Bass drum bedlam
Question
Could you please tell me where I stand regarding a noisy neighbour who has bought a drum kit for his teenage son? My street is terraced and he plays his drums in their garage which is adjacent to my living room. My bedroom is also just above the garage. My house echoes with every beat and is so loud, it forces me to leave my house.
I am completely distraught and cannot believe they are disrupting my life in this way. I work hard and should be able to relax in my own home in the evening. What can I do to make the noise stop?
Answer
We're sorry to hear of the distress you've experienced because of noise from your neighbours. Unfortunately, it's a common problem.
Whether you can do anything about the noise from your neighbours depends on your individual situation. Before you can act, the noise must be so loud that you can't use your home in the normal way. This might be the case if you are woken up by the noise or you can't hear your own TV above the noise. In your case, you say you actually have to leave the property when the drumming starts.
The action you can take in relation to the noise depends on:
- the type of noise;
- the time of day or night the noise happens;
- how often it happens ;
- how long it goes on for;
- how it affects you;
- the type of building (older homes often have less sound insulation).
The first step in dealing with noise is negotiation. Talk to the person causing the noise. Explain how the noise is affecting you. Try to reach a compromise. Do this as early as possible before the problem gets too serious. There may be agencies in your area that could help you negotiate. These are often called mediation services. If there isn't a local mediation service in your area, ask your local council if they would be able to help.
If your neighbours rent their home, and talking to them directly doesn't work, it may be worth talking to their landlord. Your neighbours may be breaking the terms of their tenancy agreement by making the noise. Their landlord may be able to deal with the problem or warn them that continuing to make the noise could leave them open to eviction.
You may find other people are being affected by the problems your neighbours are causing, in which case you could try to take action together. There may be a tenants' association or other group in your area that can help you to do this.
If the noise problem continues, keep notes including:
- how long it lasts;
- the time it occurred;
- how loud it is;
- whether anyone else heard it;
- the occasions you spoke to your neighbours about it ;
- the effect it had on you.
The Noise Abatement Society website includes information about different types of noise and may help you keep notes about the levels of noise that are disturbing you.
If the noise continues you could contact your local council. The environmental health department of the council has the power to deal with noise problems, and some councils have an out-of-hours service so may be able to come out at short notice during evenings and weekends. An environmental health officer may visit you to monitor the noise. They may also be able to install noise-monitoring equipment to measure the noise over a period of time.
The council may take action to stop your neighbours making noise. For example the council may send a formal notice asking the noise to stop by a certain date. In extreme cases, the council might be able to take your neighbours to court.
If your neighbours harass you as a result of you asking them to reduce the noise then they may be committing a crime. You should contact the police if:
- you are threatened with violence;
- you are experiencing racial harassment ;
- your property is damaged.
The police have powers to take action against people who are guilty of harassment. Even if the police can't help it is worth reporting incidents to them so that there is evidence in case it is needed later.
If you own your own home and are trying to sell it, you must tell prospective buyers about the dispute.
If all attempts to resolve the situation have failed, you may want to move out. The Shelter website includes information on finding accommodation. In severe cases of neighbour harassment you may be able to say that you can no longer live in your home because it is unreasonable to do so. In this case the council may have to help you under homelessness law. You may also find a local advice service can offer you further assistance on this matter.
Updated: 26/09/2008
Question answered by Shelter
