If you received a noise complaint

We’ve had a complaint about noise that might be coming from your home. We’re letting you know so you can understand the issue and help sort it out.

Most people stop the noise once they know it’s bothering someone. If the complaint is wrong and you’re not making the noise, don’t worry, your name and address won’t be affected on any council records.

We won’t take any action unless we get more complaints. If the noise continues, the person who complained will be asked to contact us again. We may visit their home to listen to the noise—this could be in their living room, bedroom or garden.

To help us check the noise, we might:

• Visit when the noise lasts more than 30 minutes (like loud music or barking dogs). We can come during the day or night, including weekends.
• Use a noise recorder if the noise is short and happens now and then (like banging). This records sound at the same level people hear it.

The person who complained won’t hear the recording. We only use it to check if the noise is a problem. If needed, it may be used in court.

We look at:

• what kind of noise it is
• where it’s happening
• what time it happens
• how often and how long it lasts
• how loud it is
• how it affects the person complaining
• if other people are affected too

Noise must be unreasonable and disturbing someone in their home to be a problem. If the noise is normal and not caused by bad behaviour, we won’t take action.

For example, children playing during the day might be noisy, but that’s not unreasonable so we wouldn’t investigate further.

To help sort things out:

• make sure any noise you make is reasonable
• think about your neighbours – they may have different routines or needs
• if you think the complaint might be true, try to reduce the noise – for example, if your music was loud, keep it lower next time

If you stop the noise, the complaint will likely go away.

Can I make as much noise as I like between 7am and 11pm?

No. A noise nuisance can happen at any time of day or night. We consider the type of noise, how long it lasts, how often it occurs and its impact on others.

Will you tell me who complained?

No. We do not accept anonymous complaints, but we will not reveal the identity of the person who made the complaint.

What if I have a good reason for making the noise?

We understand that some noise is unavoidable. We do not take action against reasonable everyday living noise and will consider all circumstances when investigating a complaint.

What if the complaint is linked to a neighbour dispute?

We investigate complaints based on evidence. A complaint alone does not mean you are causing a noise nuisance.

What if I think my neighbour is overly sensitive to noise?

We assess complaints from the perspective of a reasonable person and do not base decisions on individual sensitivities.

What if the noise is caused by poor sound insulation?

Poor sound insulation can make normal household noise easier to hear. In these cases, formal enforcement action is unlikely.

What if the noise is caused by my dog?

Occasional barking is normal. However, persistent or excessive barking that affects neighbours may be investigated.

What if I have been wrongly identified as the source of the noise?

We will only take action where there is evidence that the noise is coming from your property and is causing a nuisance.

Can the council record noise from my home?

We may use monitoring equipment to capture noise that can be heard from a neighbouring property. Recordings are only reviewed as part of an investigation and may be used as evidence if legal action is required.

What happens if officers witness a noise nuisance?

If a statutory nuisance is confirmed, we may serve an abatement notice requiring the nuisance to stop. Failure to comply can result in legal action.

Will a complaint be held against me?

Not necessarily. If our investigation finds no evidence of a statutory nuisance, no further action will be taken.