Noise issues

• Bird scarers
• Building sites and DIY
• Car alarms
• Cockerels
• Dog Barking
• Intruder alarms
• Domestic noise (Neighbours TV, radio systems, musical instruments)
• Pubs, clubs and commercial premises

We do not investigate:

• Aviation noises
• Children playing in the street
• Domestic noises (for example vacuuming or mowing)
• Emergency Vehicles
• Fireworks
• Noise nuisance from an unidentified source
• Transport noises (for example cars or trains)
• Noise nuisance from wild animals and birds

Audible intruder alarms can sometimes cause a nuisance to neighbours when they are activated.

To help ensure alarms can be silenced as soon as possible, we maintain a record of nominated key holders who can enter the premises shut it off. To tell us about your nominated key holders, fill in the form at the bottom of the page and return it to us. 

If you have an intruder alarm installed, you are required to ensure that it meets British Standard 4737 for the installation, operation and maintenance of the alarm and that the alarm has a 20 minute cut-off device fitted, however new installations need to consider British Standard EN50131/PD6662 which requires a 15-minute cut-off device.

What happens if my alarm sounds, but there is no-one to silence it?

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 enables an us to obtain a warrant from the Magistrates' Court to enter the premises and carry out such works as are necessary to silence the alarm. Costs incurred, including any necessary to make repairs subsequent to this entry, may be re-charged to you.

We therefore strongly recommend you let us know of your nominated key holders.

The generally accepted working hours on construction sites are:

• 7.00am to 7.00pm Monday to Friday,
• 8.00am to 1.00pm Saturday
• where possible, no working on a Sunday or Bank Holiday.

There can sometimes be exceptions to these hours when special circumstances demand that work is done at other times. For example, work on railway tracks or stations can only be done when there are no trains; if heavy plant needs to be brought on site the Police sometimes insist on it being done on a Sunday to reduce interference with traffic. In such cases, we encourage contractors to notify local residents in advance.

There are exemptions from nuisance legislation for certain activities such as road building and railway maintenance which mean that enforcement action is limited.

Advice for builders

We have advice leaflets available in English and Polish which give general advice to the building trade on avoiding causing a nuisance to neighbours.

Several measures can be used to minimise cockerel crowing:

1. Location of the cockerel - It is important to ensure that the cockerel is located as far away as practicable from neighbouring residential properties
2. Competition - Other cockerels in the area will cause them to compete with each other and may result in excess crowing.
3. Housing - Keep the coop as dark as possible to minimise early morning crowing as a cockerel will crow when light enters the coop. The coop ceiling can also be lowered to prevent the cockerel throwing back its head and crowing.

One of the most common causes of domestic noise complaints is loud music and TV noises.  

Some people would accept hearing a loud recording of a violin concerto but they would not tolerate a quieter dance recording with a heavy bass beat. This difference in taste, and often lifestyle, means that music complaints are always difficult to deal with and can lead to stress and arguments between neighbours.

How to avoid problems with your alarms:

Car alarms can be activated when the car battery is running flat, in strong winds or even when cats jump on them. If your car alarm keeps going off, or will not switch off automatically after 20 minutes, it can cause a noise nuisance to your neighbours. To avoid this you should:

• have the alarm system serviced and repaired by a competent alarm engineer
• have a cut out fitted to the alarm system and audible warning device that will silence the alarm no more than 20 minutes after the first sound
• disconnect the alarm system until it has been repaired
• always ensure that your windows are fully closed when locking the car as wind entering the car can easily set off the alarm.

Sometimes businesses as part of their normal day to day running may cause noise problems with their equipment and machinery or from a music or entertainment business.

Many pubs, restaurants and other premises are licensed for regulated entertainment which can include music and dancing. There will likely be conditions on the individual licence regarding the times the entertainment can be conducted along with restrictions on audibility. Complaints in relation to licensed premises should be addressed to the Licensing Enforcement Officer in the first instance.

The use of auditory bird scarers is a legal and essential approach for farmers to help protect certain crops, such as oilseed rape from wild birds.  However, if used recklessly they can cause a nuisance to the public. In order to prevent this from happening the National Farmers Union (NFU) have issued a code of practice to farmers on the use of such devices.

We have to accept that many people have jobs during the day and need to do DIY work in the evenings and at weekends.

This does not however mean that DIY should be carried out at all hours of the day and night or for the work to go on for a considerable amount of time. When carrying out DIY works, you should be considerate to your neighbours. 

In extreme cases DIY noise at any time of the day can constitute a statutory nuisance which can be reported to us using the online form above. 

Advice for DIY-ers

Much DIY or building work can be very noisy, so consider your neighbours when you are carrying out work. Follow these guidelines to minimise noise problems:

• Let them know if you plan to do anything that involves work on party walls or floors or that will be extremely noisy - e.g. floor sanding.
• It helps if you can agree a time for work when it will least disturb them.
• Avoid drilling and banging late at night and early in the morning.