Struggling with sleepless nights due to a neighbour’s noisy house party? Police have clarified what steps you can actually take in these maddening scenarios – and the guidance might surprise you.
Whilst officers may occasionally respond to such incidents, it’s far from guaranteed. Without additional criminal activity, police typically have no powers to tackle noise complaints, so they’re often not your best port of call.
An explanation on Ask the Police states: “Depending on the circumstances, the police may attend incidents like this. However, in the absence of other criminal offences being committed, the police have no powers of prosecution for noise offences, and it may be necessary for you to contact your local authority.”
You may be surprised to hear that Ask the Police’s advice is also very similar in cases of noisy next-door TVs and blaring music. In these instances, contacting a neighbour directly is recommended first.
However, when confronting particularly distressing or persistent issues, householders ought to reach out to their local authority’s Environmental Health Department. The majority operate round-the-clock services accessible at any hour.
Regarding excessive television volume and neighbouring music disturbance, Ask the Police explains: “For long-term problems, you may be asked by your local authority to keep a diary of information about the noise, such as when it occurs, how loud it is etc., and in some cases you may be provided with some equipment to record the noise. These two steps are designed to gather evidence.
“If the council then decides that someone is causing a statutory noise nuisance, they must issue a ‘noise abatement’ order (i.e. a chance for them to turn the noise down), which if broken can lead to a fine, although it is likely they will give your neighbour the opportunity to turn the TV/music down without further action. The whole process can take some time to complete.”
Local authorities have the power to issue warning notices when complaints involve noise surpassing permitted levels during the hours of 11 pm to 7 am. In serious cases, matters may be classified as a ‘statutory nuisance’ if specific criteria are satisfied.
If this occurs, a fine of £110 for dwellings or a £500 fine for licensed premises within 14 days may be imposed. If someone does not pay the notice or do it on time, it may lead to a conviction and a fine of up to £1,000 for dwellings and an unlimited amount for licensed premises.
It is the council’s responsibility to investigate noise complaints regarding:
- Premises, including land like gardens and certain vessels (for example, loud music or barking dogs)
- Vehicles, machinery or equipment in the street (for example, music from car stereos)
Statutory noise nuisance laws do not cover noise from:
- Traffic or planes (they do apply to model planes)
- Political demonstrations and demonstrations about a cause
- Premises occupied by the armed forces or visiting forces
Councils can choose the level of service for handling noise complaints, such as whether to have officers available on call at night. For more information, head to GOV.UK.