Perhaps we didn’t get off to the best start when we took possession of our condo just over a year ago and immediately started working on its improvement. OK, maybe I got carried away when removing the vintage (and not in a good way) stained carpet on the main floor that first night. Excited about being a new homeowner, I might have, in fact, been swinging my echoing hammer a bit loudly given the absence of furniture and flooring in my haste to rid us of any signs of my digs’ previous owners when the lady that lived downstairs came to the door. I guess it was after 11 p.m. Anyway, after that I was more mindful of the time and have tried to be a respectful neighbour.

When I think about it my husband and I have been pretty fortunate considering the number of units that touch ours due to its stacked design and mix of two-storey and bungalow homes. We rarely hear anyone or anything save the odd sound of footsteps climbing the stairs or a door closing loudly below us (I am not sure they realize you can lock the knob with a key as well). And since that first night (though she still won’t make eye contact) we haven’t had a complaint about disturbing anyone else—and we even have a dog who likes to perch on his hind legs on a bench on the patio and look down protectively, occasionally barking at canines frolicking without him on the green strip or human passersby walking on the City-owned path below.

But in this market, with a slew of for sale signs lining the curb to our complex, the thing about condo living that concerns me is our neighbours could easily be replaced at any time. And they might not be as respectful. Or even worse—they might be the kind of loud, party-every-weekend college-student renters that my neighbours peered down their noses at when I was that age.

So what can you do about noise disturbances in a condo, especially with repeat offenders who like to blare speed metal like clockwork every Saturday until the wee hours or the perpetually fighting couple or crying child? The experts suggest first starting with trying to bring it to the offending party’s attention, as they may not realize they are creating a problem or the degree to which noise travels between your units. If this doesn’t work, in order to take any official action, you will have to draft something in writing and give it to the management company or board. They will likely send an off a letter and quote what the bylaws say about noise levels. If that doesn’t work then a fine might be issued. Renters can actually be evicted, but owners are harder to oust from a condo complex and are more likely to have some penalty applied to their account, much like with common property offences.

Sometimes bylaws have specific rules about renovating, even specifying times when noise such as loud power saws and hammering can occur, while others are a bit more vague in their wording. It’s never a bad idea to check with your board to see what their stance is on this issue and whether you need to let them know, much like some corporations require owners to notify them about getting a pet.

With the amount of renovating that seems to be a regular weekend occurrence around my complex it appears we have no such rules, just as long as we don’t dump our old closet doors and windows in the dumpster. Now I just have to learn to curb my enthusiasm about having mastered my borrowed brad-nailer and mitre saw, and be sure and call it quits before nightfall. And cross our fingers that the guy next door doesn’t decide to start up an ’80s cover band any time soon. CL