Why act on noise?

We all hear noise from our neighbours from time to time – it is a part of everyday life and keeps our neighbourhoods vibrant. However, too much noise in the wrong place at the wrong time can cause friction between neighbours. According to research, nearly two thirds of people are bothered by noise from neighbours, with one in ten kept awake at night by noise.

Noises which can be annoying and disturbing include:

  • Alarms
  • DIY
  • Garden noise
  • Loud music
  • People noise – such as slamming doors, shouting and walking on hard flooring
  • Noise from licenced premises
  • Noisy pets – particularly barking dogs
  • Household appliances – such as washing machines, dishwashers and vacuum cleaners.
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With the spread of the 24 hour society, and many of us having different working, waking and sleeping patterns to our neighbours, there is potential for things to get worse.  However, there are many simple, practical solutions to everyday noise at home, that can reduce the disturbance we cause to our neighbours – and the rest of our household.

> See our ‘Reducing noise in the home’ page for examples of action you can take.

> If you are being bothered by excessive noise, see our ‘Dealing with noise problems‘ page.