We have neighbors living in a newly built house about 15 meters from our property line. They moved in last fall, and now comes the first warm period when you spend a lot of time outside...
Already on the first really warm weekend (Easter), the father from their house came over and said that our children were disturbing their daughter's sleep. Our children were out in the yard playing with their cousins as there was a family gathering, and it was around 9 PM when they came over. We had the door open and, of course, an overview of our children, and we thought they maintained a reasonable noise level.
We are very surprised that they were disturbed because their daughter's room doesn't have windows facing our way (only an outer wall). If we had closed our patio door, we would hardly have heard the children outside.
The whole situation has created a concern that their house (which was built by an Eastern European firm on speculation) simply might not be adequately insulated. A shame for the neighbors if that's the case, but also a concern for us because we don't want to have to tiptoe around on our own property.
When we built our house some time ago, I remember there were requirements regarding the noise levels the house should be able to shut out. These are specified in different sound classes. Is there any more "easily understandable" material with everyday examples that can help us understand more about where the problem lies... i.e., maybe we are too loud after all? Or are they too sensitive or simply is the house not up to standard?
Already on the first really warm weekend (Easter), the father from their house came over and said that our children were disturbing their daughter's sleep. Our children were out in the yard playing with their cousins as there was a family gathering, and it was around 9 PM when they came over. We had the door open and, of course, an overview of our children, and we thought they maintained a reasonable noise level.
We are very surprised that they were disturbed because their daughter's room doesn't have windows facing our way (only an outer wall). If we had closed our patio door, we would hardly have heard the children outside.
The whole situation has created a concern that their house (which was built by an Eastern European firm on speculation) simply might not be adequately insulated. A shame for the neighbors if that's the case, but also a concern for us because we don't want to have to tiptoe around on our own property.
When we built our house some time ago, I remember there were requirements regarding the noise levels the house should be able to shut out. These are specified in different sound classes. Is there any more "easily understandable" material with everyday examples that can help us understand more about where the problem lies... i.e., maybe we are too loud after all? Or are they too sensitive or simply is the house not up to standard?
There are regulations regarding noise levels against wall surfaces on houses. Read more on the Boverket website.
https://www.boverket.se/sv/PBL-kuns...ljplanering/regler-och-riktvarden-for-buller/
Common laughter and noise from people are not regulated in any paragraphs. Common sense should prevail.
https://www.boverket.se/sv/PBL-kuns...ljplanering/regler-och-riktvarden-for-buller/
Common laughter and noise from people are not regulated in any paragraphs. Common sense should prevail.
It probably depends on what kind of sound environment one prefers when trying to sleep. Some are greatly disturbed by a ticking clock, while others sleep better with a bit of noise. My children fell asleep excellently if I vacuumed outside the door or used the angle grinder in the basement. It was more difficult if it was completely quiet. In a completely silent room, one might hear children playing outside, and then it might be difficult to sleep, even if it's at a volume that an adult barely hears.
The sound of playing children can be incredibly disturbing for a child who is trying to sleep. I myself had a child who was never bothered by sounds except for the sound of playing children and dance band music. It was not fun on summer evenings when the neighbors' children played on the trampoline 150 meters away or when the pensioner group had a drink on the veranda in the neighboring block.
Thank you for the link.E etompau said:
Unfortunately, it's very difficult with common sense, as I said, we want to be able to be in our yard and do what we see as normal but which the neighbor then did not see as normal.
At the same time, playing children in a residential area is part of the norm. I understand that it might be difficult if you have a sensitive child, but there is also a limit where the children's sensitivity can't affect others. That's where it becomes really difficult...Cheesen said:
Half past nine in the evening when you have a crying child on your shoulder because the child hasn't been able to sleep for the past two and a half hours, you refrain from laughing...garden_gnome said:
Around 10 PM on weekends, I would say? At least that's what applies in rental apartments and the like. It should also be noted that we consciously monitored the children's noise levels before they came over, it wasn't unregulated screaming but the usual hustle and bustle that comes with children. They also stopped bouncing the ball at a reasonable time (around 8 PM) out of respect for the neighbors.E etompau said:
Those times are incredibly tough and if it's one of those really difficult evenings and we can help by sending in our children, we certainly do. But if it's going to be every weekend or summer evening after 7 PM that they find it bothersome that our children are playing in the yard, then it becomes a real problem...
As I understand it, there are no fixed time regulations for when it is okay to make noise, not even for condominiums as this is regulated in the individual statutes. For example, "do not disturb neighbors, which includes loud voices and loud music, after 23:00 and before 06:00. Drilling in concrete walls 07:30-21:00". If there is a road association or neighborhood watch holding meetings, perhaps it can be discussed what rules of conduct might prevail for everyone's comfort in the area? In a way, one could see it as positive that the neighbor came over to express how they experienced the noise level, rather than it laying the groundwork for a simmering neighbor dispute that escalates over time. If you feel that you had a good connection at that moment (since it is difficult for both parties to accuse and be accused), you might want to discuss your concerns about the perceived noise issue in return? With the suggestion that you both download the same decibel app on your mobile and you measure the noise level from your children from your yard while the neighbor measures in the bedroom. Reference values for noise indoors in rental apartments could possibly serve as a basis?
Maximum: 45 dBA
Average Level*: 30 dBA
Tones or music: 25 dBA
*Average level over a 24-hour period, where noise in the evenings and nights is weighted more heavily than daytime noise.
It is very difficult to come to a consensus on issues that stem from someone's experience of something because we are so different. In this case, perhaps the most challenging part for the daughter was hearing other children playing when she was supposed to be sleeping, and frustrating for the parents who have bedtime routines not shared by the neighbors, making it harder for them to follow those routines. I can fully understand that frustration because I myself consider regulated sleep important BUT I also fully understand your concern and sense of limitation when the expectation of villa life is to have control over your environment and property as you wish (within reasonable boundaries).
Regarding what the law says about disturbances and villas, I thought this answer that I took from https://lawline.se/answers/storande-ljud-nar-grannfastigheten-renoveras is thorough and clear.
QUESTION
Do I have any right to peace over the weekend after a workweek? A retired man bought my neighboring property about a year ago and has since been renovating externally and building Saturday and Sunday.
ANSWER
Hello, and thank you for your question!
I interpret your question as if you live in a villa? For rental apartments and condominiums, there are rules in the rental legislation (Land Code) and condominium legislation, where the landlord/condominium association may as a last resort evict someone who repeatedly disturbs their neighbors. For those living in villas, there is no such option. What exists is a general statement in Chapter 3 Section 1 of the Land Code that one must "take reasonable consideration of the surroundings" when using one's or another's real estate. A property is real estate. The section does not specify what reasonable consideration means.
The Environmental Code is what one can potentially rely on in a case like yours. It contains regulations regarding certain disturbances from neighboring properties, for example. There is the possibility to prohibit the person causing the disturbance from carrying out the disturbing activity (in your case, the renovation) at certain times of the day or to keep noise under a certain level. However, a balance is made between the property owner's interest in using their property and the neighbors' interest in not being disturbed. It also requires that it is a disturbance that "should not have to be tolerated," and this is an objective assessment of what should be tolerated. It is not enough that you as a neighbor feel that your peace is disturbed; it must be something like noise from the renovation exceeding a certain decibel level, that the noise is constant or very frequent, and so on.
There is quite a high tolerance threshold for what is considered acceptable to tolerate. A lawnmower, for example, can be perceived as disturbing, and if three neighbors simultaneously run lawnmowers every Saturday, it can be perceived as very disturbing by an individual neighbor. But neighbors mowing the lawn with a regular motorized lawnmower is a typical example of what must be tolerated. Even renovations by neighbors are generally something one must tolerate as long as it does not entail noise at night.
The best thing is if you can talk to your neighbor, and you can agree among yourselves. Perhaps he can refrain from renovating on weekends or at least on Sundays, maybe he can start and stop doing tasks that involve disturbing noise at certain times on weekends, or something similar.
If you cannot agree on a solution that both are satisfied with, you can turn to the environmental department of your municipality. They can provide more information, help with noise measurements, and generally be helpful in how you can proceed. But the very best is if you can come to an agreement with the neighbor. There is no general legal support that gives a right to peace over the weekend.
Kind regards, Alexandra Wikner
I hope you can come to a good solution with your neighbors, but do not start by telling the neighbor that his house is poorly built
Maximum: 45 dBA
Average Level*: 30 dBA
Tones or music: 25 dBA
*Average level over a 24-hour period, where noise in the evenings and nights is weighted more heavily than daytime noise.
It is very difficult to come to a consensus on issues that stem from someone's experience of something because we are so different. In this case, perhaps the most challenging part for the daughter was hearing other children playing when she was supposed to be sleeping, and frustrating for the parents who have bedtime routines not shared by the neighbors, making it harder for them to follow those routines. I can fully understand that frustration because I myself consider regulated sleep important BUT I also fully understand your concern and sense of limitation when the expectation of villa life is to have control over your environment and property as you wish (within reasonable boundaries).
Regarding what the law says about disturbances and villas, I thought this answer that I took from https://lawline.se/answers/storande-ljud-nar-grannfastigheten-renoveras is thorough and clear.
QUESTION
Do I have any right to peace over the weekend after a workweek? A retired man bought my neighboring property about a year ago and has since been renovating externally and building Saturday and Sunday.
ANSWER
Hello, and thank you for your question!
I interpret your question as if you live in a villa? For rental apartments and condominiums, there are rules in the rental legislation (Land Code) and condominium legislation, where the landlord/condominium association may as a last resort evict someone who repeatedly disturbs their neighbors. For those living in villas, there is no such option. What exists is a general statement in Chapter 3 Section 1 of the Land Code that one must "take reasonable consideration of the surroundings" when using one's or another's real estate. A property is real estate. The section does not specify what reasonable consideration means.
The Environmental Code is what one can potentially rely on in a case like yours. It contains regulations regarding certain disturbances from neighboring properties, for example. There is the possibility to prohibit the person causing the disturbance from carrying out the disturbing activity (in your case, the renovation) at certain times of the day or to keep noise under a certain level. However, a balance is made between the property owner's interest in using their property and the neighbors' interest in not being disturbed. It also requires that it is a disturbance that "should not have to be tolerated," and this is an objective assessment of what should be tolerated. It is not enough that you as a neighbor feel that your peace is disturbed; it must be something like noise from the renovation exceeding a certain decibel level, that the noise is constant or very frequent, and so on.
There is quite a high tolerance threshold for what is considered acceptable to tolerate. A lawnmower, for example, can be perceived as disturbing, and if three neighbors simultaneously run lawnmowers every Saturday, it can be perceived as very disturbing by an individual neighbor. But neighbors mowing the lawn with a regular motorized lawnmower is a typical example of what must be tolerated. Even renovations by neighbors are generally something one must tolerate as long as it does not entail noise at night.
The best thing is if you can talk to your neighbor, and you can agree among yourselves. Perhaps he can refrain from renovating on weekends or at least on Sundays, maybe he can start and stop doing tasks that involve disturbing noise at certain times on weekends, or something similar.
If you cannot agree on a solution that both are satisfied with, you can turn to the environmental department of your municipality. They can provide more information, help with noise measurements, and generally be helpful in how you can proceed. But the very best is if you can come to an agreement with the neighbor. There is no general legal support that gives a right to peace over the weekend.
Kind regards, Alexandra Wikner
I hope you can come to a good solution with your neighbors, but do not start by telling the neighbor that his house is poorly built
Administrator
· Skåne
· 8 688 posts
When we opened more ventilation holes in the house, some towards the neighbor, we hear sounds much more than before. Do you have vents facing that direction, or maybe the neighbor has vents facing your way through which the sound is transported?