Police have issued guidance on how to handle noisy neighbours, advising residents to first approach the person directly before escalating the matter to their local authority.
The advice follows questions from homeowners on the official 'ask the police' website, which is run by forces across the UK, about whether anything can be done about neighbours who constantly play music or TV too loudly.
What to do first
In response to one query, police said: "In the first instance, we would advise that you approach your neighbour directly in an attempt to resolve the situation. They may not be aware that the volume level is so high it can be heard by others."
Officers added: "You should always ensure that any contact does not escalate the situation. If you have already tried to resolve this directly with your neighbour, you should contact your local authority who will have a specific department to deal with such issues."
Gathering evidence and council action
For long-term problems, the local authority may ask residents to keep a diary of information about the noise, such as when it occurs and how loud it is, and in some cases may provide equipment to record it. These steps are designed to gather evidence.
If the council decides someone is causing a statutory noise nuisance, it must issue a 'noise abatement' order, giving the person a chance to turn the noise down. Breaking the order can lead to a fine, although the process can take time.
Councils may also issue warning notices in response to complaints about noise above permitted levels from 11pm to 7am. These can be used for noise that is not a statutory nuisance, and councils may have other ways of dealing with the situation depending on the type of noise.
When police can attend
While police said they cannot interfere with minor noise complaints such as loud TVs and music, they may attend more significant incidents, including loud parties and raves in the neighbourhood.
Asked about loud parties next door, officers said: "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."
Police said they can deal with loud raves, described as an "illicit party or event, with dancing especially to fast electronic popular music", but each force will have different policies on how to handle them. Anyone affected by a rave is urged to contact their local force, which will then take appropriate action.
