How to report noisy neighbours causing a nuisance and whether they'll find out who reported them

We all know the feeling of desperately trying to get to sleep when you can hear banging, shouting or loud footsteps coming from next door. A noisy neighbour can have a huge impact on your life, but thankfully, there’s something you can do about it.

London borough councils have noise complaint services, where residents can tell their local authority about any issues with noisy neighbours. They normally have a number you can call, including an out-of-hours option.

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The Tower Hamlets council website says, for example: “For the noise to count as a statutory nuisance it must be excessive and unreasonable. What someone considers noise can vary from person to person. It can depend on things like their personality, lifestyle and cultural background.”

Noise complaints can't be properly investigated if they are for what is considered everyday normal living noises. This could include things like moving furniture around or the sound of children playing.

For many councils, noise complaints fall into the following categories; domestic noise, commercial noise and other types of noise. Domestic noise can include things like loud music, excessive dog barking or DIY at unreasonable times.

Commercial noise can include things like construction noise or machinery noise. In the ‘other’ category, there are things like odours from commercial premises and smoke from bonfires.

Councils will have their own specific policy for investigating noise complaints. Hammersmith and Fulham council says: “The team will assess and prioritise complaints based on case history, the nature of the disturbance, the number of residents affected and geographic location.

“During periods of high demand a visit may not be possible straight away.”

Will they tell the neighbour who reported them?

When reporting a noise complaint, this will normally be kept confidential - although you should check with the local authority you are reporting to about this. For example, Hammersmith and Fulham council promises that details will be kept confidential but also states that noise complaints cannot be anonymous when you speak to the council.

You can report a noise nuisance to your council here.

Got a story? Please get in touch at katherine.gray@reachplc.com

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