Noise · Can wait

My neighbour's noise keeps me awake at night. What can I do?

General guidance for homes in Singapore. In a condo or other strata building, common property is for the management office; in an HDB flat, your Town Council.

Start with a calm, direct word or a polite note, since many people do not realise how far sound travels. If that fails, there are formal routes.

Check first

  • What kind of noise is it, and at what times?
  • Is it from one unit? Sound can travel through pipes and walls.
  • Is anyone at risk, such as shouting that sounds like a fight?

What you can try

  • Talk to them at a calm time, not in the moment. Say what you hear and when.
  • Keep a diary of dates, times and what you heard.
  • Ask management to remind residents about the building's rules on noise.
  • If talking does not work, the Community Mediation Centre offers free, voluntary mediation.
  • For severe, persistent noise, the Government's neighbour-dispute process now covers private housing too, including a Community Relations Unit and, as a last resort, a tribunal claim.

When to stop and get help

  • You hear violence, screaming or someone calling for help: call 999.
  • You feel threatened or harassed.
  • The noise continues after mediation.

Who to contact

  • 999 (Police) — If someone may be in danger.
  • Management office — In a condo, the by-laws cover noise, and the MCST can remind or act on them.
  • Community Mediation Centre, 1800-2255-529 — For free mediation with a neighbour.

Find your building's management office

Every building in the estate.sg directory lists its management office's number and address.

When to hire someone

Rarely needed. A lawyer is only worth considering if mediation fails and you are thinking of a tribunal claim.

Ask before you book:

  • What would a claim involve, and what are the likely costs?