Asking your neighbour to turn down their TV can feel awkward, but it could be a simple solution to the problem. If this doesn't work, then it's worth considering talking to their landlord or reporting your neighbour to the council. If these option aren't for you, then you could invest in soundproofing for your home so that your neighbour can enjoy their TV and you can relax at home.
To find out which of these options is right for you keep reading now.
Have you tried talking to them?
An informal chat is always the best way to try and resolve the problem. For people living in flats and apartments it could be that they are not aware their noise is carrying into other people’s living spaces.
In the vast majority of cases people are considerate and willing to listen when a neighbour brings up an issue. If you approach them calmly then it helps to set the tone for the type of conversation you will have. The moments to avoid are when you can hear them as you might be more irritated.
If you are concerned about approaching them to talk, you could write a letter. Try to avoid adding emotion into the content and stick to facts about how the noise is affecting your life at home. In both instances you should also say what you would like them to do to resolve the situation and then hopefully a compromise that suits both parties can be reached.
It could also be the case that the loud TV is interfering with other neighbours living either beside or below the source. In this scenario it would makes sense for everyone affected to become involved, which could make it easier to find an amicable solution.
Have you spoken to your neighbour’s landlord?
Another good alternative is to speak with your neighbours landlord if they are a renting the property privately, or from a local housing association or council.
This might be the next step after you have had a discussion with your neighbour and the situation hasn’t changed. Or, you could have made attempts to contact them but not had a response from either approaching their door or writing a letter.
This shouldn’t be the first course of action you take, as it could create tension between you and the neighbour and it takes extra time and effort on your part to pursue.
Can you complain to the council?
You are able to complain to the council at any stage if you wish. The council will ask if you have tried to discuss the issue with your neighbour, or written them a letter. If you contact the council before you have done this, they may recommend that you attempt to do so first.
If the problem is impacting significantly on your life to the point it is affecting your health or proving to be a constant nuisance, this could be classed as a “statutory nuisance”. The council has a duty to investigate any complaint that falls into this category and will try to find a way to solve the issue.
Making a complaint to the council opens up the possibility of a court case. That is something to be aware of at the beginning, although in most cases this does not happen as a resolution is usually found at an earlier stage.
Have you considered soundproofing?
Installing acoustic insulation in particular rooms or areas of a house, flat or apartment provides the ideal solution for dealing with noise pollution. It enables you to regain control and block out any annoying sounds or noises that continue to affect your ability to relax in comfort.
There are a number of cost effective solutions that will suit a whole range of budgets and building restrictions.
Whether you are soundproofing a floor, walls or ceiling then a great product choice is a Rockwool Slab, such as RW5, RW3 or RWA45 depending on the density you need.
For walls, the slabs will be put in place with the use of a false wall in front of the existing structure which can then be filled with the acoustic insulation material.
When adding acoustic insulation to a ceiling a similar process is used. An additional layer is added to increase mass, therefore making it harder for sound to pass through.
There are other options available if laying acoustic insulation into the floor, ceiling or wall is not viable. You could consider several small alterations to help reduce, absorb and lower the level of noise pollution.
