Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions On Noise

Q. Can I play my music louder during the day?

No. It's fair to say that any noise which takes place during the daytime might be more tolerable than if it happened at night, but that's not to say that it's permissible to make a louder noise during the day. The Council has a team which deals with noise from households during the evening/night and who measure the noise against set standards.

Q. When can I cut my grass in the morning?

In noise terms, daytime starts at 0700hours. That said, your neighbours might not be too happy with you doing it at that time of the morning, especially on a Sunday. Be mindful of those around you and if there's any doubt, why not ask them. 8 or 9am may still displease some as not everyone is an early riser, but equally, you cannot be expected to wait till lunchtime before getting on with the gardening.

Q. When can I do my DIY?

DIY is effectively just a small scale building site, and a hammer can be just as noisy on either. Were a Construction site prove to be causing a problem, then it would most likely be required to operate within the following hours for any practice likely to cause a noise;

Day	Operating Hours
Monday to Friday	7.00am – 6.00pm
Saturday	7.00am – 1.00pm
Sunday	None

That said, it would inappropriate to prevent someone from doing DIY in the evening when they get home from work. Equally, it would be inappropriate for someone to expect to do DIY every night till 10pm for weeks on end. Most neighbours are likely to put up with some work till around 9pm a few nights a week. Anymore and they are likely to complain.

Q. My neighbours dog is always barking. Can anything be done about it?

Yes. There are several options available to deal with this problem.

Q. I am wakened early in the morning by traffic. What can be done about it?

Not too much. Whilst noise is taken into account during the planning process, noise from individual vehicles are essentially considered under Road Traffic legislation and Construction and Use Regulations. In other words, vehicles are designed and built in a certain manner and type approved. Assuming the vehicle is properly maintained, it is not breaking the law. Noisy/defective exhausts etc. are a matter for the police to enforce.

Q. My neighbour's alarm is always ringing. Can I do anything about it.

Yes. Alarms are covered by a Code of Practice, whether residential or commercial, and should be installed and maintained by a qualified person. The alarm should have a maximum of a 20 minute cut off period and key-holders should be registered with the police. In investigating such complaints, it is not uncommon for the Council to forcibly silence the alarm and bill the person responsible.

Q. My neighbour says my floorboards are loose and creaking and wants me to do something about it. Do I have to?

Quite possibly, though by no means certain. Your floorboards may indeed be squeaky and it would be your responsibility to remedy the problem, either by securing them more effectively or by replacing any that are worn. However it may be that the noise arises from defective joists. This would mean that any repairs or maintenance required would be a communal responsibility between both you and your neighbour (the joists supporting both your floorboards as well as your neighbours ceiling).

Q. There are road works going on near me at night. What can be done about this?

Road works may be as a result of an emergency, so it becomes vital to effect repairs as quickly as possible, irrespective of the time of day (or night). Routine road works are different and normally subject to discussion with the various agencies involved and it may be that some night time work is inevitable. Whilst in such circumstances, every effort should be made to avoid unnecessarily disturbing nearby residents, some disruption is likely. The public should be kept well informed of what's happening and how long it's likely to last. Road works would not be undertaken at night simply because it's commercially preferable.

Q. I am regularly disturbed by noise from a nearby factory. What can I do about it?

Speak to an officer of EHTS who will investigate. Though the Council has powers to force a resolution to such problems where they can be determined to be a statutory nuisance, more often than not matters can be improved simply by contacting the company concerned and discussing the issue.

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