beat is often the main cause for complaint. Many
stereos have a bass adjustment. If you like loud music wear
headphones, but remember loud noise can damage your hearing.
Otherwise adjust it to a level that isn’t audible in a neighbour’s
property.
- Keep the volume down
- Don’t take hi-fis or speakers outside (wear headphones if you
want to listen to music outside or at higher volumes inside)
- Keep doors and windows closed when playing music
- Place speakers away from party walls
- Avoid putting speakers in the corner of a room
- Avoid putting speakers on floors unless you have a good layer
of absorption material (Sound insulation)
- Don’t place speakers up near ceilings (or suspend them from
ceilings), particularly if you live in a flat with someone else
above you
- Remember noise and vibration transmits easily through walls and
ceilings
- Wear slippers or go barefoot in flats, maisonettes and in areas
where there are bare floorboards or laminate or wood
flooring.
- Alternatively carpets with good quality underlay and heavy
curtains can help absorb noise.
WARNING Loud Noise damages hearing. If
you like listening to loud music whether on headphones or not, bear
in mind you may be damaging your hearing.
This webpage was updated on
12/21/2011