Are your neighbours ruining your sleep? What one Sydney resident discovered at 2am might shock you
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Living in an apartment block can be a bit like being on a never-ending episode of Big Brother—except you didn’t sign up, and there’s no prize money at the end.
For one Sydney resident, however, the drama has reached a whole new level, thanks to a neighbour whose late-night antics are less 'Neighbours' and more 'Rated R: The Musical'.
Let’s set the scene: It’s 2am. Most of us are tucked up in bed, perhaps dreaming of a nice cuppa or a walk along Bondi Beach.
But for this poor Sydneysider and his partner, the only thing they’re hearing is a raucous medley of loud music, impromptu guitar solos, and, well, some rather explicit vocal performances from the flat below.
And we’re not talking about a bit of off-key karaoke—think more along the lines of a one-man X-rated cabaret.
The fed-up resident took to social media to share his woes, admitting he’s tried to be patient. 'Yes, I know it’s apartments! You will get noise here and there, and for the most part, I can tolerate it … up until 10pm or so,' he wrote.
But when the clock strikes midnight and the serenade turns into a string of expletives set to a guitar riff, even the most tolerant neighbour would struggle to keep their cool.
In a video he posted, the neighbour’s 'song' is, shall we say, less John Farnham and more 'F**k, f**k, f**k' on repeat. It’s the kind of tune that’s unlikely to make the ARIA charts, but it’s certainly left an impression—albeit not a good one.
Our beleaguered resident didn’t just suffer in silence. He tried the old-fashioned approach: knocking on the door to have a polite word.
Unfortunately, his efforts were met with either stony silence or a less-than-friendly 'f**k off' shouted from within. Another neighbour tried banging on the door too, but the only thing that got banged was their patience.
It’s not just a one-off, either. The post claims this has been going on for months, with the late-night concerts becoming a regular (and unwelcome) feature of their lives.
If you’ve ever found yourself in a similar situation—whether it’s midnight maracas, 3am tap dancing, or, heaven forbid, a full-blown break-up ballad—there are steps you can take.
Strata lawyer Amanda Farmer weighed in, explaining that noisy neighbours may be breaching the building’s by-laws.
If you’re in a strata-managed building, your first port of call should be the strata manager or the secretary of the strata committee. They can issue an official 'notice to comply' to the offending party.
If the noise-maker is a tenant, it’s worth letting their landlord know, as this behaviour could also breach their lease agreement.
And if all else fails, you (or the owners’ corporation) can take the matter to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), where penalties of up to $1,000 can be imposed, and orders made to stop the behaviour.
Of course, not every noisy neighbour is a budding rock star with a penchant for explicit lyrics.
Etiquette expert Jo Hayes suggests starting with a calm, kind, and clear conversation—either face-to-face or in writing. 'Always keep in mind the conflict resolution MO: be kind, calm and clear,' she says.
If you suspect things could get heated, it’s best to avoid direct confrontation and instead involve a third party, such as building management or a mediation service.
As you might expect, the internet had a field day with this story. While many sympathised with the sleepless resident, others couldn’t help but see the funny side.
'I’m so sorry, but this is hilarious. What a stunning break-up song,' one commenter wrote.
Another noted, 'The funniest part is he is actually on rhythm,' while someone else suggested, 'Publish the song on Spotify, make millions, buy a new house.'
Jokes aside, plenty of people offered practical advice, from soundproofing tips to contacting authorities. It’s clear that while noisy neighbours are a common gripe, there’s a real sense of community in sharing solutions—and a laugh—about the things that keep us up at night.
Read more: Not so neighbourly: Complaint triggers unruly behaviour in high-end neighbourhood
Have you ever had a neighbour whose noise drove you up the wall—or made you laugh out loud? What’s your best tip for keeping the peace in apartment living? Share your stories and advice in the comments below!
For one Sydney resident, however, the drama has reached a whole new level, thanks to a neighbour whose late-night antics are less 'Neighbours' and more 'Rated R: The Musical'.
Let’s set the scene: It’s 2am. Most of us are tucked up in bed, perhaps dreaming of a nice cuppa or a walk along Bondi Beach.
But for this poor Sydneysider and his partner, the only thing they’re hearing is a raucous medley of loud music, impromptu guitar solos, and, well, some rather explicit vocal performances from the flat below.
And we’re not talking about a bit of off-key karaoke—think more along the lines of a one-man X-rated cabaret.
The fed-up resident took to social media to share his woes, admitting he’s tried to be patient. 'Yes, I know it’s apartments! You will get noise here and there, and for the most part, I can tolerate it … up until 10pm or so,' he wrote.
A Sydney apartment resident has had enough after months of loud music, instrument playing and 'X-rated' noises coming from his neighbour’s flat between 11pm and 2am. Image source: Christian Stahl / Unsplash. Disclaimer: This is a stock image used for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual person, item, or event described.
But when the clock strikes midnight and the serenade turns into a string of expletives set to a guitar riff, even the most tolerant neighbour would struggle to keep their cool.
In a video he posted, the neighbour’s 'song' is, shall we say, less John Farnham and more 'F**k, f**k, f**k' on repeat. It’s the kind of tune that’s unlikely to make the ARIA charts, but it’s certainly left an impression—albeit not a good one.
Our beleaguered resident didn’t just suffer in silence. He tried the old-fashioned approach: knocking on the door to have a polite word.
Unfortunately, his efforts were met with either stony silence or a less-than-friendly 'f**k off' shouted from within. Another neighbour tried banging on the door too, but the only thing that got banged was their patience.
It’s not just a one-off, either. The post claims this has been going on for months, with the late-night concerts becoming a regular (and unwelcome) feature of their lives.
If you’ve ever found yourself in a similar situation—whether it’s midnight maracas, 3am tap dancing, or, heaven forbid, a full-blown break-up ballad—there are steps you can take.
Strata lawyer Amanda Farmer weighed in, explaining that noisy neighbours may be breaching the building’s by-laws.
If you’re in a strata-managed building, your first port of call should be the strata manager or the secretary of the strata committee. They can issue an official 'notice to comply' to the offending party.
If the noise-maker is a tenant, it’s worth letting their landlord know, as this behaviour could also breach their lease agreement.
And if all else fails, you (or the owners’ corporation) can take the matter to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), where penalties of up to $1,000 can be imposed, and orders made to stop the behaviour.
Of course, not every noisy neighbour is a budding rock star with a penchant for explicit lyrics.
Etiquette expert Jo Hayes suggests starting with a calm, kind, and clear conversation—either face-to-face or in writing. 'Always keep in mind the conflict resolution MO: be kind, calm and clear,' she says.
If you suspect things could get heated, it’s best to avoid direct confrontation and instead involve a third party, such as building management or a mediation service.
As you might expect, the internet had a field day with this story. While many sympathised with the sleepless resident, others couldn’t help but see the funny side.
'I’m so sorry, but this is hilarious. What a stunning break-up song,' one commenter wrote.
Another noted, 'The funniest part is he is actually on rhythm,' while someone else suggested, 'Publish the song on Spotify, make millions, buy a new house.'
Jokes aside, plenty of people offered practical advice, from soundproofing tips to contacting authorities. It’s clear that while noisy neighbours are a common gripe, there’s a real sense of community in sharing solutions—and a laugh—about the things that keep us up at night.
Read more: Not so neighbourly: Complaint triggers unruly behaviour in high-end neighbourhood
Have you ever had a neighbour whose noise drove you up the wall—or made you laugh out loud? What’s your best tip for keeping the peace in apartment living? Share your stories and advice in the comments below!
