Dance studio in building causes conflict with residents

Residents of a building on Kholodilnaya Street in Tyumen are demanding the closure of a dance studio that has been operating in their building since August of last year. According to one of the apartment owners, classes are accompanied by loud music, and vibrations travel through the walls and floors, interfering with normal rest.

Residents have taken the following steps to resolve the issue:

• they filed complaints with Rospotrebnadzor (the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing);
• they wrote statements to the prosecutor«s office.

However, according to them, this has yielded no results.

‘Officially, SanPiN (sanitary rules and norms) regulations prohibit placing dance studios and music schools in residential buildings,’ explained resident Vitaly. ‘But the authorities respond that the measured noise level is within normal limits and there is no threat to life. But it’s impossible to live: constant vibrations, loud buzzing. It’s very uncomfortable.’

The studio, where high-heel dance classes are held, is located on the second floor. The building itself has non-residential first three floors, originally intended for office spaces. It is one of these that was rented.

‘Beautiful girls in tight outfits and heels are practicing. They turn on the music and enjoy themselves until ten in the evening. For instance, you want to sleep, but it’s noisy,’ Vitaly describes the situation.

Now the residents intend to go to court. The dance studio itself claims that they are operating within the legal framework.

‘We operate in a commercial-type premises located in an annex to the residential building,’ stated the studio head. ‘We strictly observe the quiet hours law from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and after 10:00 PM. Inspections came, measured the noise level — they found no violations. I have the relevant documents. We are not violating anything, but the neighbors are hostile towards us.’