Guide · Neighbours · 3 min read
Noise, leaks and neighbours
What counts as unreasonable interference by a neighbour, what a court can order, and leaks in a strata building.
In plain English · by laws.sg · not legal advice· Law as at 30 Sep 2026
On this page · 5 parts
The short answer
An individual who lives in a place of residence must not, by any act or omission, whether intentionally, recklessly or negligently, cause unreasonable interference with a neighbour's enjoyment or use of the place where the neighbour lives. A neighbour can bring civil proceedings in a court over it.
Community Disputes Resolution Act s 4
In proceedings on an application to a Board under section 101 about an alleged defect in a unit or common property immediately above another, the defect is presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be in the unit or common property above if there is evidence of dampness, moisture or water penetration on the ceiling below.
What counts as interference
Interference with a neighbour's enjoyment or use of their home may include, among other things:
- Causing excessive noise, smell, smoke, light or vibration
- Littering at or near the neighbour's home
- Obstructing the neighbour's home by placing things at or near it
- Interfering with the neighbour or their movable property at or near their home
- Keeping the neighbour or their home under surveillance from at or near it
- Trespassing on the neighbour's home
- Letting an animal you own or care for trespass on the neighbour's home, make excessive noise or smell, or defecate or urinate at or near it
Community Disputes Resolution Act s 4(2)
A neighbour is someone who lawfully lives in the same building, or within 100 metres, but not someone who lives in the same home as you.
What a court can order
If the court is satisfied on a balance of probabilities that the claim is made out, and that it is just and equitable, it may order damages, an injunction, specific performance or an apology to the neighbour, among other orders.
Community Disputes Resolution Act s 5(1)
In deciding whether an order is just and equitable, the court considers its impact on the respondent, on the people living with the respondent and on others likely to be affected, and the ordinary instances of daily living that reasonable people living in Singapore can be expected to tolerate.
If an order is ignored
If the respondent fails to comply with the order, the neighbour it was made for can apply for a direction that the respondent comply with it. This does not apply to an order to pay damages.
Community Disputes Resolution Act s 6(1)
Community Disputes Resolution Act s 8
Failing to comply with that direction without reasonable excuse is an offence, with a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment of up to 3 months, or both.
Community Disputes Resolution Act s 7(1)
If the direction is not complied with, the neighbour can apply to a court for an order excluding the respondent from their home. The court may make it if it is satisfied, on a balance of probabilities, that the direction was not complied with without reasonable excuse, and that the order is just and equitable.
Leaks and defects in a strata building
In a strata building, a subsidiary proprietor, mortgagee in possession, lessee or occupier of a unit, or the management corporation, can apply to a Board under the Act for an order settling a dispute about a defect in a unit, the building or its common property.
Building (Strata Management) Act s 101(1)
In those proceedings, a defect is presumed, in the absence of proof to the contrary, to be in the unit or common property immediately above if there is evidence of dampness, moisture or water penetration on the ceiling below, or on the finishing material attached to that ceiling.
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