Housing problems
Noise complaints and community rules
What to do about noisy neighbours in Spain, and how community living rules work in apartment buildings.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-15
This guide is not yet verified by Tuchati's editorial review — treat it as a helpful starting point, not a final legal answer.
Overview
Most homes in Spanish cities are apartments governed by a community of owners (comunidad de propietarios) under the Ley de Propiedad Horizontal, which sets out shared rules — including a general duty not to disturb your neighbours.
Requirements
- Applies to anyone living in a building governed by a community of owners, whether you rent or own
- Municipal noise ordinances set specific decibel limits by time of day, which vary by local council
Step-by-step process
- Start with a direct, polite conversation with the neighbour causing the noise — this resolves the majority of cases
- If it continues, send a written communication (a certified letter or burofax) describing the problem
- Report the issue to your community president or administrator, who can issue a formal warning under the community's rules
- For serious or ongoing noise, contact local police (policía local), who can attend and, where relevant, measure noise levels
- As a last resort, the community can pursue a legal 'cease and desist' action (acción de cesación) against a persistently disruptive resident
Required documents
- A record of incidents (dates, times, description)
- Any written correspondence with the neighbour or community
- A sound-level report, if a formal complaint requires one — usually arranged by the council or a specialist
Common mistakes
- Escalating straight to a formal complaint without first trying a direct conversation, which often resolves things faster
- Not keeping a written record, making a later formal complaint harder to support
- Assuming any noise is automatically actionable — a complaint generally needs to show the noise exceeds the specific decibel limits set by local ordinance
Practical tips
- Daytime noise limits are typically stricter than many people expect, and nighttime limits considerably stricter still — check your local ayuntamiento's ordinance for the exact figures
- If you're a tenant, your landlord may also want to know about a persistent issue, since it can affect the property long after you've moved on
How Tuchati can help
If a noise issue isn't resolving through direct conversation, Tuchati can help you understand the right next step and how to document it properly.