Loud Music
I find myself
continuously tortured by my neighbours' love of music. What started
out as an occasional burst of music has now turned into a problem
nearly every night of the week. It's like living next to a disco.
If I contact my environmental health department will they come
around and see if my neighbours are exceeding the maximum levels
allowed?
We are not sure where the idea of
maximum and minimum levels of noise originates from our best guess
is that it is a legacy borne out of occupational noise levels. In
truth, this myth is usually accompanied by the equally incorrect
counter argument of "the law says I can make as much noise as I
like between 7:00 in the morning and 11:00 at night and no-one can
stop me!"
So what can we do in the absence of set noise
levels?
Noise complaints are generally on
the increase and amplified music is currently the biggest source of
complaint; more powerful stereos, poor sound insulation, reduced
tolerance and conflicting lifestyles are currently quoted as the
major reasons behind this increase. Therefore, given the high
number of noise complaints and indeed complaints in general
received by the Environmental Health Division, it is important that
every one is treated equally and with procedures which identify not
only the source and frequency of the problem but whether it is
covered by statutory nuisance legislation, and therefore whether
controls are feasible and appropriate.
This is why all complainants are
required to keep event logs or diary sheets which help identify the
severity and frequency of the noise and also the best method of
trying, from the case officers perspective, to witness the actual
problem. With this level of knowledge an officer can determine
whether reactive visits, programmed visits or the installation of
noise recording equipment is the best way forward.
In all cases the person responsible
for the noise - in this case your music loving neighbour - will be
advised that a complaint has been made and will be asked informally
to improve the situation. Of course, they may ignore us and this is
where diary sheets become very important - without this level of
detail we cannot progress forward with your complaint. Although we
give this advice to all our complainants we still have a large
number of people who think we will just carry on without them - in
truth they merely prolong their own suffering.
Noise recording equipment is most
definitely our best ally. Where diary sheets are returned
indicating a problem it is normally our next step. In truth it's
like having your very own Environmental Health Professional in your
home for a whole week to witness the ongoing problem.
Sometimes one recording is enough
to allow us to proceed formally although in most cases we do need
to repeat the exercise. In these instances we will try and get the
recording equipment back to you as soon as possible, but dependent
upon complaint demand we may have to ask you to be patient. Of
course if we can use another monitoring method in the meantime, for
example personal visits, we will. We are not in the business of
prolonging the situation any longer than necessary where a genuine
problem exists.
Upon investigation it may be the
officers professional opinion that the matter complained off is not
severe enough to be classified a Statutory Nuisance, in which
case all parties will be informed and the case closed.
Where a statutory nuisance exists
even after our informal works and correspondence with your
neighbour then a statutory noise nuisance Notice may be served.
This tells your neighbour what the problem is and what they have to
do to put it right; it also gives a timescale for compliance and
who to contact for advice.
In the greater percentage of cases
this will solve the noise problem and as it remains in place
indefinitely it acts as a constant reminder to your neighbour. Of
course, there is always one person who thinks they are above the
law and where this is the case we will continue to gather evidence
for either prosecution, or in the case of amplified music, possible
seizure of all noise making equipment.
For details of our noise complaint
procedure please visit our Noise Control- Making a Complaint
page using the link below.
