FROM CONFLICT TO COMPROMISE
However, not all noise disputes stem from inconsiderate neighbours. Sometimes, they can begin with a simple misunderstanding.
Last year, Rachel (not her real name), in her 40s, was drawn into a dispute with the family living below her flat in the western part of Singapore, who complained about sounds that kept their young child awake at night.
Like Lyn and Alice, she declined to give her real name due to the sensitive nature of the dispute and fear of retaliation.
When confronted by their downstairs neighbours in February 2024, Rachel and her family immediately denied it. They were accused of making “knocking sounds”, but as far as Rachel and her family were aware, there was no knocking going on under their roof, day or night.
“The noise they described didn’t match anything we were doing,” she said.
