What is a noise nuisance?
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A noise nuisance is when a noise repeats over time that makes it unreasonable. It may be a noise from a home, business, or public space. It may disrupt your enjoyment of your property or pose a health risk.
Different types of noise nuisances
There are different examples of noise nuisances. We have highlighted the most common ones below:
What can I do about these noises?
If you are experiencing any of these issues:
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A friendly word with your neighbour about the problem, if you feel safe doing so. If unsure how to approach them, please see our 'top tips for approaching neighbours.''
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Mediation may help you and your neighbour(s) understand each other and find a solution.
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If the issue persists and you can't fix it, submit a nuisance complaint.
Keeping a noise diary
When you submit a report, please provide as much detail as you can. It will help our investigation. To support your complaint, you must complete a 14-day noise diary. You will need to attach a copy to your form submission. Download the noise diary.
For a complaint to qualify as a noise nuisance, an officer must witness the nuisance from your property. This is a legal requirement. The diary contains key information. It will help us schedule a visit when the nuisance is most likely to occur. It also shows the issue is persistent and harms your quality of life.
Reporting a noise nuisance
To report a noise nuisance you will need to tell us:
- Where the noise is coming from. Including the address or a nearby location if you don’t know the exact address.
- The times when the incident occurs. How frequently it happens, and how it affects you.
- A completed 14-day noise diary to show that the problem is ongoing.
- Any relevant evidence to support your complaint.
What happens next?
- An officer will review your report within five working days.
- We will decide whether to proceed based on your report. If we do, we will arrange a visit to assess the noise. We will also contact the source, or request further evidence.
- If the noise is found to be a nuisance, we will issue an abatement notice. This requires the issue to be resolved.
- Failure to follow an abatement notice can lead to fines. This is up to £5,000 for domestic cases or £20,000 for commercial cases, or further legal action.
- We do not provide an out-of-hours noise service. One-off issues such as shop alarms or parties cannot be dealt with at night.