Constant building noise from a neighbour can be frustrating, but there are legal steps you can take to address it. While everyone is entitled to improve their home, you don't have to suffer through endless construction noise.
Is there a legal time limit for loud DIY?
There is no blanket law that bans DIY at specific times of the day. However, local councils hold statutory powers under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to control noise from building and demolition work.
According to My Job Quote, as a general rule, noisy building work and heavy DIY should only take place during the following hours: Monday to Friday 8:00am–6:00pm, Saturdays 8:00am–1:00pm, and no noisy work permitted on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
The night hours between 11pm and 7am are outlined in the Noise Act 1996 as the time when noise cannot exceed 34dBA. If heavy machinery is operated during these hours, the council can intervene. Actual guidelines can vary depending on where you are in the country, so it's worth checking them out before you take further action.
Your legal rights explained
If you think your neighbour is being unreasonably loud with construction, there are several things you can do. As always, the logical first step is to speak to them. In many cases, neighbours simply don't realise how loudly sound travels through walls or floors. They might agree to adjust their working hours or give you a schedule of when the worst noise will take place.
If this doesn't work, you can start recording evidence by keeping a 'noise diary'. Buckinghamshire Council says you can do this for no more than two weeks, noting the time and duration of when noises happen. Afterwards, you can submit a formal complaint to your local council's environmental health department with your noise diary.
If it's agreed that the noise counts as a statutory nuisance, the council may be able to issue a formal noise abatement notice under Section 80 of the Environmental Protection Act. This legally orders the neighbour or their builders to stop or restrict the noisy work to specific hours.
If your neighbour has hired contractors and aren't doing the work themselves, the builders are legally responsible for following the regulations around noise restrictions. If they're breaking the rules, you can report the site manager directly to the local council's planning or environmental health department. Councils can then issue a Section 60 Notice, imposing strict legal controls on working hours, equipment types, and plant machinery used on the site.
