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Housing disturbances? Print a friendly note for your neighbour
Is your neighbour’s behaviour bothering you, but you feel uncomfortable telling them that face-to-face? We have prepared standard friendly neighbour notes – commonly known as ‘heippalappu’ in Finnish – about the most common housing disturbances. These neighbour notes are on our website. You can print them and slip them into your neighbour’s letterbox.
If your neighbour’s activities disturb you, it is usually best to speak openly to them. Often, the neighbour has not even realised that they are disturbing you. If talking feels difficult, you can print a ready-made neighbour note from our website and slip it into their letterbox.
Whether you choose to inform your neighbour in writing or by speaking to them, it is always best to try to be friendly and constructive. Complaints made in anger often fail to achieve the desired result and may even worsen the situation.
Everyday living noises are normal
People have very different views on what counts as a disturbance. Some are not bothered by loud noise, while others find even a small sound disruptive. It is good to remember that normal living noises are allowed, and there is no need to inform your neighbour about them.
For example, the sounds of children playing are usually considered normal living noises. Even during quiet hours after 22.00 and before 7.00, it is completely acceptable to take a shower or flush the toilet.
A dog may bark occasionally without it being a disturbance. However, if the barking is constant, it is advisable to inform the dog’s owner.
It is usually unnecessary to react to a brief, one-time increase in noise. However, ongoing loud noise, such as constant loud music, does not have to be tolerated.
In case of disturbances, follow these steps:
Open discussion often helps
If your neighbour’s activities disturb you, it is usually best to speak openly to them.
Ready-made friendly neighbour notes
If you do not want to speak to them in person, you can use one of our ready-made neighbour notes – ‘heippalappu’ in Finnish – which you can print from our website on the page Disturbances.
Contact the property manager
If you do not feel comfortable bringing up the disturbance with your neighbour, you can contact the property manager. Also contact the property manager if the disturbance continues even after you have spoken with your neighbour and/or slipped a note into their letterbox.
In threatening situations, call the police
If you feel the disturbance is threatening, call the emergency number 112.
A written notice of disturbing the peace for serious disturbances
For serious and repeated disturbances, you can file a written notice of disturbing the peace using the "Form to report disturbances" which is available on our website on the page Forms.
The form must be signed by at least two residents from different apartments.