Noise

Use our tool below to find out how noisy you are.

We would not usually consider general day to day living noise to be antisocial behaviour. Try talking to your neighbour as they may be unaware that you can hear them.

Loud music, dogs barking, doors banging and DIY are all common noise complaints. Remember that no house or flat is totally soundproof and that noise travels further than you probably realise.

Everyone will hear some noise from their neighbours and we ask you to be tolerant to noises that are not in your neighbour’s control such as crying babies, washing machines or extractor fans.

Here are a few tips on reducing noise levels:

Alarms

Alarms are a good way to secure your home, out buildings and vehicles but misfiring alarms can be annoying and disturb your neighbours peace. Change batteries and have your systems serviced regularly. Car alarms should have a 20 minute cut off time.

Gardens 

Be mindful when you are using your garden as your neighbours will be able to hear everything. Try to carry out noisy activities in the middle of the day, such as mowing the lawn.

If you are planning a BBQ or garden party, let your neighbours know beforehand and make sure your bring your guests back indoors at a reasonable time. Tell your neighbours to let you know if the noise is disturbing them, and respond politely and let them know you will turn it down.

Household appliances

When buying a new appliance, consider choosing a quieter model. Washing machines need to be placed on even flooring, avoid overloading and run at a time which won’t disturb your neighbours. The final spin is the noisiest part.

Avoid hoovering at unsociable times like early in the morning or late at night, especially if you live in a flat. If a neighbour tells you that a particular device can be heard, be mindful a what times you use it.

Other noise disturbances

If you live in an upstairs flat, we advise not to have laminate flooring laid as this type of flooring does not insulate against noise very well.

Be considerate when entering and leaving your home, avoid banging doors and having loud conversations at unsociable times. Noise in communal hallways and stairwells will travel.

If you are planning a party or gathering, tell your neighbours in advance and end it at a reasonable time. Tell your neighbour to let you know if the noise levels get too loud.

 

 

We would not consider your neighbour carrying out DIY to be antisocial behaviour. They may not realise they are causing a disturbance so please speak to them in the first instance and try to explain how it is effecting you.

You could come to an agreement on what time of day is best to use noisy tools.

We all need to carry out repair or decorating work on our homes but if the job you are planning to do is particularly noisy, let your neighbours know in advance. If you need to start early, make sure you carry out the quieter jobs first and plan the noisier ones in the middle of the day.

‘Persistent noise nuisance’ means the noise lasts for continuous periods of over 30 minutes a day for at least five days within one week. ‘Unsocial hours’ is after 11pm and before 7am.

If talking to them does not resolve the issue, you can contact your local authority's Environmental Health department who will be able to advise and assist.

If your neighbour is a West Kent tenant, we will be able to help. Please download and complete diary sheets and send them to us via the online ASB reporting form.

 

If you have concerns about the welfare of a pet you should contact the RSPCA online or call them on 0300 123 4999.

We believe all of our residents deserve the right to live in their homes in peace and quiet. We ask our residents to be considerate and tolerant to their neighbours too. 

Dogs only bark when there is something wrong. If you leave your dog for long periods of time, ask a friend or neighbour to check in on them. It also helps if you leave a radio on low to keep your dog company.

Barking can also be a sign of boredom so think of ways to keep your dog entertained while you are out such as a toy or bone. If your dogs barking continues, you should consider dog training. If you are disturbed by your neighbour's dog barking persistently or at unsocial hours, if you feel you are able to approach them to talk about it then you should do so. They may not be aware there is a problem.

Cats tend to wail and fight, it’s more difficult for a cat owner to control their cat's behaviour, but you could consider making your cat stay in overnight if they are regularly causing a disturbance.

If you own a caged animal, think about where you place the cage to minimise any noises heard by your neighbours. Some caged animals tend to be more active at night which can cause a disturbance.

‘Persistent noise nuisance’ means the noise lasts for continuous periods of over 30 minutes a day for at least five days within one week. ‘Unsocial hours’ is after 11pm and before 7am.

If talking to them does not resolve the issue, you can contact your local authority's Environmental Health department who will be able to advise and assist. If you're not sure who your local authority is, you can find out using the Gov.uk tool.

If your neighbour is a West Kent tenant, we will be able to help. Please download and complete diary sheets and send them to us via the online ASB reporting form.

 

We would not consider children playing or babies crying to be antisocial behaviour.

We do understand it can be annoying but playing is an essential part of a child’s growth and development. Consider speaking to your neighbour to see if you can find a solution that works for you all, such as limiting noisy toys to certain times of the day.

 

 

 

Just because you enjoy your music, you should not expect your neighbour to have to listen to it too.

We believe all of our residents deserve the right to enjoy their home whilst being considerate and tolerant to their neighbours. We would only consider loud music to be anti-social behaviour if it was persistent.

‘Persistent noise nuisance’ means the noise lasts for continuous periods of over 30 minutes a day for at least five days within one week. ‘Unsocial hours’ is after 11pm and before 7am.

Try talking to them in the first instance and explaining how the noise is affecting you. They may not realise they are causing a nuisance. If talking to them does not resolve the issue, you can contact your local authority's Environmental Health department who will be able to advise and assist.

If you like listening to your music loud, consider buying some headphones so your neighbours do not have to listen to your music as well. If you’re not using headphones, keep it at an acceptable level and be mindful of open windows.

Think about where you keep your speakers, move them away from shared walls, ceilings and floors. Make sure the bass is not set on high as this can be especially annoying to your neighbours.

If you play a musical instrument, think about when and where you play it. Practise during the day and in a room that is less likely to have an impact on those around you.

Find your local authority

We would not consider a one-off argument as antisocial behaviour. However, if it happens regularly and you have concerns over someone’s safety, you should contact Kent Police.

If the argument is happening right now and you believe someone is in danger, call 999, otherwise you can call 101.

If you're concerned about domestic abuse here, you should visit our domestic abuse page. 

‘Persistent noise nuisance’ means the noise lasts for continuous periods of over 30 minutes a day for at least five days within one week. ‘Unsocial hours’ is after 11pm and before 7am.

If you do not have any concerns but the arguing or shouting is affecting you, please speak with your neighbour if you feel safe to do so. They might not know that you can hear them.

If talking to them doesn't help and your neighbour is a West Kent tenant, we will be able to help. Please download and complete diary sheets  and send them to us via the online ASB reporting form.

 

We would not consider this to be anti-social behaviour.

If you live in an upstairs flat, we advise not to have laminate flooring laid as this type of flooring does not insulate against noise very well. Footsteps, chairs scraping and items being dropped can sound much louder to the person below when you have laminate flooring.

Try speaking with your neighbour and explain how the noises are affecting you, they may not realise you can hear them.