Noise

Alarms are designed to make a noise – however if you have an alarm which rings often and for a long period of time, this can disturb others. You can help limit unnecessary alarm noise by:

• Ensure you choose a reliable product and ensure it’s serviced regularly.
• Ensuring car and intruder alarms have a 20 minute cut out.
• Ensuring your alarm system is well maintained.
• Making sure your windows are firmly closed when you leave
• Leaving a key to your property with someone close by who can disable the alarm, and leaving their details with your neighbours.

DIY jobs – such as drilling and hammering can create a lot of noise.

• Whenever possible, let your neighbours know that you are undertaking noisy work and try to work during normal waking hours.
• Carry out the noisiest tasks in the middle of the day – if you must start early, do quieter jobs first.
• Keep tools well maintained and use lower/quieter settings on power tools where feasible. Where possible use hand tools.
• Consider your neighbours when moving furniture. Wherever possible lift and move into place to reduce any noise nuisance.

Our gardens are a place to rest, relax and play. Gardens tend to offer minimal sound insulation so your garden activities can have a greater effect on neighbours. 

• Try and carry out noisy activities in the middle of the day for example mowing the lawn.
• Where possible purchase quieter equipment and maintain your equipment properly.
• If a child’s toy or game is extremely noisy, try and find quieter alternatives.
• If you have a barbeque or party, tell your neighbours, invite them if appropriate, avoid amplified music out of doors and if anyone does complain, turn it down. Either end your party or bring your guests indoors at a reasonable time.

• Take care when closing doors – particularly if you live in a flat with a shared entrance – and particularly late at night and early in the morning. Please keep your voice low through the communal space too as lots of noise can be made by sound echoing through corridors.
• If expecting a visitor/taxi, ask them to knock rather than sound the horn and try not to slam your door or car doors.
• Cupboard doors can also be annoying – particularly if the units are fixed to party walls.
• Avoid slamming doors. Inexpensive adhesive furniture pads can be a very effective way of reducing noise by sticking these to the inside of the cupboard door or around an internal door frame.
• Consider people in our modern world may have different work patterns. However between the times of 7am to 10pm are considered daytime hours. Please show tolerance of everyday living noise, such as children playing, if your working hours are different.
• Wear soft sole shoes or slippers when moving around your home.
• Children will be children. Consider the types of toys they have and limit the use of scooters or bikes etc indoors. Be mindful to keep the noise to a reasonable level.

Music tastes vary so do not assume just because you like a song your neighbour will want to hear it as well.

• With amplified sound, keep the volume down, especially the bass which can be more annoying than higher frequencies. Don’t put speakers on or close to party walls, ceilings or floors.
• If you have a bedroom TV, keep it quiet at night – especially if your bedroom adjoins someone else’s.
• If playing an instrument, practice where and when it will have least impact on neighbours.
• Where possible, use headphones, especially if you listen to music late at night or in the early hours of the morning.
• Be mindful of open windows.
• Avoid placing your television or speakers next to a shared wall. If you are someone who needs the television at a higher volume, most modern television sets are compatible with headphones.

Leaving animals alone is sometimes inevitable, but it means they can get lonely, and regular barking noise can disturb neighbours. If you have our permission to have a pet in your home, try to avoid leaving your pet alone for too long and make sure they have plenty of toys to keep them occupied. Allowing a dog to bark persistently can be regarded as a statutory nuisance if the noise is intrusive or irritating for neighbours.

• You could consider leaving the radio on at an appropriate level to keep your pet company if you are out during the daytime, or you could arrange for a dog sitter
• Dogs bark – but only bark a lot if they are not content. If you have to leave your dog alone, make sure it’s well exercised and fed. Some dogs like a radio for company, or get a friend or neighbour to look in. If your dog continues to bark, consider dog training. The Dog’s Trust has guidance on how to stop your dog barking which you can click here to visit. You can also click here to read the RSPCA’s guidance on how to train your dog to be left alone 
• Cats can wail and fight – as they are independent they can be difficult to manage – however if a neighbour complains about your cat at least try and keep it in at night.
• If you have a caged bird that likes to sing and squawk, make sure it’s kept where it will least disturb neighbours, particularly at night.
• Some caged pets tend to be more active at night -chewing and rattling their cages. Consider carefully where and how such pets are housed.

• When buying new appliances, buy a quieter model – not all models have a noise rating, but look out for the “Quiet Mark”. Where possible, position them to cause the least disturbance to your neighbour.
• For washing machines, if possible, place on an even floor; do not overload and run the machine at a time when it will least disturb neighbours – remember the final spin is the noisiest bit.
• Consider installing an anti-vibration washing machine mat under your appliance. These are relatively inexpensive and can reduce the noise you and your neighbours hear when the machine is on its final spins.
• Do the vacuuming at a reasonable time – especially if you live in a flat or terrace, avoid early morning or late night cleaning sprees.
• In the kitchen, avoid banging pans and cupboard doors and don’t use blenders/grinders on surfaces attached to party walls.

Thinking of replacing a carpet with a hard floor finish?

When considering floor coverings we ask that residents in flats do not lay laminate flooring. Research has shown that when a carpet is removed and replaced with wood or laminate flooring the noise your neighbour in the property below experiences will increase significantly. You need to seek our permission if you are considering laying wooden, tile or laminate flooring in any flat or apartment.

Hard floor surfaces such as timber laminates, sanded floorboards and ceramic tiles have become increasingly popular in recent years. This trend has however, led to an increasing number of complaints with regard to noise and disturbance to neighbours.

Minimising noise transmission

To avoid disturbing neighbours consider new flooring products such as luxury vinyl tile. It is sound-absorbing due to its foam-backed qualities and does not transfer as much noise as laminate, which needs something like an acoustic reduction underlay to reduce the sound.

The advantages are:

• they reduce noise transmission to your neighbours 
• they reduce noise and vibration in your own home
• they allow the floor to be more resilient and reduce injuries to children and the elderly when they fall

If you are someone who is sensitive to noise, you are not alone. Living next to, beneath or around others will generate a certain amount of daily living noise which for the most part we can all tolerate. Have you ever noticed how much sound echoes in an empty room? Some quick low-cost ways to soundproof a room are:

• Use furniture, such as a bookcase or room divider against the wall that adjoins with your neighbour’s home.
• Install wooden shutters as a way to absorb noise through windows.
• Add soft furnishings to your rooms; cushions, curtains, rugs and carpets. All of these will absorb sound.
• Hang pictures or cork boards on your walls. There are many products available which have adhesive fixings. If you are planning a significant change to the internal walls of your home, you should always seek our permission before carrying out any work. Click here for more information on making improvements your home.

You can also use earplugs and noise-cancelling headphones to help maintain your wellbeing if you’re sensitive to noise. These can be relatively cheap to buy and help millions of people deal with everyday noise. Sleeping in earplugs is also an option- it can take some getting used to, but once you become familiar with falling asleep with earplugs in your ears, they can improve how long you sleep, and the quality of sleep you have.

If you are experiencing noise nuisance, wherever possible, do speak with your neighbour. Often they may be unaware of any issues.

If things don’t improve, please click on the blue and purple buttons below to work out if the noise nuisance you're experiencing is or is not anti-social behaviour (ASB), and what steps you need to take. If you cannot find a solution that works for you below, please get in touch by emailing customerservice@networkhomes.org.uk or calling 0300 373 3000.

Once you've logged a noise complaint with us, you can record any excessive noise nuisance you're experiencing using The Noise App. Your evidence will be sent directly to our Neighbourhood teams so we can assess any reasonable steps available for us to take.

Click here to find out more about the Noise App