A couple living in an apartment block say they are "sick and tired" of hearing their upstairs neighbours having loud sex up to 10 times a week, and are now considering leaving a note or contacting their lender about the situation.
The issue was first shared on Reddit, where the person wrote: "My partner and I live in an apartment block. No one below us and a couple above us. Obviously it's summer and obviously we all have our windows open."
"The couple upstairs are, um, intimate maybe 5-10 times a week. How do I know this? Well, the lady shouts and screams in what can only be described as a manner only seen and heard on VPN accessible sites."
"Times range from afternoons, evenings, before bed and most weekday mornings at around 07:00."
What are your legal rights?
In the UK, excessively loud sex can be considered a noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour. If a polite face-to-face conversation or a note has not worked, you have the right to keep a log of the disturbance.
You can then report the recurring noise to your local council's environmental health team under the Environmental Protection Agency 1990.
Steps to resolve the problem
Talk or write: If you feel safe, you can have a calm face-to-face chat about the problem with your noisy neighbours. Alternatively, you can drop a polite note through their door. They might not actually realise the problem is impacting you.
Keep a detailed log: Write a note of the exact dates, times, durations and how the noise affects you. If you report it to the council, they will require a logbook or evidence to prove a nuisance exists.
Contact the landlord: If you are renting the property, landlords have a duty to address anti-social behaviour. Find out the details, whether it's a housing association or private landlord.
Report it to the local council: If the noise persists and is unreasonable, write to your local council who can log a formal complaint. They could advise on further legal action too.
Use mediation: If you want to go down the formal legal route, the GOV.UK or Citizen Advice website can help guide you.
