95. NOISE COMPLAINTS - Jack’s Tenant Empowerment - Empowering Social Tenants - Jack Lookman Limited - Rita Nnamani - Olayinka Carew

95. NOISE COMPLAINTS

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Everyday living naturally creates noise. Walking across floors, children playing, doors opening and closing, appliances running. These are not considered breaches of tenancy because they are part of normal life. Problems arise when noise becomes excessive, frequent, or happens at unreasonable hours, particularly late at night or very early in the morning when most people expect quiet.

Your tenancy agreement will usually include clauses about causing nuisance or disturbance. This gives your landlord the authority to act if complaints are made and supported by evidence. However, landlords do not act on assumptions. They rely on patterns, consistency, and proof. This means that a single complaint rarely leads to serious action, but repeated complaints, especially from multiple neighbours, can build into something much more significant.

If you are experiencing noise disturbance, the first step is often the simplest but also the most overlooked. Try to address it directly with your neighbour if it feels safe to do so. Many people are unaware of how their behaviour affects others, and a calm conversation can resolve the issue before it escalates. The way you approach this matters. If you come across as confrontational, it can create defensiveness rather than understanding. A clear and respectful explanation of how the noise is affecting you tends to be more effective.

When direct communication does not work or is not appropriate, the next step is to involve your landlord or housing provider. They may ask you to keep a noise diary, recording dates, times, and the nature of the disturbance. This may feel tedious, but it creates a clear record that can be used to assess the situation. In some cases, environmental health teams from the local council may also become involved, particularly if the noise reaches the level of a statutory nuisance.

If you are the one being accused of making noise, it is important not to dismiss the complaint outright. Even if you feel the noise is part of normal living, repeated concerns from neighbours suggest there may be an impact worth addressing. Simple adjustments such as lowering volume levels, using rugs to reduce sound, or being mindful of late-night activity can make a significant difference without affecting your lifestyle too much.

There is also a legal dimension to consider. Persistent and serious noise disturbance can be classified as anti-social behaviour, which is a recognised ground for eviction. This does not mean that every noise complaint leads to that outcome, but it highlights the importance of taking the issue seriously when it arises.

For tenants on the receiving end, it is equally important to remain realistic. Not every sound can or should be controlled. Living in shared buildings means accepting a certain level of background noise. The balance lies in distinguishing between what is reasonable and what is disruptive.