28 June 2021 www.bahrainthismonth.com Bill Grieve explores a relatable issue in residential apartment buildings. Most residential apartment building areas already have more than enough external noise from sewerage removal pump trucks, refuse removal, inconsiderate drivers “hooning” around, loud motorcycles or scooters, public transport and especially construction and maintenance. Nuisance noise in an apartment building can be one of the greatest negative impacts on modern lifestyle living regardless of the highest standards of a building. Inconsiderate neighbours generally know they are making a noise and simply don’t care - that’s why good building management is a crucial consideration when selecting an apartment. Ask the building management what the nuisance noise policies are and how they deal with noise makers - in writing. That being said, the main internal residential building related noise sources are: • Loud and inconsiderate neighbours - music, parties, get togethers and sports event gatherings. • Constantly activated fire alarms. • Slamming of doors. • Loud and unruly behaviour in common areas or facilities - especially near lifts. • Scraping furniture across tiled or hard surfaces. • Walking in hard heels on tiled or hard floors or dropping items continuously. • Unruly or constantly crying or performing children. • Personal relationship inconsiderations - screaming, shouting. Pets and toys - Both being the responsibility of the tenant or resident. Bill Grieve “It doesn’t matter if you are a pilot, a pastor, a plumber or a professor - if your neighbors complain about you making noise - you’re being a nuisance!” “You don’t have to be a genius to know that when you live in a residential apartment you have a moral duty to be considerate of your neighbours and the effect of your actions on them.” It is often the case that people downsizing from villas to apartment buildings continue to generate the same amount of noise they did in their villa or house and show little consideration for adjacent neighbours - especially underneath them. Another significant frustration is caused by introducing “villagers” and people who are not accustomed to the refinements and protocols of residential apartment living and due to their ignorance perpetually set off fire alarms, bang doors, drop items on the tiled or hard floors and adopt a couldn’t care less attitude about noise sources like music, loud voices, scraping furniture across the floor and causing a raucous when watching sports on TV showing little or no consideration for those around them. No! - it’s not ok to cause a nuisance noise until the early hours of the morning even if your favourite team is playing - use earphones, make use of party halls or building TV rooms, watch your loud sports, TV programmes or make your music in an environment that does not cause a disturbance to your neighbours - just because you have rented the apartment does not give you, your family, friends or visitors the right to be a nuisance or cause other tenants to complain about you making a racket or disturbing their peace. Nuisance Noise!
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MTkxMQ==