How can I deal with noises and odors in my building ?

In France, owners and tenants are protected against abnormal neighborhood disturbances (or "trouble anormal de voisinage" in French).

Some examples of abnormal neighborhood disturbances include odors coming from a restaurant, noise coming from a nightclub close by or a neighbor that seems to always have band practice at 2 a.m.

If you are currently experiencing this, it is advised and even necessary to deal with this matter with the landlord or neighbor directly before taking the matter to court.

It goes without saying that it is difficult to prevent a baby from crying.

However, if an individual or business makes particularly loud noises between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. on a weekday, you can inform the "syndic" or "the landlord", depending on whether you own or lease your apartment, that the noise has to stop.

If you are still experiencing loud noises, you may ask a judge to order your neighbor to immediately comply or pay a daily fine until the noise stops.

If you are a victim of abnormal noises, you may also be granted damages. 

Again, it is necessary to prove that the odor is "abnormal".

This is the case, for instance, if a neighbor barbecues on a balcony even though this isn't allowed by your landlord, if your neighbor has a restaurant business in his apartment without the owner's authorization or if a close by restaurant forgets to take out the trash for weeks on end.

The "syndic" or landlord can remind your neighbor that certain activities are prohibited by co-ownernship rules or the "règlement de copropriété" in French.

If this doesn't convince your neighbor to end the odors, this leaves you no other option than to ask for a judge to put an end to these nuisances.