Unit tackling severe neighbour spats to be able to order mediation

Under proposed laws, it can also ask for installation of noise sensors to collect data

- Nadine Chua

A new government unit will be given powers to investigate and order individuals to stop making noise that disturbs their neighbours, under proposed laws to better address severe disputes.

The authorities on Aug 12 set out calibrated powers that the Community Relations Unit (CRU) will get to resolve serious neighbourly disputes related to noise or hoarding under the Community Disputes Resolution (Amendment) Bill, which will be introduced in Parliament later in 2024.

Besides giving warnings or abatement orders, CRU officers will be able to issue a direction requiring neighbours to go for mediation, or install noise sensors in homes to collect data on the direction, timing and intensity of noise after obtaining consent from residents in the affected units.

The CRU will step in only after neighbours have failed to resolve disputes among themselves, said the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Ministry of Law and Ministry of National Development in a joint statement.

The ministries said noise sensors will address the current gap, in which sound recordings made by complainants are often not useful in determining the volume of the sound as playback can be distorted.

Noise sensors can also be deployed in common areas such as corridors, said the ministries, adding that the sensors are an option for parties to prove their case - not a requirement - and will not be installed if complainants do not give consent.

To safeguard privacy, the data gathered will be transmitted in real time to Singapore-based servers with strict access controls for processing only, while raw recordings will not be stored, the ministries said.