Noisy neighbours are a huge problem for many residents. Whether the noise is caused by people shouting, dogs barking, loud music, or even noisy sex, it can cause a real problem for neighbours left having to listen to it. Often neighbours simply haven't considered how noisy they are and the effect of that noise on others. Bringing this to their attention will usually resolve the issue. If you need to know more about noise legislation and your rights, we've posted links to our articles following our letter templates below.
So how do you go about discussing the problem with your neighbours?
Talk to your neighbour
Initially try just popping round for a quick chat to your neighbour. If they are never in when you go round, or you don't feel comfortable talking to them face to face, try sending an informal note. If this doesn't resolve the problem, then a more formal letter may be required.
To assist, a template informal note and more formal letter are below:
Informal Note to Neighbours About Noise
Dear [name]
Just a quick note regarding the noise from your property. This can be quite clearly heard from inside my house and so prevents me from getting to sleep on an evening.
Please could you try to keep the noise down a little, particularly overnight?
Thanks for your help.
Best wishes,
[Name] [Your house number]
Formal Letter to Neighbour About Noise
[Your Address]
[Neighbour's name] [Address / 'Delivered by hand']
[Date]
Dear [Neighbour's name]/[If unknown, just address as 'Dear Neighbour'],
Re: Noise from [neighbour's address]
I live at [address], next door. I am writing in relation to the noise from your property.The noise specifically is: [select appropriate]
Slamming Doors
Loud foot traffic/stomping
Barking dogs
Shouting / loud voices
Loud music
You may have previously been unaware of this noise. However it affects me because it can be clearly heard in the habitable areas of my house [and prevents me from sleeping].
The Noise Act 1996 means that the local authority must take steps to investigate any complaints of noise at night time. I am however, keen to resolve this amicably and do not want to report this to the council at this stage; we are after all neighbours! I would therefore be grateful if you could try to reduce any noise between 11pm and 7am.
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For the 4th year I have been suffering with a neighbor from 9 who lives at the top of the stump. It knocks at night. moves chairs, I've been writing complaints for so many years. At night it doesn’t let me sleep at all, I wake up with knocking in fear, I’ve already developed a panic attack, I told him, I wrote, it wasn’t just me and the neighbors who called the police. There is no improvement, sometimes 1-2 nights are calm, but then everything continues. I have a video from 2020. He throws garbage from the window under my window, and more than once before he threw food, foxes and birds gathered. It is inadequate, I am afraid to walk through the main entrance. It makes noise during the day and at night, during the day it screams under the windows. He drinks something, smokes, it stinks not only in the rooms throughout the house. I'm tired of not sleeping, being afraid, making video evidence. I pay for housing that is impossible to live in. This is just terrible, I have never had such a nightmare in my life. And for so many years they have not been able to solve the problem, they advise me to see a psychologist, take pills, put earplugs in my ears. Isn’t it better to remove this neighbor’s problem alone? Making fun of people for 4 years!!!!!!
Guest - 25-Jan-24 @ 10:18 PM
I have a rental next to me run by an association firm that puts in families. The area is town centre, plus the house is a small 2 bed cottage, totally inappropriate for more than 2 people. I currently have a family of four next to me and like the last family the problem is children as they are noisy, lots of bumping, stomping, and crying, they are children what can you do?. As rents have skyrocketed people can no longer afford the suitable housing they need, however in terraced housing you have got to compromise and if you don't you're heading for trouble and you will fall out with you're neighbours. Families don't think this applies to them and never think of others.
Detached homes are the way to go. As soon as I have enough equity in my home, its going on the market and I will upgrade. As a single person I am being denied a quiet life and the noise around me spoils the enjoyment of my home. I am just glad I am on the housing ladder as I should eventually have a way out of this situation. Rentals are no good, people coming and going and the wrong types of neighbours. Never going to have stability and quality of life where I am currently. It's never going to stop.
Agma - 6-Jan-24 @ 6:22 PM
My neighbours kids are absolutely feral, every afternoon and evening they sound like they are trying to jump through our wall. One evening when we’d had I knocked on the door and they just ignored me so sent a Facebook message and the mum said try yes keep it down after 8pm as I’d asked but it lasted about a day. She also said her kid plays with a ball indoors (?)
So annoyed and frustrated, I get kids need to play but every evening is wrecked by our house shaking from what sounds like bodies slamming on the wall or floor until 10 most nights
IHateFarnham - 10-Dec-23 @ 7:16 PM
My upstairs neighbour with 3 kids makes too much noise(in one bedroom flat) . The younger one who is 3 years old keeps running all the time still we tried to understand but my son with ASD couldn't sleep properly because of the noise. Children from upstairs sleeps around 10pm, until then too much running, stomping and jumping. I tried to talk to her (the lady) soo many times but she always replied saying, they are kids they'll run and you have kids too or just call police.
I literally don't know what to tell her, it's not fair not getting enough sleep after all if you've to go to job early morning and support the child with needs.
Taha - 21-Nov-23 @ 10:20 PM
I'm at my wits end I live in upstairs flat and my downstairs neighbor who I was engaged too but ever since the split he has caused nothing but problems for me and my auntie as he constantly slams his doors , stomp round like an elephant and every time he has someone new he makes sure we know about it weve put up with this now for 5 years and it's getting to the point were we are afraid to make noise during the right hours my auntie wont even put a picture up on the wall until he is out incase he makes more noise we both have medical needs and it's killing us she suffers from seizures due to stress I have depression and anxiety I have no idea what to do anymore and I need help
Jj - 5-Nov-23 @ 2:47 AM
My upstairs neighbour doesn’t ensure her children go to bed at an appropriate time probably out of it on weed. Then 7-8 in the morning constantly shutting and screaming at the kids cos they can’t get up swearing and tell them she’s fine with them it’s awful I can hear it in my bedroom word for word and wakes us up. I’m sick of her voice.
She is unreasonable to deal with even though she says she’s not. We had a leak from her washing machine she is yet still to pay for
Sassy - 28-Jun-23 @ 8:48 AM
A neighbour has been shouting in our communal garden after 11.30 tonight.I believe he was trying to attract the attention of another neighbour.He was standing in the middle of the garden shouting up at her window.Is he allowedto do this at that time of night?
Issy - 26-May-23 @ 11:46 PM
My neighbour has been doing construction work out of Brent council hours. Numerous complaints have gone over to the council. But clearly they choose to do nothing.
Fedup - 24-May-23 @ 9:54 PM
There's a young man directly across from me ,that is constantly screaming foul discusting words ,smashing things ,kicking punching the colour bond fence, Plays loud music with filthy language in it .screams at the elderly lady inside the unit he lives in , Has mates doing burn outs every time they leave this property. Lights fires on the nature strip using petrol . Ive complained to the dept of housing, and had to call the police in regards to this man lighting fires , nothing seems to get done .
Minny - 21-Dec-22 @ 9:25 AM
I'm being harrased by neighbours parking his cars vans getting his friends to park outside my home the rore there ingens which frightened me I've told housing for over year they have done nothing I'm scared I can't stand at my door him an his brothers shut names at me
Bernadette orourke - 29-Sep-22 @ 7:37 PM
After talking to neighbour about the constant machine I. E. Routers shop saw. Hammers and other tools noise daily..
It still continues..
He denied it..said it wasn't him.. (A BLATENT DENIAL).. THIS continuing dinn
Is affecting my and others quality of life..
I live in a village location.. Not a industrial sight..
Jo - 10-Sep-22 @ 6:13 PM
After talking to neighbour about the constant machine I. E. Routers shop saw. Hammers and other tools noise daily..
It still continues..
He denied it..said it wasn't him.. (A BLATENT DENIAL).. THIS continuing dinn
Is affecting my and others quality of life..
I live in a village location.. Not a industrial sight.. Can anything be done in reasonable time... Regards Neil
Jo - 10-Sep-22 @ 6:12 PM
My daughter orchyd tell me she know long time that them people at 40b was racist from long time and my son mario know that them people at 40b is racist people my daughter orchyd tell me who that woman think she is to come and do that push my door onto my shoulder and I in pain with both of my shoulders and in pain with my arm and in pain with my wrist and still in pain with both of my shoulders and still in pain with my arm and in pain with my wrist now still.??
Sweets - 26-Jul-22 @ 2:53 PM
My son Antonio locked other woman out at 40b Tressillan road Brockley London SE4 1YB Real set a evil nasty rude people to have living next door to us that lies also.??
Sweets - 3-Jul-22 @ 6:20 PM
Today my son antonio locked other woman at 40b Tressillan road Brockley London SE4 1YB I tell my son antonio oh well after she was rude to him I tell my son antonio them rude and nasty set a evil people that lives next door to us is a real set of rude and nasty evil people to have living next door to us.??
Sweets - 3-Jul-22 @ 6:14 PM
I call the police to ask if the police went to them people at 40b the police tell me it logged I tell the police 23 years I have lived at my house for 40 Tressillian Road that the housing tell me to ignore them people at 40b to don't listen to them people at 40b I tell the police I have ignore them people at 40b and I haven't been listening to them people at 40b the police tell me they advise me as well to ignore them people at 40b and to don't listen to them people at 40b anything more happen to call the police I thank the police date 8/6/2022
Nice - 8-Jun-22 @ 11:54 AM
I have had to call the police on them people at 40b Tressillian Road Brockley London SE4 1YB with them loud music and loud noise 2am to 3:25amthe housing tell me to ignore them people at 40b to don't listen to them people at 40b date 29/5/2022 today date 8/6/2022
Nice - 8-Jun-22 @ 10:22 AM
My upstair neighbour turns an electric device which causes vibration, shaking the walls as well as the noise, like a drill, 4 hours in every morning and every afternoon.I get headache, earache, my stomach turns and I feel I will go mad soon. I wrote him a note. The housing officer and police can do nothing as the noise is in social hours. This noise is not like any other, so unbearable.
Sal - 12-May-22 @ 9:58 AM
Also matchsticks is also been throwing outside my bedroom window by them at 40b the woman and one name William and the one with the dark hair that have been smoking and throwing them cigarette butts outside in the front and putting wood outside in the back garden with rusty nails that could fall on or walk on with rusty nails inside the wood that shouldn't have even been out there in the first place date 3/5/2022
Nice - 3-May-22 @ 7:17 PM
My housing manager she is aware of what them at 40b tressillian road brockley London SE4 1YB have been doing and will take action against them at 40b the woods with the rusty nails shouldn't have been out there in the back garden that could fall on or walk on the rusty nails
Nice - 3-May-22 @ 7:06 PM
Today at 40b Tressillian Road Brockley London SE4 1YB I see the one with dark hair smoking outside and there is already cigarette butts outside my bedroom window that them at 40b been dropping outside my window and is on the stairs out in the front and wood in the back garden with rusty nails in the woods that could cut you Date 30th 2022
Nice - 30-Apr-22 @ 11:03 PM
My neighbour moved in 6 years ago, mum and twins age 6, I asked politely to keep it down and after the third time said I would complain to the council. Not much changed in the end it cost me £2000 for wall insulation in the living room and bedroom. It's bearable but the little darling has taken to kicking a ball for hours in the kitchen for hours, it's like mental torture. When I asked her to stop she said it's his house.
Toby - 11-Mar-22 @ 3:35 PM
Please someone help us.I have been living in my flat for nearly 25 years. I am a leaseholder. My 4 children grew up in this place. I had many neighbours lived below me but they have never complained about us. I had tea good relationship with all of them. About 5-6 years ago a young woman moved below my flat and she is now a lease holder. Last couple of years she's complaining and accusing that we are purposely making noise to disturb her. We have never done anything like that at all. She wakes up early morning 4 am 5am and starts banging on our ceiling non stop. I have tried and recorded as much as I can on my phone. Non stop harassment. She even harass my daughters.I have spoken to housing manager/council and they say they can’t do anything because we are both leaseholders and I have to take legal action.I don’t know what to do. My children andI am are suffering so much because of this. I don’t have money to go to solicitors. Please can someone advise.
Sandby - 26-Aug-21 @ 11:29 AM
I have lived in my apartment for years ever since we moved and non stop my neighbors get on my nerves because first my neighbors always play loud music all the time and my second neighbors always make loud noises all the time and turning their tv up so loud everyday and it's annoying especially when I'm trying to listen to music and sleep everyday and I want them both to move out their apartment building and never return ever again.
Catwoman55 - 11-Aug-21 @ 7:55 PM
Pictures have been sent to the housing with what them upstairs next doorneighbours at 40b been doing and know it alot them doing next door and have been reported to the housing.
Sweets - 28-Jul-21 @ 11:06 AM
Edf tell me did I let the council know what the woman next door upstairs neighbours at 40b tell me to shut my mouth I tell edf yes.
Sweets - 28-Jul-21 @ 9:50 AM
Hello I have call edf so that edf can come and check and make sure that the wiring and the pipe where my gas card meter that them next door upstairs neighbours at 40b not using my gas I was told that no one should be using my gas card meter when it only for me Marie Lawrence them next door upstairs neighbours at 40b have been reported to the housing.
Sweets - 28-Jul-21 @ 9:39 AM
We live in an apartment building which has 4 floors and 1 apartment at each floor. Our neighbor living at the top floor has illegally occupied the roof of the building which is for the whole building. We 3 neighbours wants to write a combined complain against the top floor apartment owner. How can we write a combined complain to the authorities? Is there any significant change in the format of the application?
Mtk - 24-Jun-21 @ 9:47 AM
They are dealing drugs at number 16 and number 13 and number 11 matchwood close and they also nosyie and lound
Samy - 28-May-21 @ 10:55 AM
I have a neighbour who asked 3 times for the land at the side of my garage he eventually removed the boundary hedge placed paving stones down to house his bins. As he opened up my land for people to walk in from his garden I installed a camera on the back of my gate looking down the side of my garage. He contacted the police saying I was watching his wife and daughter ....yet its my land he hasn't understood that if he wouldn't have removed the hedging the camera wouldn't have been put up...he or anyone can just push the gate open walk into my garden and let my dogs out.
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