If recurring noise is affecting sleep, study or work in your HDB flat, start with a brief record of what you actually heard and when. Identify a specific change that might help. If it feels safe to approach your neighbour, choose a calm time and describe the pattern and its effect on your household.
If the problem continues, the Community Mediation Centre (CMC) can assess whether voluntary mediation is suitable. CMC says you do not need to produce evidence before applying. A short log is a way to organise your thoughts and explain what you would like to change.
- Record the time, duration and type of noise in plain language.
- Separate what you heard from where you think it came from.
- Choose one practical request that addresses the recurring problem.
- Keep a record of any agreed trial and when you will review it.
- Check the appropriate official route if the source or situation is different.
Jump to a section
Keep a record someone else can understand
Write down the date, approximate start and finish, where you were and what happened. Include the impact only when it helps explain the concern. “Repeated thuds audible in the bedroom from about 11.10 to 11.25 pm” is more useful than “noisy every night.” If the source is unclear, record that uncertainty. Sounds can travel through more than one part of a building.
| Record | Example | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| When | Tuesday, about 11.10 to 11.25 pm | Shows the relevant time and duration |
| What | Several bursts of heavy thuds | Describes the observation |
| Where heard | Bedroom with the door closed | Gives the listener context |
| Effect | Child woke after the second burst | Explains the household impact |
| What would help | Reduce repeated late-evening impacts | Gives the parties a starting point |
Avoid collecting information about the neighbour’s private life. Keep the record proportionate to the problem and store it privately. If the source appears to be renovation, a common area or another activity, check the guidance for that category. The MCCY Community Disputes Management Framework explains the wider system. For renovation specifically, see eduKateSG’s guide to renovation noise.
Back to contents · Next: Ask for a change you can both try
Ask for a change you can both try
Choose a time when neither household is dealing with the incident. Describe the pattern and ask whether the neighbour has noticed anything that might explain it. If there is a practical adjustment, agree on what to try and when to check back. Keep the request specific enough to test over the next week.
For example, a resident might ask whether furniture can be moved earlier in the evening or whether pads would help if a chair is scraping. If the source is uncertain, the first useful action may be comparing when each household hears the sound. If a conversation feels unsafe, use an appropriate official route instead of confronting the neighbour.
Back to contents · Next: Prepare for mediation if the issue continues
Prepare for mediation if the issue continues
Read the CMC FAQs for suitability, application and attendance. CMC describes voluntary mediation as a way for both sides to speak with a neutral mediator and explore solutions. It assesses the application and, in the voluntary process, can arrange a session when both sides agree to attend. A formal Mediation Direction is a separate process with its own requirements.
Prepare a short description of the pattern, the effect on your household, any steps you have already tried and a proposal you can live with. You can also decide what would count as an improvement and how the households might communicate if the problem returns. Bring questions about the process to CMC rather than treating the session as a hearing to determine which neighbour is at fault.
Back to contents · Next: Worked example during a student’s exam week
Worked example during a student’s exam week
A family notices recurring impact sounds around bedtime. One adult records several evenings and notices that the pattern is concentrated in a short period. The family temporarily moves the student’s revision to another room and chooses a specific request about the late-evening period.
The neighbour agrees to try a change for a week. The family checks whether the pattern improves and records only new incidents relevant to the agreement. If it continues, the family can explain to CMC what it observed, what it tried and what practical arrangement it would like to discuss.
Back to contents · Next: Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a sound meter or recording to apply for mediation?
CMC says you do not have to produce evidence before applying. A brief written account can help you explain what you want to resolve.
Should I send the entire log to my neighbour?
Start with a concise description and a practical request. Keep detailed notes for your own follow-up and share only what is relevant through an appropriate channel.
Back to contents · Next: Next steps and official sources
Next steps and official sources
Write down one recurring pattern and one change that would help. If a direct conversation is unsuitable or has failed, check which official route fits the circumstances.