Noise

Reporting noise nuisance

Of all the different forms of antisocial behaviour we deal with, noise nuisance is one of the most reported.

It isn’t unreasonable to hear sounds such as:

• Banging of doors.
• Loud talking from adjoining properties and/or communal areas.
• Noise from everyday living, such as babies crying, children playing, DIY, loud car exhausts or noise from passing vehicles.
• One-off parties or events – such as bonfire night.

However, we do acknowledge that unreasonable and excessive noise at any time of the day and night can be very aggravating and distressing.

Melin will only consider noise nuisance to be antisocial behaviour where the noise is deemed to be unacceptable, excessively loud, and persistent noise, that most people would consider unreasonable. For cases that do not meet the threshold for it to be considered antisocial behaviour (for example, first-time reports of noise or one-off incidents), Melin will encourage residents to find their own solutions. We will offer residents guidance and practical support to have constructive and safe conversations with each other, often through community resolutions such as mediation.

If you are experiencing noise nuisance, we strongly recommend that you contact us so that our Community Safety team can assess the noise being reported to get a better understanding of the situation. They will consider the cause, source, and duration of the noise, along with the impact the noise is having on you.

Our procedure is as follows:

1. If you are being affected or disturbed by a noise nuisance caused by a Melin resident, the first thing you should do is get in touch with us through our customer contact centre.
2. Our Customer Contact Team will notify our Community Safety team about the issues you have reported.
3. A member of the Community Safety team will then get back in touch with you to discuss your concerns and to agree an action plan as a way forward.
4. We may need to gather more information about the noise disturbances you are experiencing. If so, we might ask you to download and use the Noise App to record any further incidents of noise.
5. You may be asked to submit noise recordings for a fortnight, these recordings will then be reviewed by our community safety team. If there is a serious incident during that fortnight, we will review the recordings sooner.

Note: Your Noise App account will not be activated until you have followed this process and made a formal report of noise nuisance directly to us.

Loud noise and music

Melin will only consider noise nuisance to be antisocial behaviour where the noise is deemed to be unacceptable, excessively loud, and persistent noise, that most people would consider unreasonable.

To establish if this is the case, it's useful to ask yourself the following questions:

• Is the noise loud, and/or does it have some other annoying quality which makes it disturbing?
• Is it frequent and how long does it normally last?
• Does the noise occur at unreasonable times, such as very early in the morning or late in the evening?
• Is it due to unreasonable behaviour, and is the noise problem easily put right?
• Does the noise arise from normal behaviour?
• Could the real problem be poor sound insulation between the properties?
• Crucially, would a reasonable person consider the noise to be a nuisance, having regard to the circumstances?
• Before reporting a noise to Melin we would suggest you have a friendly word with your neighbour first as they may not be aware they are disturbing you. We’ve put together some tips to help you resolve problems with neighbours.

If you still feel you are being disturbed, we suggest you contact the local authority’s environmental health team. Should they take enforcement action, we consider taking proportionate action against those accused of causing the noise.

For cases that are not considered antisocial behaviour (for example, first-time reports of noise or one-off incidents) and where the situation has not improved, mediation might be of help to you. It’s an informal, confidential, and independent service available to help neighbours sort out their differences and reach an agreement. They can help you and your neighbour(s) understand each other’s point of view and reach a solution. Please ask and we can refer you.

Neighbours shouting or arguing

We would not usually consider this to be antisocial behaviour. Before reporting the incident, and it feels safe to do so, please consider the following:

• Having a friendly word with your neighbour, as they may not be aware you can hear them.
• If this does not work, or you do not feel it safe to approach your neighbour directly, we advise contacting Melin, so that we can investigate whether the noise is antisocial behaviour.

If you suspect there may be immediate danger to one or more members of the household, or you are concerned about the welfare of anybody in the property, please contact the police.

If you have any welfare concerns, please contact us for further advice and guidance.

Children and young people playing

We would not consider this to be antisocial behaviour. Young people do have a right to play and interact with other youngsters; play is crucial to a child’s development and should be encouraged.

Football and ball games in themselves are not antisocial or illegal. ‘No ball games’ signs are advisory and are not enforceable.

Babies crying

We would not consider this to be antisocial behaviour. However, if you feel there is a risk to the child/children, please report this to the police immediately.

Dog barking

It's natural for dogs to bark. Although, it can be annoying and upsetting when it happens often and for long periods of time, dog barking is only considered antisocial behaviour if it's persistent. This means the noise needs to be a frequent, daily occurrence, with continuous periods of barking.

We would suggest you try to speak to your neighbour first. They may not be aware their dog is causing a disturbance (particularly if they are not at home during the day when the dog is barking).

If you don't feel comfortable about approaching your neighbour, or you have tried and the situation hasn't improved, you should contact your local authority's environmental health team.

If the dog barking is not considered antisocial behaviour, we can offer to refer you and neighbour to our confidential mediation service to help you find a constructive and amicable solution.

If you have concerns about the welfare of a pet, you should contact the RSPCA.

DIY/home improvement works

We would not usually consider this to be antisocial behaviour. Before reporting the incident, and it feels safe to do so, please consider having a friendly word with your neighbour, as they may not be aware you can hear them.

If this does not work, or you do not feel it safe to approach your neighbour directly, we advise contacting Melin or the local authority’s environmental health team, so that the noise disturbances can be investigated and determine whether to be antisocial behaviour.

General living

We would not usually consider this to be antisocial behaviour. ‘General living’ includes noises such as opening/closing doors, vacuuming, footsteps, general conversation, using appliances such as washing machines.

You may want to speak to your neighbour as they may not be aware that you can hear them.

Parties and BBQs

We would not consider one-off parties or BBQs to be antisocial behaviour, as long as they do not cause excessive noise during unsociable hours.

We would suggest you have a friendly word with your neighbour first as they may not have been aware that they are disturbing you.