Residential noise frequently asked questions

• My new neighbour appears to be a DIY fanatic and makes a noise all day and night. Is he allowed to do this and what can I do about it?
• I live the other side of the road from a pub and find that revellers are disturbing me with their loud drunken behaviour in the street at closing time. What can I do about this?
• There is a building development to the rear of my house and every morning the workmen start up their noisy machinery at 7am and wake me up.  Surely this can't be legal - can you help?
• People have just moved into the rented house next door and have rowdy parties almost every weekend and on weekdays sometimes. I wouldnt mind but the parties go on till the early hours of the morning and I have to get up for work. Help!
• In the street where I live, there is a burglar alarm that is constantly going off for no reason at all, shattering the peace and quiet. Don't people realise how annoying these things are? Can you help me please?
• My next-door neighbour has just bought this very cute West Highland terrier, but it yaps constantly when its owners are out. I really like the little dog but the noise is driving me mad. What advice can you give me?

My new neighbour appears to be a DIY fanatic and makes a noise all day and night. Is he allowed to do this and what can I do about it?

DIY can be notoriously noisy, yet is often essential. We would advise that you discuss the matter with your neighbour to try and reach a mutual agreement concerning working times. From a legal standpoint an Environmental Protection Officer (EPO) could only ask that works were carried out for reasonable time periods and at reasonable times of the day. Early morning or late night working should be avoided. Neighbourly compromise and communication is always the best policy before contacting the Environmental Regulation Service (ERS).

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I live the other side of the road from a pub and find that revellers are disturbing me with their loud drunken behaviour in the street at closing time. What can I do about this?

Unfortunately there is little that can be done legally unless the drunken behaviour in the street constitutes a breach of the peace, at which point this would become a matter for police involvement. This is not an aspect of behaviour the ERS can take action on.

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There is a building development to the rear of my house and every morning the workmen start up their noisy machinery at 7am and wake me up. Surely this cannot be legal - can you help?

You are correct 7am would be too early for noisy works to commence. ERS issue developers with a code of practice, which limits working times to protect the interests of local residents. An EPO would ask the firm to adjust their practices accordingly.

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People have just moved into the rented house next door and have rowdy parties almost every weekend and on weekdays sometimes I wouldnt mind but the parties go on till the early hours of the morning and I have to get up for work. Help!

Again we would advise that if at all possible you talk to your neighbours to try and reach a compromise. This may involve negotiating finishing times and giving prior warning of dates for parties, adjusting the volume and reducing the bass beat. If this approach fails, contact can be made with the ERS. An EPO will get involved to try and negotiate a solution. If this is not successful and a statutory nuisance is substantiated with material evidence the EPO will instigate formal action. This however is always a last resort and not the best way to resolve neighbourhood problems.

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In the street where I live, there is a burglar alarm that is constantly going off for no reason at all, shattering the peace and quiet. Don't people realise how annoying these things are? Can you help me please?

The irritating ring of burglar alarms is a feature of modern day life. If you know which property the burglar alarm is coming from either talk to the owner or write them a polite note to bring it to their attention which could even be anonymous. If you find that your efforts do not bring about an improvement, contact the ERS who will be able to take steps to stop the noise nuisance.

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My next-door neighbour has just bought this very cute West Highland terrier, but it yaps constantly when its owners are out. I really like the little dog but the noise is driving me mad. What advice can you give me?

Dogs often bark as a result of boredom and/or loneliness, and the dog may be suffering from both. We would advise you to bring this situation to your neighbours' attention. There are many ways to help. Some suggestions are:

• Surrounding the dog by familiar items such as its bed, toys or balls etc
• Exercising the dog prior to leaving it so that it is tired
• Having someone visiting the dog during the day
• If the problem continues please contact us

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