What can be done about neighbour noise?
Noise nuisance law cannot be used to resolve certain noise problems. These include cases of noise:
- caused by children who can not be held criminally responsible for their actions e.g. young children or the mentally ill;
- arising from ordinary domestic use e.g. vacuuming during the day or flushing the toilet unless the noise is especially unusual or unreasonable;
- normal domestic noise arising from poor sound insulation
Environmental Health can provide information on how to improve the sound insulation in your premises and in certain circumstances may refer your case for mediation.
Mediation is often the most effective way to resolve neighbourhood issues. This is a process where both parties discuss issues, which they believe are the underlying cause of the dispute.
This is done on neutral ground with the view of attaining an amicable compromise.
This process has been successful in resolving problems especially in difficult cases such as loud talking, heavy footfalls, running children, door slamming, squeaky floorboards etc.