It sounds like he's harassing you. I know that, elsewhere, there are noise directives regulating how much sound may escape an apartment, and it is on the order of 55dB (can't remember whether dB or dB(A)). In any case, if you can talk on the mobile, while playing music, he would need a stethoscope on the floor to hear you upstairs, especially before 10pm..

Show him the contract.

You could always use an online translator and write a paper letter to your regie (emails are only answered sometimes).

I had  a similar problem once. Neighbours above told us we could not run the washing machine before 7PM. Total BS is what it is. The rules in Switzerland are clear, it's 10PM, but yes, there is a dB limit that can somehow be measured. Also I think some restrictions apply for Sundays, though if I'm right, as a musician you are allowed to play a trumpet even on Sunday up to 10PM, and THAT is freakin' loud!

Agree with FerneyL. Show him the contract, print out the rules of noise in Switzerland (which maybe someone with more knowledge could post a link to???), show him that too, and (politely) tell him to stuff it. Well, since you have to live there, maybe better to be diplomatic. But ppl like that, who seem to have nothing better to do than listen for the slightest squeek... really drive me nuts.

I also think it shouldnt be possible for him to hear music from another flat that is not very loud. There might be a structual problem with the walls/ceiling in your flat. You should definitelly let the owner know about this.

Hi!

In general, avoid to make noise between 2-5 pm and 10pm-07am

Good luck!

P.S. I had a neighbour living one floor above me (single girl less than 30 years old) who complained about me taking showers after 23h...

A couple who lived in the same apartment with a small kid before she moved in never said a word...so it all depends on what kind of people you get to live with/near....good luck!

Thank you, Ferney,  for the reply! I should probably write the paper letter before this neighbour do this first. 

Thank you, David! It is driving me crazy as well, as I don;t do anything wrong and he comes and wastes my nerves. I will be prepared next time! I will do what you said. 

Thank yoy, Sajonara! I will try not to take that personally=))) The problem is probably in him(

Thank you, Andrew! I will(

Question for sanjonara: why exaclty do we have to be quiet between 2pm and 5pm? I haven't personally heard of any noise rules against that.

In case of structural problems: Sometimes there are holes for piping, that aren't properly insulated with special foam. If so, the sound may travel directly to him.

On the other hand, a small carpet and some curtains can improve acoustics a lot.

Reika, you provided so much info! I downloaded different brochures already! Thank you! Zurich actually seems more severe...

Thanks to everyone! 

 i would like to recommend headphones, but if you're not comfyabout wearing it at home, keep on playing the music, that is after you ask these rules from the regie. (if you are allowed)

Hi David

Based on several places where I lived, 2-5pm is considered to be the period for relaxing (for people to take a nap/some rest after lunch, for example). Never looked for the official law - the principle makes sense to me.

Cheers!

if you can't settle it with him, I really recommend you take a step forward and call the police about it. some officers do speak english so they can mediate the case and convince him to become more tolerant.

in the past i've had fairly good experiences with the geneva police, they tend to be very pragmatic about noise issues.. unless you're throwing a rave party they will simply make an appointment to visit your neighbour's appartment and listen for any problematic noise coming from yours.. then they will come talk to you and tell you how they see things and what you should do going forward if you're right and the guy doesn't want to drop it..

good luck!

Ok thanks! That sounds a little more like a Spanish rule. I never heard of Swiss taking siesta! ;-) And I'm a bit surprised cause this is Switzerland after all, and the law is the law. So it's either no noise between 2-5 or no law against it. I don't think there's an inbetween. I could be wrong. However, I do agree it makes sense. I don't blow my trumpet or play my guitar much after 9 for the same reason, though i suppose I could if I wanted to.

Cheers!

I dont understand how can anyone hear a toilet flush at night from another flat?! To me this is a clear sign of a structural problem within the building.

Thanks for the links Reka! I didn't know it was 9PM!!! Opppppssss!!!! So, my neighbours are very tolerant after all. I also didn't know that 'loud' instruments are not allowed. Man, it's like a rehearsal space in my bedroom every night!! Opppppsss again!!!

I live in France so I guess its more relaxed here. I have a little home cinema system and sometimes watch movies late. But no one has complained yet. I do reduce the volume a bit at night though especially the subwoofer. I used to have a lot of problems with noice from neighbours early in the morning but it stopped since I got the surround sound system. I wonder if there is a connection.

This sounds like a storm in a glass of water. Keyword is "excessive noise" and there are no norms that I know of in dB or so on. If it's not excessive and it's before 10pm, you are in your rights. If the neighbor comes again you can tell him politely that you are in your rights and it's the end of the discussion for you, or you can simply ask him to go f... himself, whatever fits your style.

To my knowledge minimum 2 neighbors need to complain for the police to come when you are making noise and the maximum you risk is a fine, but you will probably get a way with a warning the first time. The tenants are very well protected in Switzerland and even if you were a maniac that was throwing hardcore parties every day and all the neighbors complained, it would take years for them to evict you. I'm not saying you are I am just giving you the extreme scenario.

No, you do not need to call your regie or the police, they won't care unless somebody takes an official action. If the guy insists and your boyfriend doesn't look threatening, you can contact the concierge, the regie and the police in this order.

I listen to music all the time and my (older) neighbor came up one evening around 8:30 pm to ask me to turn the volume down. It was just one time, he was polite and even congratulated me on my musical choice so I had no problem to humor him. If he would come again after a few months I would probably humor him again. More than that and I would put a stop to it. My other neghbor down the hall says that he listens to loud music whenever he feels like and he doesn't give a f... about what the neighbors think. To each their own.

i had a similar problem with the neighbour across the hall. she always complained when i had my tv turned on. so: i downloaded from the apple app store a free app for my iphone which measures decibels. ( SPL meter ) and i can go across the hall and use this to detect the real noise level when she complains the next time. ( or even if i stand in the hallway with my door closed!!!)

It's an approximate guesstimate-SPL only*..  but invite her for a coffee, before she knocks again..

*according to HiFi-nerds.

My neighbour came and said that someone snores too loudly in my appartment! I have two little kids - one a 4 months old baby who cries one or twice at night when she wakes up for her feed. The neighbour has not come twice and keeps threatening. Weird, but very very disturbing...

I have similar issues with down stairs, altho they may be a bit sensative to noise I have the feeling the wooden floors amplifies the issue and perhaps it is worse than I realise.

Would it be worth while writing a letter, both posting and emailing it to the regie, in English expressing the problem and asking them to test the noise levels if they believe there is a problem.

The chances are they will not do anything, but you have a paper trail stating your request, so when upstairs knocks again ask him to call the police and regie, in theory the worst that can be done is you are in the wrong and have to turn the music down, but with evidence you have requested it be tested, you should be fine...

In theory though!! this is switzerland and logic does not always win!!!

good luck

I had a similar problem when my son was born. But I placed a big wardrobe against the common wall and the next door neighbour never complained again for the time we lived there. 

Tell them to piss off 

I live on the 5th floor of a regular 6-floor Geneva apartment building and I can hear every single sound my upper neighbors make, from walking around, dragging chairs, playing music, watching TV... While the latter two sounds are muffled, the first ones I hear very clearly. Also, if someone from a neighboring or upper apartments flushes, it sounds like a tropical rainforest in my studio for a minute. Not to mention hearing *everything* going on in the hallway. Is this normal?

I think there is nothing to be done about that? I can't go to my upstairs neighbors' door and be like, "yo, stop walking around your aparment"? And then I think the people below must hear me walking around too. :(

Ever heard of non-violent communication? If you start saying "piss off" to your neighbours you are bound for big fights.

Personally I have no problems with noises during daytime but my charming neighbours upstairs make a racket every night after 10 pm and they just consider it normal to move furniture around.

Respect goes both way:  tolerate what is tolerable (e.g. a baby who is crying) and express - politely - your concerns when the noise is really excessive or happens during the 10 pm - 7 am. 

One week in Switzerland and I was told to close my door quieter!! Didn't stop my neighbour screaming like a banshee and slamming doors at somone who was at my door. I think the problem is that there is no sound deadening in apartments in Geneva. I know when my neighbours are going to the toilet, rattling around in their bathroom, when they are having a bath and definitely when they have the washing machines on! The apartments are just shells so every noise can be heard but it appears it might be a one way street as my neighbour didn't look too happy when I told her I could hear her rattling around her bathroom at all hours! Wireless headphones might be the answer. If I was told I couldn't listen to music I would leave the country!!

i have the same problem. the rule is that you hae to warn three times and then call to the police. this is what i did.

Just move to France. I often read posts in Glocals asking whether the lower costs make it worth living there. That is not the main reason. It is a different culture. The swiss culture and way of life has worked well for them for centuries. If it does not work for you, exercise the option of living across the border with more like-minded people.