Domestic neighbour noise

Roughly 70 percent of all noise complaints made to Environmental Health Departments relate to noise emanating from domestic dwellings. Most households have domestic appliances such as hi-fi equipment, DIY tools, washing machines and such like that can create unwanted noise especially if used at unsociable hours or at high volume.

Many domestic neighbour noise problems are made worse by poor sound insulation in some converted properties this often means that relatively innocuous behaviour by one party can have a profound effect on another. The current fashion for wooden floors has made this situation worse.

Noisy children

From time to time complaints are made to the Noise and Nuisance Service about noisy children. Complaints have ranged from noise in school playgrounds at playtime to late night activity in flats. The Council’s view is that children are a normal part of our society and that a degree of tolerance and understanding needs to be exercised

There are occasions when the Council has has become involved. For example, where a childminder is running a business in an inappropriate location or where children are regularly kept up late at night by their parents/guardians and create nuisance. These have been occasions where there has been unreasonable behaviour on the part of the adult(s) responsible.