Who's Right?Neighbour upstairs walking in heels at night: a nuisance?
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In short
In France, yes: footsteps in heels count as behavioural noise that can be penalised, especially between 10 pm and 7 am. But the noise must go beyond normal flat life through its loudness, length or repetition.
Both sides
Almost every night around 12:30, I hear heels clicking right above my bed. It goes on for ten minutes, sometimes longer, and it wakes me up every time. I get up at 6 for work, so I've been sleeping badly for weeks. I'm not asking her to live in silence, just to take her shoes off when she gets home.
I work at an events venue and I get home late, that's my job. I'm not partying, I'm just walking around my flat while I get changed. The building is old and the wooden floor echoes like crazy, that's not on me. And Karim never actually talked to me: he just left an annoyed note in my letterbox.
The verdict
Karim has the stronger case. Heels are specifically listed as behavioural noise, the clicking happens in the middle of the night and it comes back almost every evening. A disturbance that repeats at that hour is no longer just ordinary living noise.
Camille is right on two points. Coming home late for work isn't wrong, and an old wooden floor really does amplify footsteps. But the fix is simple and costs her almost nothing: taking her shoes off at the door.
Karim could have started with a real conversation instead of a curt note in the letterbox. His request is reasonable, but the way he made it raised the tension.
The compromise
Camille leaves her heels on a mat by the door and switches to slippers whenever she gets home after 10 pm. Karim talks to her in person if the noise comes back, before writing any letter. They check in with each other in a month.
What the rules say
Footsteps, including heels, are classed as behavioural noise from a tenant or owner. To count as an abnormal neighbour nuisance, the noise must go beyond the ordinary inconveniences of living close to others. What matters is its loudness, how long it lasts and how often it happens: a one-off disturbance is less often recognised than a recurring one. This noise can be penalised during the day (7 am to 10 pm) and at night (10 pm to 7 am). Night-time noise that disturbs other people is punishable by a fine of up to 450 euros, and the item causing the noise can also be confiscated. Recommended steps: talk to the neighbour first, then write a simple letter, then a registered letter with proof of receipt. You can also inform the landlord or the building manager (syndic), and try a free court conciliator (conciliateur de justice) before going to a judge. Be careful: reporting someone to the police falsely can lead to a conviction for malicious accusation.
Sources:
- Troubles de voisinage : bruits créés par des comportements anormaux (justice.fr)
- Troubles du voisinage : que faire en cas de nuisances ? (masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr)
General information, not legal advice.
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Frequently asked questions
From what time does footstep noise count as night-time noise?
Official French sources put night-time between 10 pm and 7 am. Noise can also be penalised during the day if it is too loud, too long or too repetitive.
What does a neighbour walking in heels at night risk?
If the noise disturbs the neighbours' peace, a fine of up to 450 euros. The item causing the noise can also be confiscated.
What should I do before calling the police?
Talk to your neighbour first, then write to them, first with a simple letter and then by registered letter. You can inform the landlord or building manager, then go through a free court conciliator.
My building is poorly soundproofed: is it still my fault?
The official criteria focus on the noise itself: its loudness, length and repetition. Even if the building plays a part, slippers, a rug or felt pads cut footstep noise a lot.
Is the odd clack of heels a nuisance?
Rarely. A one-off disturbance is less often recognised as a nuisance than one that keeps coming back, especially at night.
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