The country has been declared non-working days throughout April 2020 in connection with the pandemic. Most citizens are forced to spend time in their own apartment and, of course, at some point they have a question - what to do in quarantine? All minor matters have been redone, I’m tired of watching TV, I would like to do something useful, for example, to update the situation. But is it possible to make repairs during the quarantine period?
The laws have not yet explicitly stated whether it is possible to make repairs in your own apartment during quarantine, but in such an unusual situation, one should reason from the point of view of elementary politeness and neighborhood standards:
- many citizens are forced to work under conditions of remote access, and if neighbors, even in the neighboring entrance, started repairs in the apartment during quarantine, the roar and noise from the power tool can greatly prevent the employee from fulfilling his duties;
- according to the law on silence, noisy repairs in the house can be performed only at certain hours during the working week and Saturday, and on Sunday and public holidays, repair work is prohibited. How in this case to consider forced days off is not yet clear;
- we must not forget about young children and elderly neighbors who are also forced to sit at home. It is especially difficult for them to endure noise over time.
It turns out that there is no direct ban on repairs during the coronavirus, but, given the current situation, everyone must decide for himself whether to make noise or to abstain and not to carry out work.
If the work has already been planned, there is only one way out - to reconsider the order of work, if possible, by doing only those that will not cause inconvenience to the neighbors. Painting the ceiling or walls or wallpapering the walls will not create much noise and will not interfere with others.
What is heard about the legislative ban
The question of whether to prohibit repairs during a period of forced restrictions on the movement of citizens or not is currently being decided by the State Duma.
The ban on repairs during quarantine has not yet been adopted by law, but State Duma deputies from the United Russia faction have already prepared a bill and have begun discussions on the relevant amendments to the Housing Code. After passing the amendments, changes will also be made to the Code of Administrative Violations.
The amendments are likely to be adopted in the near future and the ability of apartment owners to carry out repairs will be limited. The law will affect not only the quarantine period, but will also apply in the event of an emergency and high alert.
Regulation of noisy work in apartments
Currently, the rules for noisy work are regulated by the law on silence. Values vary by region. Let us cite the data on the example of Moscow. So, you can not make noise:
- in the period from 23 p.m. to 7 a.m. on any days (to make repairs - from 19 to 9 a.m.);
- from 13 to 15 hours of the day on any days;
- Sunday and public holidays.
The noise level in these periods should not exceed 45 dB (50 dB, for comparison, this is bird singing or quiet conversation). These conditions apply not only to repair work, but also listening to music, TV, sounds (such as barking) of pets.
These norms were calculated taking into account the inconsistent stay of citizens in their home. However, in quarantine conditions, when people cannot leave the apartment for a long time, the norms must be reviewed.
Where to complain if talking doesn't help
Not all neighbors are ready to adhere to the law and stop noisy work or listening to loud music at the wrong time. When opponents do not respond to ordinary requests to eliminate the noise source, law-abiding citizens should not continue to try to resolve the conflict on their own - it is better to contact the authorities.
Who can I contact if a violation of the permissible noise level is detected:
- First of all, you should call the police and explain the situation (by number 102 - the operator will switch you to the call center). In some municipalities, it is faster and easier to immediately turn to the district police officer, who is obliged to monitor compliance with the silence regime at certain hours on his site;
- if the silence is broken at certain hours by workers, you can contact the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station, whose specialists can go to the place and conduct an instrumental measurement of the noise level;
- in many municipalities there are sites and applications on which you can leave a statement about the violations identified, and the mayoralty experts or representatives of the management company will deal with the violators.
For exceeding the permissible noise level during an unexpected time, an administrative penalty is imposed in the form of a fine.