Noisy neighbors. What to do?

The activities of neighbors are diverse: from playing musical instruments, using pyrotechnics, loud speech and singing, performing household (repair) work, slamming doors, to noisy parties at night. In 2017, the Internal Affairs Department of the Postavy District Executive Committee received more than 30 complaints about citizens violating the rules for using residential premises — noise, loud music coming from neighboring residential premises at night. This year, 12 such reports have already been received.

Despite the fact that the legislation does not provide for an assessment of the noise level caused by human activity in a residential premise, it is necessary to know that the rules for living in multi-apartment residential buildings are enshrined in the Housing Code of the Republic of Belarus, the Rules for the Use of Residential Premises, Maintenance of Residential and Auxiliary Premises, approved by Resolution of the Council of Ministers dated 21.05.2013 No. 399, the Regulations on Re-equipment (Redevelopment), approved by Resolution of the Council of Ministers dated 16.05.2013 No. 384, etc.

From the above regulatory legal acts, it follows that citizens are obliged to use televisions, radios, tape recorders and other loudspeakers only on condition of reducing audibility to a degree that does not disturb the peace of other citizens in the residential building. From 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., they must not perform actions that create vibration and noise (including by playing musical instruments, loud speech and singing, using pyrotechnics, performing household (repair) work, manual loading and unloading operations, slamming doors, keeping pets, etc.). It is forbidden to carry out construction and repair work that creates noise and vibration on weekends and holidays, and also to start such work earlier than 9 a.m. and finish it later than 7 p.m. on weekdays.

Protocols for violating the rules for using residential premises may be drawn up by authorized officials of executive bodies and state sanitary supervision institutions, as well as organizations operating the housing stock and providing utility services, in accordance with paragraphs 2, 6, 12 of Part 1 of Article 3.30 of the Procedural Executive Code of the Republic of Belarus.

Thus, if during the daytime it was not possible to peacefully resolve the problem of noise created by neighbors, you have the right to contact the organization that operates the housing stock and/or provides utility services. In this case, if the violation is confirmed, your neighbor will be brought to administrative responsibility under Part 1 of Article 21.16 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses, the sanction of which provides for an administrative penalty in the form of a fine of up to thirty basic units.

However, most often the "noisiness" of neighbors manifests itself at night, and a prolonged party disturbs the peace for a long period of time, and the housing and communal services department is not working.

In this case, you have the right to contact the Postavy District Department of Internal Affairs by phone: 102 or 4-10-02, 510-29-45 (MTS). Law enforcement officers will accept your statement, which, after checking for any other illegal acts by the noisy neighbor, will be forwarded to the housing and communal services department.

Head of Postavy District Department of Internal Affairs
A.N. Garus