The persistent sound of a neighbour's burglar alarm can be deeply unsettling, often prompting concerns about a potential break-in. However, when this occurs repeatedly without any apparent cause, it quickly becomes more than a minor annoyance. City of London Police advises: "Disagreements between neighbours, however small, can fester over time and cause lasting damage to relationships. We always encourage raising concerns early to find amicable solutions."
What Can You Do About a Nuisance Alarm?
Most noise complaints are handled by local authorities, covering issues like car and house alarms repeatedly sounding, shouting, barking dogs, and loud parties. In England and Wales, you can find your local council online. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the process differs slightly, with specific websites for each region.
According to North Yorkshire Council, several measures can tackle nuisance alarms. The council states: "Noise from faulty burglar and car alarms can cause severe disturbance. If you hear a burglar alarm, you can report it to the police for investigation of criminal activity. However, sometimes alarms go off due to faults, creating a noise problem for neighbours."
The council receives many complaints about alarm noise, especially at night when owners are away. It advises: "Always try to speak to the householder or business first before contacting us. They may not be aware of the problem."
Steps to Take If Affected by a Nuisance Alarm
- Speak to the owner: Contact the householder or business to make them aware. They might not know the alarm is sounding while they are away, and it is often an easy fix.
- Contact the council: If you cannot reach the owner or the situation does not improve, your local council is the next step. North Yorkshire Council says: "If an alarm is sounding for an extended period, contact us so we can locate a keyholder or find out when occupants return."
- Council assessment: If the alarm continues to cause problems, the council will visit the property to assess the noise and speak to neighbours. If satisfied there is a problem, they will arrange to disable the alarm, often on the same day.
- Written advice: If the alarm has stopped or is infrequent, the council can still write to the owner advising of the complaint and providing maintenance information.
Council Powers to Disable Alarms
The council can take action when the alarm has been sounding continuously for more than 20 minutes or intermittently for more than an hour, and the noise is likely to cause reasonable annoyance to people nearby. North Yorkshire Council explains: "We have the power to enter premises to disable the alarm. In most cases, we only need to disconnect the wiring to the external box and recover costs from the occupier. If we need to physically enter the building, we must obtain a warrant."
Responsibilities of Alarm Owners
If you own an alarm, you have a responsibility to ensure it does not become a noise nuisance. All alarms should have an automatic cut-out device that disconnects the sounder within 20 minutes of activation. This can be supplemented with a flashing light that continues after the sounder stops to alert the public and police.
Owners of newly installed or adopted alarm systems must:
- Inform the local police station in writing of the names, addresses, and contact numbers of at least two nominated keyholders who can deactivate the alarm in the owner's absence.
- Notify the Environmental Health Department of the installation and the police station holding keyholder information.
To prevent problems with your alarm:
- Ensure regular maintenance.
- Set the cut-out device to a maximum of 20 minutes, and ensure the alarm does not reactivate unless a different sensor is triggered.
- Before going away, provide keyholder details to neighbours so they can be contacted if the alarm sounds.
