Every neighbourhood has that one flat or house which just doesn’t care about others – loud music at midnight, constant drilling, smoke blowing into your balcony, or garbage dumped outside your gate. When this kind of disturbance crosses a limit, it can become private nuisance in civil law.
Private nuisance basically means “continuous, unreasonable interference” with your peaceful use and enjoyment of your own property. It could be noise, smell, vibration, water leakage, blocking sunlight or access, or even aggressive pets. One stray incident may not be enough, but a pattern of behaviour definitely matters.
The first step is usually friendly communication. Many disputes die right there if handled calmly. If that fails, a written complaint to the society/RWA or landlord can create some pressure and also builds a record. If nothing changes, you can move a civil court.
Remedies in court typically include:
- Injunction: an order to stop or reduce the nuisance (for example, limit timings or fix soundproofing),
- Damages: compensation for loss of comfort, health issues, or specific financial loss,
- In some cases, mandatory orders to repair or remove the cause of nuisance.
Courts also check your conduct – you can’t complain about loud music if you’re equally guilty of it every weekend. The test is reasonableness: what would an ordinary, sensible neighbour tolerate? If your neighbour’s activities fail that test, civil remedies are very much on the table.
