Noise complaints in strata
If you and your neighbour live in a strata scheme, your neighbour may have made a complaint to the owners corporation, managing agent or building manager.
Strata disputes
All residents of a strata scheme have the obligation not to cause a nuisance to any other unit. All residents of strata schemes are bound by rules called by-laws. Different schemes have different by-laws, but usually contain by-laws about noise. There may also be by-laws about animals.
Your neighbour may have contacted the owners corporation or managing agent to complain if they feel you are breaking these rules.
What the owners corporation can do
The owners corporation may write to you give you a warning about noise. This is a good opportunity to try and resolve the problem before it goes any further. You can try talking to your neighbours or mediation. For more information, see Talking to your neighbours.
The owners corporation can issue a Notice to Comply with a By-Law. This is a notice to you:
- telling you which by-law you have breached
- explaining how you have breached the by-law
- warning that if you continue to breach the by-law the owners corporation may apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) for a financial penalty.
If the problem continues, the owners corporation can apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) for an order that you pay a fine.
If you get notice that your owners corporation is making an application to NCAT, you should get legal advice.
Mediation
You, the owners corporation or other unit owners can also make use of a specialised mediation service for strata residents. Fair Trading NSW, runs a free strata mediation service. For more information on mediation see the 
Fair Trading NSW website.
There is a fee to apply for help from the strata mediation service. Information on the current fee can be found on the Fair Trading NSW website.