Dealing with noise nuisance
What is that noise?
At some point in our lives, two thirds of us have been affected by noise nuisance with 1 in 10 of us being kept awake at night.
Each day we hear lots of different noises coming from our neighbours and it's important to know the difference between lifestyle noises - such as occasional dogs barking, children playing and household appliances being used - and inconsiderate noise - such as constantly loud music, intentional door slamming and loud arguing late at night.
What you can do
If you're being affected by the noise your neighbours are making, try having a quiet conversation with them and explaining the problem. Most people don't realise how far their noise carries and will be surprised to know it's affecting you.
You should also let your neighbours know if you work shift patterns, have small children, or any other reason why you'd like them to keep quiet at certain times of the day.
If you're worried that your neighbour will respond with anger or threats, please contact us for advice and support.
Report noise nuisance
If you've already tried talking with your neighbours but are still being affected by noise nuisance, you can try:
- Speaking to your local environmental health agency
- Contacting us and asking for a referral to mediation
- Keeping a record of the noise nuisance you hear, including the date and time