Noise!

This webpage in brief:

If neighbours are disturbing you by making too much noise in their home, business or other property, you have several ways forward.

• If your neighbours are agreeable people, talk to them. 
• If your neighbours won't stop, tell Hillingdon Council's noise team.
• If your neighbours are Brunel students, tell the university.
• Tell the Residents Association and your landlord.
• As a last resort, you could take legal action at your own risk.

Whatever you do, keep accurate records of all noise incidents. Read below for more information about the points above.

Excessive noise coming from your neighbours' home? Tell the Council

If Hillingdon Council's noise officers judge that your neighbours are committing a statutory noise nuisance, they can serve a Noise Abatement Notice. To make this decision they need accurate information from you about the problem.

• When is the noise occurring?
• How long does the noise last?
• What impact is the noise having on you?

To help the Council officers, please complete this noise record form (http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/media/26352/Statutory-nuisance-reporting-form/doc/Nuisance_diary_sheet_V1.doc) and send it to them. If you wish to make your report online and keep track of its progress, click here to register with online services.

If the noise is happening now in office hours, phone the Council on 01895 556 000.

At night time Thursdays to Sundays, you can ring the out of hours team on 01895 250 111.  The out of hours team are available Thursdays 8pm - 2am, Fridays and Saturdays 9pm - 3am, Sundays 7pm - 1am.

Are your noisy neighbours students at Brunel Uni?

Contact Elizabeth Iskapa (Community Liaison Officer) on 01895 267 686

She may refer you to Geraldine Jackson (Brunel Housing Manager) on 01895 266 184

Contact the Brunel University Security Team on 01895 266 943

Brunel also has access to a mediation service which can help to resolve problems involving student neighbour nuisance where other measures have proved unsuccessful. Please don't forget to ask about this.

Taking your own legal action against noisy neighbours

On its website Hillingdon Council outlines what you might wish to do if you are disturbed by neighbours making noise in their home or business.

1. If it safe, talk to your neighbour. If your neighbour is aggressive, do not continue. Private tenants should tell their landlord or local Residents Association.
2. Keep an accurate record of noise incidents on diary sheets. These can be downloaded from Hillingdon Council's website. Click here and scroll down the page. 
3. If the noise continues, write to the person or organisation, clearly explaining the problem. Keep a copy of the letter and note the date when it was sent.

After completing the steps above, and before or after contacting Hillingdon Council, you can apply to the Magistrates Court under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Section 82.

You will be responsible for all costs and expenses. If you are successful you are entitled to claim your costs.

If you take legal action to prevent the noise, it's very important that you have a full written record of noise incidents and letters to your neighbour. If the Magistrates Court decides there is enough evidence to issue a summons, you should continue to keep a record of noise incidents even after that date. Before taking legal action please read Hillingdon Council's advice page. Click here.

Page last updated on 29th November 2015. Please get in touch if you see any mistakes on it.