Noise

Report a noise nuisance

If you are being affected by a noise, please read below to determine whether the council can assist you. There are no specific noise levels that are or are not acceptable - we will look at each case individually to determine whether or not a statutory nuisance exists. 

Common noise problems

Building sites

There is guidance with regard to building site times, and these times are usually as below:

• Monday to Friday: 7:30am to 6pm
• Saturday: 7:30am to 1pm
• Sunday: No noisy work at all

There are no limits to the levels of noise of building sites within the above times, although under Health and Safety legislation, there are precautions that have to be taken with regard to the employees on the site for example wearing ear protection. As the noise is only for a short period, this would not be a statutory nuisance. 

Delivery noise

These complaints generally would not be considered a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, although officers can look into the matter and speak to the companies involved to try to reduce any impact.

Parties

We would advise that you give all neighbours plenty of warning if you intend to have a party that may cause them some disturbance. If these are one-off events then we would not want to prevent such occurrences, assuming they were of a reasonable volume and did not continue all night.

However, if you regularly have parties then you are more likely to be causing a statutory noise nuisance and we could serve notice on you to prevent future disturbances. It is therefore best to be responsible and neighbourly and cause as little disturbance as possible.

Music

There is no time limit when loud music can be played without the possibility of action being taken by the council.

The law states that music must be assessed for statutory nuisance, so if it is loud and clearly audible in another person’s property or garden, then it could be considered a problem at any time of the day. Obviously, the later at night the music can be heard, the more likely your neighbours and council officers are to consider it a nuisance. 

House alarms

If it is an alarm on a domestic property and you do not know who the occupier is, try and find out from any neighbours if they know of where the owner may be, or if they are likely to return shortly. Most alarms do not ring for too long before the house occupier returns.  

If it appears that the occupier is not likely to return for some period, for example they may have gone away on holiday, then please contact the Environmental Health team on 01353 665555. Officers will then establish if the property is registered with us and, if so, keyholders can be notified to come and turn it off.

If we do not hold details of the keyholder then an assessment as to the occurrence or otherwise of a statutory noise nuisance must be made. If officers feel a nuisance is being caused then notices will be served and after a specified time period, officers will arrange for the alarm to be deactivated.

This is usually done externally, but if the alarm cannot be deactivated from the outside (and this very occasionally happens), a warrant to enter premises is requested from a Magistrates Court and, if successful, officers will make the necessary arrangements to enter the property to turn off the alarm. All expenses incurred in undertaking this work is recharged to the householder.

It is important that if you have an alarm on your property you notify us of two separate keyholders who can be contacted at any time to deactivate or reset the alarm for you. This could save you money in the long run.  

Alarm key holder notification

Bird scarers

The council has produced a leaflet that explains about bird scarers:

Noisy neighbours

Initially we advise you to approach the person causing you the problem. They may not realise you are being affected by their activities. If this does not improve the situation then report the problem to us and an officer will contact you to discuss your complaint.  

Report a noise nuisance

Flats and floorboards

The laying of a laminate or hardwood floor in place of carpet results in more impact noise (for example footsteps, chair scrapes and dropped items) travelling into the floor. These noises can quickly become an annoyance for downstairs neighbours in flats, often without the upper property being aware of it.

Flats affected by impact noise problems can also suffer from more general issues of poor sound insulation, for example hearing noises from neighbouring properties such as voices, TV and stereos.

It is generally only specially designed flats with substantial floor structures that are able to feature hard floor surfaces without causing adverse neighbour reaction.

If you live in a lower flat and are affected by neighbour noise there are limited options to address the problem. Whilst a legal option can be tried, progress is only likely to be achieved where satisfactory evidence of unreasonable behaviour can be established.

Good practice installation tips:

• only install a laminate or hardwood floor surface on a clear, level, prepared sub-floor and only ever with an underlay designed to reduce impact noise transmission
• the floor surface should be a floating layer, so there are no nails or fixings passing through the underlay surface
• the floor should not be butted up hard to walls, skirting boards or protruding pipes. A small gap should be left around the edge of the floor surface
• prior to the purchase and installation of new laminate or hardwood flooring in an upper floor flat, confirmation should be made that there are no tenancies of deed conditions forbidding their use

Quiet neighbour tips:

• avoid wearing outdoor footwear on hard floor surfaces, particularly high heeled shoes
• use rugs, particularly above neighbour's bedrooms and living rooms
• fit felt pads under chairs and tables

The Noise App

We are signed up to a recording system called The Noise App which will allow you to record a nuisance noise on your mobile device and send it to us. We will then listen to the sound and decide what action is necessary.  

The Noise App is free to download and easy to use.

Please ensure you have filled in an online report form or spoken to an officer before you use the app to send in recordings. The council has to approve cases as suitable for further investigation, prior to downloaded recordings being monitored.

How to use:

1. Download the app or search for The Noise App 2.0 in the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android)
2. Create your account and choose the Service Provider East Cambridgeshire District Council to investigate your noise nuisance reports
3. To record events, simply tap the icon, make a 30-second recording of the noise, complete the form and submit your report
4. Await notifications regarding updates on your case and continue to report as necessary 

Noise organisations

The following organisations are all working to minimise noise pollution and can provide information on noise and related issues: 

Aviation Environment Federation

Aviation Environment Federation are concerned with aviation and environmental problems.
Telephone: 0207 248 2233
Email: info@aef.org.uk 
Website: Home - Aviation Environment Federation

Noise Abatement Society  

Noise Abatement Society campaign on behalf of noise sufferers
Telephone: 01273 823850
Email: info@noise-abatementsociety.org 
Website: Noise Abatement Society

Campaign to Protect Rural England  

Campaign to Protect Rural England
Telephone: 0207 976 6433
Email: info@cpre.org.uk 
Website: British Tinnitus Association

Environmental Law Foundation

Environmental Law Foundation is a charity that can provide legal advice to individuals and groups.
Telephone: 0207 404 1030
Email: info@elflaw.org 
Website: Environmental Law Foundation

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

Telephone: 0207 082 8415
Email: noise@defra.gov.uk 
DEFRA noise website

Tinnitus UK

British Tinnitus Association is a charity promoting awareness of tinnitus.
Tinnitus UK website

Health and Safety Executive  

Health and Safety Executive website has information on Noise at Work.
Website: Health and Safety Executive