Each day we hear lots of different noises coming from our neighbours and it's important to know the difference between lifestyle noises - such as occasional dogs barking, children playing and household appliances being used - and inconsiderate noise - such as constantly loud music, intentional door slamming and loud arguing late at night. We know that no house or flat is totally soundproof, but everyone should be able to enjoy a reasonable level of peace and quiet in their home.
Click on the headings below to find out which types of noise are considered ASB and what steps you can take.
What noise is considered anti-social behaviour (ASB?)
Is it anti-social behaviour (ASB)?
We wouldn’t consider this ASB but if you’re worried about the baby’s welfare, please contact social services 
or the NSPCC .
Is it anti-social behaviour (ASB)?
We wouldn’t consider this ASB - although the noise can sometimes be annoying, children playing is important for their health and personal development.
What you can do
- If they’re causing damage to property (e.g. cars), though, please report it the police.
- After you’ve spoken to the police, please contact us or fill in our ASB form. Provide your incident report number and the police officer’s name. We’ll then work with them and you on what happens next.
Is it anti-social behaviour (ASB)?
We wouldn’t normally class this as ASB.
What you can do
- Have a friendly chat with your neighbour as they may not realise it’s disturbing you. You might also be able to agree a different time of day for them to do their DIY, so the sound isn’t so much of an issue.
- Take a look at our tips to reduce household noise – some of these things you’ll be able to do, others you could speak to your neighbour about.
- If the situation has not improved, mediation might be of help to you. It’s an informal, confidential and independent service available to help neighbours sort out their differences and reach an agreement. They can help you and your neighbour(s) understand each other’s point of view and reach a solution.
- If this issue is persistent, meaning it lasts over 30 minutes a day for at least five days within one week, or disturbs you during the night-time, please contact your local Environmental Health Team.
This is not generally classed as anti-social behaviour and needs to be managed as a noise issue. Dogs bark for many reasons and may not necessarily be in distress, or due to neglect or mishandling.
What you can do
- If you feel safe to do so, have a friendly word with your neighbour they may not realise the barking is causing an issue.
- You can also take look at our tips to reduce noise - some of these things you’ll be able to do, others you could speak to your neighbour about.
- If you still feel you are being disturbed, we suggest you contact a local Environmental Health Officer . If they decide to take enforcement action, we will use this as evidence against the dog owner if appropriate.
- If the behaviour is persistent (continuous periods lasting over 30 minutes a day for at least five days within one week) and you do not feel safe approaching your neighbour, or you have tried and the situation has not improved, once you have contacted the local Environmental Health Officer, please contact us to report this to us.
- If you have concerns about the welfare of a pet, you should contact the RSPCA .
Is it anti-social behaviour (ASB)?
We wouldn’t normally consider general living noises like hoovering, opening and closing doors, walking around, and so on as ASB.
What you can do
- Try having a chat with your neighbour if the noise is frequently disturbing you. You may be able to discuss some ways they could reduce the noise, using some of our tips.
- If you’re affected by noise frequently disturbing you, please contact your local Environmental Health team.
- If they decide to take enforcement action, please contact us and let us know, as we will need to link in with them as they investigate your case.
Is it anti-social behaviour (ASB)?
We’d only consider loud music/ noise as ASB if it’s disturbing you and persistent, meaning it lasts over 30 minutes a day for at least five days within one week.
What you can do
- First, try speaking with your neighbour as they may not realise you can hear their music or that it’s disturbing you.
- If this doesn’t make a difference – or you don’t feel safe speaking to them - and the noise continues through the day or night (11pm to 7am) please contact your local Environmental Health team.
- If the Environmental Health team want to take enforcement action, please contact us to let us know as we will need to link in with them as they investigate your case.
- After your case has been looked into, if you still need support, one option to help improve the situation may be to do mediation. It’s an informal, confidential and independent service available to help neighbours sort out their differences and reach an agreement. They can help you and your neighbour(s) understand each other’s point of view and reach a solution. Please contact us and we can refer you.
Is it anti-social behaviour (ASB)?
We wouldn’t normally class this as ASB.
What you can do
- Have a friendly chat with your neighbour as they may not realise you can hear them.
- If this is persistent, meaning it lasts over 30 minutes a day for at least five days within one week, or disturbs you during the night-time, please contact your local Environmental Health team .
- If the situation has not improved, mediation might be of help to you. It’s an informal, confidential and independent service available to help neighbours sort out their differences and reach an agreement. They can help you and your neighbour(s) understand each other’s point of view and reach a solution.
What you can do
If you're being affected by the noise your neighbours are making, try having a quiet conversation with them and explaining the problem. Most people don't realise how far their noise carries and will be surprised to know it's affecting you.
You should also let your neighbours know if you work shift patterns, have small children, or any other reason why you'd like them to keep quiet at certain times of the day.
If you're worried that your neighbour will respond with anger or threats, please contact us for advice and support.
Report noise nuisance
If you've already tried talking with your neighbours but are still being affected by noise nuisance that is considered ASB, you can try:
- Speaking to your local Environmental Health team .
- Keeping a record of the noise nuisance you hear, including the date and time, and contacting us to report your concerns.
Reducing household noise
Everyone has a part to play in keeping noise to an acceptable level so that people can enjoy peace and quiet in their home. Here are some small changes or steps you can use to reduce the amount of noise you make at home and to minimise disturbance to neighbours.
Click the headings below for a variety of tips and ideas for different sources of noise.
Tips to minimise noise
Burglar and car alarms are designed to make a noise, however, if you have an alarm which rings often and for a long period of time, this can disturb others. You can help limit unnecessary alarm noise by:
- Making sure you choose a reliable product and that it’s serviced regularly
- Making sure car and intruder alarms have a 20 minute cut out
- Making sure your alarm system is well maintained
- Making sure your windows are firmly closed when you leave
- Leaving a key to your property with someone close by who can disable the alarm, and leaving their details with your neighbours.
DIY jobs – such as drilling and hammering, can create a lot of noise.
- Whenever possible, let your neighbours know that you are undertaking noisy work and try to work during normal waking hours.
- Carry out the noisiest tasks in the middle of the day – if you must start early, do quieter jobs first.
- Keep tools well maintained and use lower/quieter settings on power tools where feasible. Where possible use hand tools.
- Consider your neighbours when moving furniture. Wherever possible, lift and move it into place to reduce any noise nuisance.
Thinking of replacing a carpet with a hard floor finish?
When considering floor coverings, we ask that residents in flats do not lay laminate flooring. Research has shown that when a carpet is removed and replaced with wood or laminate flooring, the noise your neighbour in the property below experiences will increase significantly. You need to seek our permission if you are considering laying wooden, tile or laminate flooring in any flat or apartment.
Hard floor surfaces (such as timber laminates, sanded floorboards and ceramic tiles) have become increasingly popular in recent years. This trend has, however, led to an increasing number of complaints about noise and disturbance to neighbours.
Minimising noise transmission
To avoid disturbing neighbours, consider new flooring products such as luxury vinyl tiles. It is sound-absorbing due to its foam-backed qualities and does not transfer as much noise as laminate, which needs something like an acoustic reduction underlay to reduce the sound.
The advantages are:
- they reduce noise transmission to your neighbours
- they reduce noise and vibration in your own home
- they allow the floor to be more resilient and reduce injuries to children and the elderly when they fall
- When buying new appliances, buy a quieter model – not all models have a noise rating, but look out for the “Quiet Mark”. Where possible, position them to cause the least disturbance to your neighbour.
- For washing machines, if possible, place on an even floor; do not overload and run the machine at a time when it will least disturb neighbours – remember the final spin is the noisiest bit.
- Consider installing an anti-vibration washing machine mat under your appliance. These are relatively inexpensive and can reduce the noise you and your neighbours hear when the machine is on its final spins.
- Do the vacuuming at a reasonable time – especially if you live in a flat or terrace, avoid early morning or late night cleaning sprees.
- In the kitchen, avoid banging pans and cupboard doors and don’t use blenders/grinders on surfaces attached to party walls.
Music tastes vary so do not assume that, just because you like a song, your neighbour will want to hear it as well.
- With amplified sound, keep the volume down, especially the bass which can be more annoying than higher frequencies. Don’t put speakers on or close to party walls, ceilings or floors.
- If you have a bedroom TV, keep it quiet at night – especially if your bedroom adjoins someone else’s.
- If playing an instrument, practice where and when it will have least impact on neighbours.
- Where possible, use headphones, especially if you listen to music late at night or in the early hours of the morning.
- Be mindful of open windows.
- Avoid placing your television or speakers next to a shared wall. If you are someone who needs the television at a higher volume, most modern television sets are compatible with headphones.
- Take care when closing doors – particularly if you live in a flat with a shared entrance – and particularly late at night and early in the morning. Please keep your voice low through the communal space too as lots of noise can be made by sound echoing through corridors.
- If expecting a visitor/taxi, ask them to knock rather than sound the horn and try not to slam your door or car doors.
- Cupboard doors can also be annoying – particularly if the units are fixed to party walls.
- Avoid slamming doors. Inexpensive adhesive furniture pads can be a very effective way of reducing noise by sticking these to the inside of the cupboard door or around an internal door frame.
- Consider people in our modern world may have different work patterns. However between the times of 7am to 10pm are considered daytime hours. Please show tolerance of everyday living noise, such as children playing, if your working hours are different.
- Wear soft sole shoes or slippers when moving around your home.
- Children will be children. Consider the types of toys they have and limit the use of scooters or bikes etc indoors. Be mindful to keep the noise to a reasonable level.
Leaving animals alone is sometimes inevitable, but it means they can get lonely, and regular barking noise can disturb neighbours. If you have our permission to have a pet in your home, try to avoid leaving your pet alone for too long and make sure they have plenty of toys to keep them occupied. Allowing a dog to bark persistently can be regarded as a statutory nuisance if the noise is intrusive or irritating for neighbours.
- You could consider leaving the radio on at an appropriate level to keep your pet company if you are out during the daytime, or you could arrange for a dog sitter
- Dogs bark – but only bark a lot if they are not content. If you have to leave your dog alone, make sure it’s well exercised and fed. Some dogs like a radio for company, or get a friend or neighbour to look in. If your dog continues to bark, consider dog training. The Dog’s Trust has guidance on how to stop your dog barking which you can click here to visit . You can also click here to read the RSPCA’s guidance on how to train your dog to be left alone
- Cats can wail and fight – as they are independent they can be difficult to manage – however if a neighbour complains about your cat at least try and keep it in at night.
- If you have a caged bird that likes to sing and squawk, make sure it’s kept where it will least disturb neighbours, particularly at night.
- Some caged pets tend to be more active at night -chewing and rattling their cages. Consider carefully where and how such pets are housed.
What to do if you’re sensitive to household noise
If you are someone who is sensitive to noise, you are not alone. Living next to, beneath or around others will generate a certain amount of daily living noise which, for the most part, we can all tolerate. Have you ever noticed how much sound echoes in an empty room? Some quick low-cost ways to soundproof a room are:
- Use furniture, such as a bookcase or room divider, against the wall that adjoins your neighbour’s home.
- Install wooden shutters as a way to absorb noise through windows.
- Add soft furnishings to your rooms: cushions, curtains, rugs and carpets. All of these will absorb sound.
- Hang pictures or cork boards on your walls. There are many products available which have adhesive fixings.
- You can also use earplugs and noise-cancelling headphones to help maintain your wellbeing if you’re sensitive to noise. These can be relatively cheap to buy and help millions of people deal with everyday noise.
- Sleeping in earplugs is also an option. It can take some getting used to, but once you become familiar with falling asleep with earplugs in your ears, they can improve how long you sleep, and the quality of sleep you have.