Noisy Neighbours
Noise from neighbours can be irritating, annoying or at worse,
very disturbing. Everyone has a right to reasonable enjoyment of
their home and garden.
Noise from neighbours is a common source of nuisance. The main
problems are barking dogs, loud music or TV, shouting, banging
doors and DIY activities. Remember that no house or flat is totally
soundproof - everyone can expect some noise from neighbours.
Environmental Health consider that each resident can reasonably
expect:
- not to have their nights sleep disturbed by noise;
- to be protected from significant loss of amenities due to
noise;
- to have suitable trained staff where necessary to assess
nuisance;
- not to hear someone elses excessive noise in their property on
a regular basis.
It is a fact of life that the sounds we all make every day,
although acceptable to us, are likely to be unwanted by someone
else. One person's music is another person's noise.
Excessive noise can reduce the quality of life and, in some
extreme cases, can even destroy it completely.
Environmental Health receives over 1000 complaints of noise each
year. Where we assess that a noise coming from a person or property
is unreasonable and is causing a noise nuisance we have a duty to
serve an abatement notice requiring the person to elliminate the
'unwanted noise'.
Failure to comply with the notice is likely to lead to a fine of
up to £5000 and/or seizure of all noise making equipment and
accessories (e.g. hi-fi's and CD's).
For further information, advice or if you believe that someone
is being unreasonable and causing a noise nuisance please contact a
member of the Environmental Health section by email, telephone on
01843 577580, or by filling in a request for service form and
returning it to us.
If your neighbour is a Council tenant the complaint will be
investigated by the housing estates office as causing nuisance is
against the tenancy agreement.
Download our Do's and Donts Guide to
Noise.(122kb pdf)
More information about using pdf file.
Thanet Mediation Service
Thanet Mediation Service offers a wide range of free and helpful
services to people who are in conflict with their neighbours, other
people at work or members of their family. They aim to help
those concerned to find ways of settling their differences, which
are practical, long lasting and fair to both sides. Mediation
is free of charge and independent of the Council.
Contact them at:
Thanet Mediation Service
21 Norfolk Road
Cliftonville
CT9 2HU
01843 294771