Is it wrong to play music without headphones in a shared apartment?
Not guilty
The short answer
No, not during the day at a reasonable volume. Shared homes come with some noise, and the court does not ban music in the afternoon.
The ruling
From the public record. Names are replaced with roles.
Small claims division
Case no.PC-2026-00634
The roommate who hears the song v. The roommate who plays it
Filed 10/05/2026
- Plaintiff
- The roommate who hears the song
- Defendant
- The roommate who plays it
Statement of claim
My roommate plays the same song in the kitchen every afternoon while she cooks. Not loud, but it is always the same song and I am losing my mind.
Charge
Playing one song, at a moderate volume, in the kitchen, in the afternoon
Judgment
Not guilty
Roommate found not guilty of playing the same song every afternoon
Sentence
No sentence. The court recommends the parties agree on a second song.
How the court usually rules on this
The court separates noise from taste. Volume at night, and anything that passes through a closed door after 10 p.m., is usually an offense. Music the plaintiff simply dislikes, played at a normal level in the afternoon, is not. Repetition can tip the balance, but one song on repeat for an hour is a matter for a conversation.
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