My neighbor threw a party with loud music playing until late in the night, what can I do about it?
April 22, 2024 | 50,00 EUR | answered by Lucas Schmidt
Dear lawyer,
I am reaching out to you as I urgently need advice regarding a situation that has occurred in my neighborhood. My neighbor, Mr. Müller, recently held a loud party where loud music played late into the night. This greatly disturbed me and my family, as we have to wake up early and could not find sufficient rest.
This party was not the first time Mr. Müller has hosted such loud events in his house. Despite multiple complaints and requests to reduce the volume, nothing has changed so far. I am worried that such incidents could occur more frequently in the future and would like to know what legal steps I can take to address this disturbance.
I have tried to speak to Mr. Müller personally, but he was uncooperative and showed no understanding of our situation. I now want to know if it is possible to file a formal complaint with the authorities or if there are other legal options to address the noise pollution.
I ask for your help and support in resolving this issue, as I am no longer willing to tolerate the constant disturbance caused by my neighbor. Thank you in advance for your advice and assistance.
Sincerely,
Selma Kraft
Dear Mrs. Kraft,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the noise nuisance caused by your neighbor Mr. Müller. I am sorry to hear that you and your family are suffering from the loud parties and are unable to find adequate peace. Noise disturbances caused by neighbors are a common problem that affects many people. Fortunately, there are legal steps you can take to address this type of harassment.
In Germany, there are clear legal regulations regarding noise nuisance and disturbance of the peace. According to neighborhood law, everyone is obligated not to disturb the peace of their neighbors. By law, during the day, noise up to a certain extent, such as mowing the lawn or doing manual work, is allowed. However, stricter quiet hours apply at night, during which noise levels must be reduced to a minimum.
In your case, where Mr. Müller is repeatedly hosting loud parties that disturb your peace, you have the right to take action. Initially, you should try to have a conversation with your neighbor and politely but firmly point out that his behavior is not acceptable. If this does not lead to any success, you can file a formal complaint with the relevant authorities.
The competent authority for noise disturbances is usually the local regulatory office or the police. You can file a complaint about the noise disturbance there and request a remedy. In many cases, the authorities can conduct a noise measurement and take action against the disturber if the permissible limits are exceeded, such as imposing a fine or prohibiting the parties.
It is important that you document the incidents, for example by recording the time and duration of the parties and naming any possible witnesses. This can serve as evidence in case there is a legal dispute. Additionally, you may also consider sending a warning letter to your neighbor to inform him about his disturbing behavior and request compliance with the quiet hours.
I hope that my explanation was helpful to you and encourages you to take action against the noise nuisance. If you have any further questions or need legal assistance, I am at your service.
Sincerely,
Lucas Schmidt
Lawyer
