The Hidden Costs of Noise in Condominium Living
Tuesday, 18 November 2025
Noise can affect property value, resident satisfaction, and even a building’s reputation.
Living in a condominium means sharing far more than a roof — it means sharing a living environment. While condos offer comfort, location advantages, and a sense of community, they also face one often underestimated challenge: noise. Invisible yet omnipresent, noise can significantly impact resident satisfaction, reduce resale value, and tarnish a building’s reputation over time if not properly managed.
Noise: An Ever-Present Irritant
According to a study by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), more than 65% of condo owners consider noise to be the main source of tension within their building. In major urban centres, one in three complaints received by condo boards is related to footsteps, floor noise, or general neighbor disturbances.
Public health research reinforces the magnitude of the issue: the INSPQ reports that chronic noise can lead to a 25% increase in perceived stress and disrupt the sleep of nearly one in two residents. Beyond decibels, noise affects quality of life, mental health, and social cohesion. And this collective discomfort has a measurable economic cost.
When Noise Becomes Expensive
a) Property Devaluation
A building known for noise issues quickly loses its appeal on the real estate market. According to data compiled by JLR and the OACIQ, negative perceptions related to noise can reduce a unit’s resale value by 5% to 15%, and even more in upscale neighborhoods.
Real estate brokers confirm this trend: a condo associated with a “noisy” environment can stay on the market twice as long, leading to longer closing timelines and downward price negotiations. Conversely, buildings certified for acoustic comfort benefit from an average 8% premium in perceived value.
🏷️ In other words: silence sells.
b) Legal Disputes and Professional Fees
Noise is among the top three causes of condo-related disputes in Québec, according to the Regroupement des gestionnaires et copropriétaires du Québec (RGCQ). Each conflict can generate thousands of dollars in expenses: legal fees, acoustic assessments, special meetings, and sometimes even damage claims. Several RGCQ building managers report that noise-related disputes can consume 3% to 5% of a building’s contingency fund in certain cases. For a 50-unit building, this can represent up to $25,000 in additional annual costs.
c) Resident Turnover and Disengagement
A study by the Observatoire de la copropriété du Québec found that nearly 40% of condo owners who moved out cited noise as a contributing factor. This dissatisfaction leads to higher turnover rates, which disrupt community stability and affect property maintenance. Buildings with a turnover rate above 25% face, on average, 12% higher management and maintenance costs, often due to recurring complaints and reduced cohesion.
Prevention Is Better Than Correction
Investing in proper acoustic management helps prevent future costs. Corrective interventions, however, are often complex and expensive.
a) Acoustic Renovation Costs More Than Prevention
Fixing a non-compliant floor or replacing poorly selected materials can cost between $8,000 and $15,000 per unit, not including restoration work or engineering fees. In contrast, establishing clear acoustic standards and validating products from the start costs only a fraction of that amount.
💡 According to a CMHC study on building durability, every dollar invested in prevention can save up to ten dollars in corrective work.
b) The Importance of Condo Bylaws
Condo bylaws are a powerful preventive tool. They should specify:
• Minimum required performance levels (IIC, STC, AIIC)
• Approved product types depending on flooring surfaces
• Approval procedures prior to renovation work
A well-designed bylaw can reduce acoustic complaints by up to 60% within three years of its adoption (RGCQ, 2024).
The Key Role of the Property Manager
Property managers are the guardians of building tranquility, and their role is to anticipate conflicts before they escalate.
Effective acoustic management includes:
• Collaborating with independent experts to validate real acoustic performance
• Systematically reviewing materials proposed for renovations
• Maintaining a registry of approved products and compliant installations
• Educating owners on best practices before any renovation begins
Condo buildings that adopt these practices see an average 45% reduction in noise-related complaints after two years (internal RGCQ administrator report, 2023).
Acoustic Comfort: A Long-Term Asset
A quiet condo building isn’t just pleasant to live in — it’s a profitable collective investment. Buildings that prioritize acoustic comfort achieve:
• 8% to 12% higher resale value
• 30% higher resident satisfaction (according to management surveys)
• Up to 25% lower occupant turnover
• A stronger reputation among buyers and real estate brokers
In a highly competitive real estate market, calm becomes a luxury — and buildings that prioritize it naturally stand out.
Conclusion
Noise isn’t just a nuisance — it’s a major economic and human issue. Condo boards and property managers who take a proactive approach to acoustic management not only reduce conflicts but also protect the building’s value and residents’ peace of mind. Preserving tranquility means protecting a collective investment.
Smart Practices to Adopt
✅ Consult an acoustic professional
✅ Integrate clear acoustic requirements into condo bylaws
✅ Validate materials before any flooring renovation
✅ Keep an up-to-date registry of approved and compliant products
✅ Educate co-owners on best practices before work begins
AcoustiCONDO: Simplifying Acoustic Harmony in Condominiums
Because condo living is, above all, about living together.
Condominium living offers comfort, location, and community — but it also comes with challenges, especially noise, the leading cause of conflict in multi-unit buildings. Whether it’s creaking floors, energetic upstairs neighbors, or poorly planned renovations, acoustics remain a key factor in quality of life and harmonious cohabitation.
This is where AcoustiCONDO comes in, an initiative by AcoustiTECH, a Québec-based company specializing in acoustic solutions for over 25 years. Designed specifically for the condo environment, AcoustiCONDO streamlines the purchasing, selling, and regulatory processes for acoustic products by providing co-owners, managers, and retailers with a clear, reliable, and harmonized framework.
👉 Discover how to integrate your building into the AcoustiCONDO program: www.acousti-tech.com/acousticondo
Andre Rioux
Co-Owner - Executive Vice-President Marketing -
Product Marketing & Development - Brand Ambassador
AcoustiTECH