By The Address desk · Last verified 4 October 2026
Neighbour disputes in Singapore, from late-night noise to cluttered corridors, follow a ladder. First, talk. Next, free mediation at the Community Mediation Centre (CMC). Since 1 September 2026, HDB and the People’s Association can also issue a Mediation Direction that legally requires both sides to attend, and a new Community Relations Unit (CRU) handles the most severe noise and hoarding cases, with power to issue orders that it is a criminal offence to ignore. If none of that works, you can file a neighbour dispute claim at the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT) for a $150 filing fee, claiming up to $20,000 within two years.
Most of us share walls, ceilings and corridors with people we barely know. A little patience and the right first step settle far more disputes than any tribunal ever will.
Quick facts
- CMC mediation: free, confidential, with sessions of about two to four hours on weekdays and Saturday mornings; lawyers do not attend.
- Mediation Direction: from 1 September 2026, a binding order to attend mediation at the CMC, issued by HDB or the People’s Association in public housing and by the People’s Association in private estates.
- Community Relations Unit: rolled out nationwide from 1 September 2026 after a Tampines pilot that began in April 2025; for severe noise and hoarding cases where other efforts have failed.
- CDRT claim: $150 to file, up to $20,000, within two years of the event.
- Who counts as a neighbour: someone living within 100 metres of your home.
- Lawyers at the CDRT: not allowed unless all parties agree and the court approves.
The ladder, step by step
- Talk, kindly and early. Many neighbours do not know their noise carries. A friendly word or a note often fixes it.
- Keep a diary. Dates, times, what you heard and how long it lasted, with recordings if you can make them lawfully from your own home.
- Ask for help locally. Your grassroots network or HDB can help bring both sides together.
- Apply for CMC mediation. Free, and you do not need evidence to apply. Voluntary mediation goes ahead only if both sides agree.
- Mediation Direction. If the other side will not come voluntarily, HDB or the People’s Association can direct both of you to attend.
- Community Relations Unit. For the most severe noise or hoarding cases, officers can take statements, issue warnings and issue abatement orders.
- CDRT claim. File online through the Community Justice and Tribunals System and ask the tribunal for an order.
What each route can do
| Route | Cost | Is it compulsory? | What you can get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Mediation Centre | Free | Voluntary, unless a Mediation Direction is issued | A signed settlement agreement, binding on those who sign it |
| Mediation Direction (from 1 Sep 2026) | Free mediation at the CMC | Yes, attendance is required | A settlement that can be registered as a CDRT order with both parties’ consent, making it easier to enforce |
| Community Relations Unit | No fee to the complainant stated | Yes, for the neighbour concerned | Warnings and abatement orders; breaching an order is a criminal offence |
| CDRT neighbour dispute claim | $150 to file; hearing fees beyond the first day | Yes, once filed | Damages up to $20,000, orders to stop or to do something, an apology, and out-of-pocket expenses |
Filing at the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals
The CDRT hears claims about a neighbour within 100 metres causing unreasonable interference with your enjoyment or use of your home: excessive noise, littering, obstruction, trespass, smells, surveillance and similar. You start with a pre-filing assessment on the Community Justice and Tribunals System, then file and pay $150, pick a first pre-trial or case conference date (the earliest is about four weeks after filing) and serve the papers on your neighbour within 14 days. There is no hearing fee for the first day; the courts list $100 a day for the second and third days and $250 a day after that. Before making any order, the tribunal also weighs whether it is just and equitable, taking account of the impact on everyone involved.
What about renovation noise?
Renovation noise in HDB flats is governed by permitted working hours rather than neighbourly goodwill. If works happen outside those hours, report it to HDB. Our guide to HDB renovation rules, hours and permits sets out the times.
The WahLiao Verdict
Knock before you file. A calm conversation, then a free CMC session, solves most problems and keeps the peace you will still need next year. Keep a diary from day one so that, if you do have to climb the ladder, your evidence is ready. Save the tribunal for the case where nothing else has worked, and go in asking for what will actually fix the problem, usually an order to stop, rather than a cheque.
Questions people ask
Can the police deal with noisy neighbours?
Everyday living noise is treated as a community matter, so the routes above are the usual path. Call the police if there is violence, a threat or an emergency.
Do I need evidence to apply for mediation?
No. The CMC says no evidence is needed to apply, though a diary helps you explain the problem clearly.
Can I bring a lawyer to the tribunal?
Only if all parties agree and the court approves. The process is designed for people to represent themselves.
What if my neighbour ignores a CDRT order?
You can apply to enforce it. The Singapore Courts website sets out the enforcement steps for neighbour dispute claim orders.
Sources: Ministry of Law, Mediation Directions and the Community Relations Unit from 1 September 2026; Community Mediation Centre, mediation FAQs; Singapore Courts, eligible neighbour dispute claims, filing and serving a claim and possible outcomes. The Address explains; it does not advise.
Read next: HDB Renovation Rules: Permitted Hours, Noisy Works and Permits · Condo Maintenance Fees and the Sinking Fund · Back to The Address
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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