Noise

Noise nuisance is a serious issue which affects many people and can have a significant effect on their health and well being. However, noise is an unavoidable part of urban life and it is not reasonable to expect to live in silence, especially if you live in a flat, a terraced, or semi-detached property. The question is at what point does noise change from being a normal part of everyday life to an unreasonable intrusion.

Oadby and Wigston Borough Council have a legal duty to investigate complaints of excessive noise to determine whether it is a statutory nuisance and whether legal action is appropriate.

The most common types of complaints we receive are:

• Loud music from neighbours
• Other neighbour noise
• DIY for long periods and at unsociable hours
• Barking dogs and other animals including cockerels
• Noise from pubs
• Noise from industrial premises

For noise to be a statutory nuisance it has to be;

“an unreasonable and significant emission of noise that causes significant and unreasonable interference with the use and enjoyment of your premises’. The noise cannot be a mere annoyance”

This means that if the noise does not affect you in your home, garden or place of work then the council cannot investigate.

Report a new noise complaint

Myth Buster

Many people believe that they are allowed to make as much noise as they like as long as they are quiet between 11 pm and 7 am. This is completely false; although it is easier to determine noise at night as unreasonable, a statutory nuisance can occur at any time of the day or night.

Information on Dog Barking (PDF Document, 113.74 Kb) and Cockerels (PDF Document, 247.87 Kb) What Noise Am I Allowed to Make? (PDF Document, 285.34 Kb) What Can I Do If I Am Affected By Noise? (PDF Document, 128.99 Kb)

Information on Burglar Alarms (PDF Document, 62.88 Kb)

Information on Noise from DIY and Construction Sites (PDF Document, 204.38 Kb)

Neighbour Noise Leaflet (PDF Document, 115.35 Kb)

Nuisance Recording Sheet (PDF Document, 135.8 Kb)