Noise nuisance

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Some families are living in homes where day after day, noise from inconsiderate neighbours contributes to stress, illness and generally impairs their quality of life. There is a package of measures which local authorities can use to tackle neighbour nuisance problems, including noise nuisance.

Excessive noise from pubs, clubs and entertainment venues, as well as other businesses are also disruptive to local neighbourhoods and cause a nuisance.

Local Authorities have a duty to deal with any noise which they consider to be a 'statutory nuisance'.

Noise abatement notices can be used to stop a noise that is causing a statutory nuisance. Where noise does not stop, the local authority may itself put a stop to the nuisance and recover the costs. This includes the power to seize and remove any equipment, which is being or has been used in the emission of the noise in question.

All landlords, whether social or private, have powers to take action against tenants who are breaching their tenancy agreement including taking injunctions or possession proceedings.

The Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 introduced a new power for environmental health officers to close premises where a public nuisance is being caused by noise coming from the premises.

As of October 2006 local authorities will have the option of using the Noise Act 1996 to take proceedings against licensed premises which exceed the permitted level for noise.