Noisy Neighbours

Domestic Noise

What is a noise nuisance?
Noise is generally regarded as unwanted sound. That means the noise could be:

• Too loud
• Too intrusive
• At the wrong time
• Repetitive bass beats

A noise is a nuisance when the effect of the noise materially affects your comfort or quality of life. The noise can be continuous or intermittent but your response to the noise must be wholly reasonable. Normal daytime noise would not generally be considered a nuisance and neither would normal noise, which is disturbing someone trying to sleep during the day. In addition it is important to note that the nuisance will normally be assessed from within your home with windows and doors shut.

Our Commitment to you
Your enquiry will be dealt with by professional staff who have the correct skills and knowledge to assess noise complaints. They will adopt a fair and impartial approach based on case law.

We will explain the procedure to you at the start and discuss possible courses of action. Your identity will be kept confidential at all times but in some cases the other person may guess who has made the complaint and we will neither confirm nor deny any speculation. Our involvement could possibly aggravate neighbour relations.

In addition if the nuisance is proven we may need to take the matter to court and you may be needed to appear as a witness or provide a statement. If we cannot deal with the case or our investigations fail to produce an informal solution or sufficient evidence to take legal action, we will advise you of other possible courses of action available to you.

What can we deal with?
The main forms of noise nuisance that we can deal with are:

• noise from amplified music
• barking dogs
• car alarms

Things we are unable to deal with include noisy behaviour in the street, noise from normal behaviour or occasional or one-off parties. Noises from intruder alarms are dealt with in a different way.  We are also unable to deal with traffic, rail or aircraft noise, noise from fireworks or noise by talking or shouting.

If there is evidence that a nuisance exists the authority will take formal action and serve an abatement notice, insisting that the nuisance stops.

If the nuisance continues then the authority may prosecute the offender. We may possibly seize the equipment if the problem arises from amplified music. In this event you may be required to attend court as a witness.

What can you do?
If we are unable to take your complaint forward or you wish to deal with the problem yourself you can make a complaint under section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Contact the Clerks officer at your local Magistrates Court and explain that you wish to make a complaint under Section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Useful Contacts
If you wish to make a complaint regarding a noise nuisance you can contact the Environmental Protection team during office hours.

These are Monday to Thursday 8.45am to 5.20pm and Friday 8.45am to 4.30pm.

There is a booklet published by DEFRA called "Bothered by Noise" which may be of use.

Out of Hours report line (Emergencies Only) Tel: 01276 707100. The Council would not normally attend to one off parties.