Reading — Test 30

Reading passage

**Sound Off: Is Condo Life Just Too Noisy?** Last week we asked readers to weigh in after a Kelowna tenant association reported a sharp rise in noise complaints since 2023. Here's what you told us. **Priya, Surrey:** I've lived in the same apartment for six years, and I'm convinced buildings weren't designed for the way we live now. Everyone works from home, streams movies, and takes video calls at odd hours. My upstairs neighbour runs on a treadmill at 6 a.m. It's not malicious, but the ceiling might as well be paper. Landlords need to invest in soundproofing instead of just posting a "quiet hours" notice in the lobby and calling it solved. **Devon, Winnipeg:** I disagree that this is mainly a construction problem. It's a courtesy problem. I grew up in a house, and now I rent a two-bedroom unit downtown. My neighbours drop weights, let their dogs bark for an hour straight, and host gatherings past midnight on weeknights. When I've knocked politely, I've been told to "relax." A building can only do so much when people simply won't consider who lives below them. **Marisol, property manager, Halifax:** I read every complaint that lands on my desk, and honestly, most conflicts resolve once both sides actually talk. Tenants often assume we'll evict a noisy neighbour immediately, but bylaws usually require documented warnings first. I always suggest a calm, written note before calling the office — it works surprisingly often and keeps things from escalating into a formal dispute. **Owen, Ottawa:** What nobody mentions is that some complaints are just neighbours who dislike each other for unrelated reasons. I was reported for "excessive noise" for vacuuming on a Sunday afternoon. My advice: before you complain, ask whether the noise is truly unreasonable or whether you're simply annoyed by the person making it. Buildings need clear, specific rules — not vague ones open to interpretation. Do you side with better construction, better manners, or better rules? Send us your thoughts for next month's follow-up.

Question 1 of 9