Your home should be a haven of tranquillity, but the reality can often be quite different when you have noisy neighbours. Whether they’re throwing raucous parties into the wee hours or embarking on endless DIY projects, such neighbours can turn your peaceful abode into a living nightmare.
One woman found herself in this exact predicament after she mustered up the courage to confront her rowdy neighbours who partied until 3am over the weekend. Sharing her ordeal on Reddit, the woman revealed that she had already been having a rough week and was sleep-deprived.
So, when she was rudely awakened by her neighbour’s party guests “shouting” in the early morning hours, she decided it was time to step outside and ask them to quieten down.
She also had issues with another neighbour who had visitors persistently knocking on his door for several minutes because he wouldn’t answer. When she stepped outside, she confronted both households simultaneously.
In her post, she wrote: “I am not a confrontational person, but I went outside and very politely but firmly asked them to please stop rapping on the door and leave, as he was not answering.
“I went back in, and the party ones were still making noise. So again, I went out and very politely stated it was 3:30am, and could they please keep the noise down. I was not aggressive or cheeky. I was polite. As I walked off, they were making snippy comments about my request.”
The following day, however, she was stunned to discover the neighbour who had hosted the gathering standing at her front door. The neighbour was livid with her for “daring” to speak to her guests, and delivered a shocking six-word ultimatum: “Never go near my door again.”
The woman explained: “The lady neighbour has taken great offence to this and came to my door on Sunday afternoon to have a go at me for daring to ask her and her guests to be a bit quieter.
“I just stood there gobsmacked as she told me never to go near her door again. I just very quietly replied, ‘Okay, next time I will just call the police then’.”
Those responding to the post urged her to carry out her warning to contact police if the noise nuisance occurs again, as creating disturbances past a certain hour is typically considered anti-social behaviour.
One person commented: “You were polite and understanding, even giving the benefit of the doubt at first. It’s totally reasonable to ask for some peace and quiet at 3am. The fact that she flipped out and came to yell at you instead says more about her than you. Don’t let her reaction make you second-guess standing up for yourself.”
Another contributed: “Next time just call the police.”
A third remarked: “Usually, curfew ends at 10pm so it’s best to tell them next time you will call the police for disturbance.”
What is the law on noise complaints?
Britain has specific legislation addressing noise complaints occurring after 11pm. The Noise Act 1996 defines “night hours” as 11pm to 7am, granting councils powers to issue warning notices when noise surpasses permitted levels during these hours.
The permissible noise thresholds are:
- 34 dBA (decibels adjusted) if the background noise level is no more than 24 dBA.
- 10 dBA above the background noise level if it exceeds 24 dBA.
Following a warning being served, should tenants fail to comply, councils possess the power to issue fixed penalty notices, with fines ranging from £110 for dwellings and £500 for licensed premises. Should the tenant continue to breach regulations, additional measures may be pursued, including prosecution, potentially resulting in fines reaching £1,000 for domestic properties.
Should your neighbour persistently generate excessive noise, Law Hive recommends recording evidence of the disturbance. Initially, you should approach your neighbour directly to attempt resolving the matter; however, if this proves unsuccessful, you should then present your evidence to the local authorities.