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Noise and nuisance

From April 2023, Fixed Penalty Notices will be issued for Noise Nuisance Offences evidenced through the Brent Noise App: £100 residential; £400 business and commercial.

Noise and nuisances

What is a nuisance

A nuisance within the meaning of the law is a noise, smoke, dust, smell or artificial light, that really interferes with your right to enjoy your home

The person or organisation responsible for the nuisance must be acting unreasonably or unlawfully. For something to be a nuisance within the meaning of the law, it must be considered to be unreasonable to the “average person” and something that is more than an annoyance.

What we will investigate

We can usually take action for persistent disturbance from:

  • loud music
  • smoke from bonfires
  • noisy building works and DIY noise at unreasonable times
  • constant dog barking and other noisy domestic animals
  • vehicle and building alarms
  • dust from building sites or commercial premises
  • smells from commercial premises
  • glare from light sources

We do not deal with:

  • Noise from ordinary domestic activities or where there is poor sound insulation.
  • Noise from construction or demolition works within the conventional days and times: Monday to Friday - 8am to 6pm. Saturdays 8am to 1pm.
  • Noise from groups or people talking in gardens and outside areas.
  • Rail works. If you are affected by excessive noise from rail works you can report this to National Rail or call them on 03457 11 41 41.

When we will investigate:

  • Urgent incidents - an investigation will be opened if the incident is so significant the it affects many residents and businesses within the area or it is deemed high risk by the police.
  • Multiple incidents - an investigation will be opened if three or four incidents are reported within a four week period.
  • One off/infrequent incidents - incident will be logged for monitoring but no further action will be taken.

Report a noise nuisance

We usually require three or four separate nuisance-level incidents within a four-week period to open an investigation unless matters are so significant as to warrant early investigation. A significant incident would involve multiple reports affecting many residents and businesses within the area or incidents deemed high risk by the police. One-off or infrequent incidents will be logged for monitoring but no further action will be taken.

Before you start

  • If the nuisance is coming from your neighbour or local business, you may like to approach the person and explain politely that you are being disturbed. Many people are often unaware that their activities are causing disturbance and respond positively to any polite request.
  • If your direct approach has failed you may wish to write to them explaining the problem. Keep copies of any correspondence that you send and make notes of any conversations.
  • If your neighbours are tenants you may wish to contact the landlord, letting agency, housing association or our housing team as there may be conditions of tenancy that are being breached.
  • Start keeping a nuisance incident diary - record dates and times of the nuisance, how it affects you and start and end times. You may also want to record noise on the Noise App.

Report a noise nuisance

You should use the Brent Noise App to tell us about noise nuisance. Alternatively, complete and return a nuisance incident diary after a four-week period.

When you download the Noise App, you can:

  • instantly record noise nuisance on your phone
  • report directly to Brent Council nuisance team
  • create your own personal diary of recordings.
Report a noise nuisance

To report an noise nuisance happening now, you can call:

  • Monday to Friday 11am - 6pm - 0208 937 5252
  • Friday to Sunday  6pm - 2am -  0208 937 1234

What happens next

You should continue to keep a nuisance diary or noise app – recording the dates and times of the noise, how it affects you and start and end times.

The information you provide will not be passed onto the source of the noise without your consent.

Pay a noise nuisance fine

Ignoring a Noise Abatement Notice is a criminal offence. You can be given a £100 fixed penalty notice (FPN) for domestic noise offences and £400 for commercial noise offences. 

You can pay online if you have received a penalty for causing noise nuisance within the meaning or the law.

Payment will discharge your liability to prosecution for the offence.

Pay a noise nuisance fine (FPN)

You can also pay by phone with a debit or credit card by calling: 020 8937 4994

What is a noise nuisance

Playing music too loudly, too often and for too long or at noise sensitive hours can cause nuisance to neighbours. The council may issue you with a noise abatement notice prohibiting such nuisance.

It also includes:

  • noisy building works and DIY noise at unreasonable times
  • constant dog barking and other noisy domestic animals
  • vehicle and building alarms

It is an offence to ignore the noise abatement notice by continuing to cause nuisance to others.

Can I appeal

You have 21 days to appeal a Noise Abatement Notice through the Magistrates Court. There are no formal grounds of appeal against an FPN. If you feel there are mitigating circumstances you can make a representation in writing.

Please allow 21 days for your case to be reviewed. Your fixed penalty will be put on hold while this happens. Note that you may receive an automated reminder letter during this 21 day period.

We cannot accept a representation if you have already paid your FPN.

If you do not agree that you committed the offence, it will be for the court to decide on any penalty based on the evidence.

Can I complain about the behaviour of an Enforcement Officer

If you feel the investigating officer’s behaviour is unacceptable, please write to the address provided on your FPN and your complaint will be investigated.

Making a complaint is treated separately to the issue of the FPN. We recommend that you consider paying the penalty within the time limit provided to prevent any legal action being started for non-payment.

What happens if I don’t pay

An FPN should be paid within 14 days of the date of issue.

Failure to pay a fixed penalty may result in prosecution where the maximum fine at a Magistrates’ Court is £2,500. 

Report other nuisances

We usually require three or four separate nuisance-level incidents within a four-week period to open an investigation unless matters are so significant as to warrant early investigation. A significant incident would involve multiple reports affecting many residents and businesses within the area or incidents deemed high risk by the police. One-off or infrequent incidents will be logged for monitoring but no further action will be taken.

Other nuisances include:

  • smoke from chimneys
  • smoke from bonfires
  • dust from building sites or commercial premises
  • smells from commercial premises
  • glare from light sources.

Before you start

  • If the nuisance is coming from your neighbour or local business, you may like to approach the person and explain politely that you are being disturbed. Many people are often unaware that their activities are causing disturbance and respond positively to any polite request.
  • If your direct approach has failed you may wish to write to them explaining the problem. Keep copies of any correspondence that you send and make notes of any conversations.
  • If your neighbours are tenants you may wish to contact the landlord, letting agency, housing association or our housing team as there may be conditions of tenancy that are being breached.
  • Start keeping a nuisance diary - record dates and times of the nuisance, how it affects you and start and end times.

What to include in your report

You need to tell us:

  • where the nuisance in coming from – the address
  • a description of the nuisance
  • the dates and times of the nuisance
  • how often the disturbance occurs
  • how the nuisance affects you

Report a nuisance online

You should use the online form to report nuisances that are not noise related. Alternatively, complete and return a nuisance incident diary after a four-week period.

Report a nuisance online

To report an noise nuisance happening now, you can call:

  • Monday to Friday 11am - 6pm - 0208 937 5252
  • Friday to Sunday  6pm - 2am -  0208 937 1234

What happens next

You should continue to keep a nuisance diary – recording the dates and times of the nuisance, how it affects you and start and end times.

The information you provide will not be passed onto the source of the nuisance without your consent.

Don't be a nuisance

Simple acts can often be taken to prevent complaints being made about you. You should take the following guidance into consideration.

DIY

Before starting and during DIY works, you should:

  • consider the impact upon your neighbours
  • discuss the works with any neighbours who will be affected
  • take into account any special needs your neighbour may have, such as shift work, children’s sleep patterns, people working from home etc
  • try to reach an agreement on the least intrusive times when noisy work may be carried out
  • complete DIY works as quickly as possible.

Loud music and parties

If you are planning a party your neighbours are likely to be more understanding if you give them at least a weeks’ notice.

  • Don’t just tell your immediate neighbours but all those who may be affected. This is particularly important in blocks of flats.
  • Provide an end time and keep to it so neighbours know when to expect it to stop. Make sure the end time is reasonable. 
  • A common misconception is that you are allowed to play loud music before 11pm. This is incorrect, the law requires neighbourly and considerate behaviour at all times.
  • During your party go outside and check noise levels. Often its the bass notes of music that are the problem.
  • Sound has a greater impact later at night when other background noise levels reduce.
  • You may want to hire a venue or hall instead of using your home.
  • Keep as many of your windows and doors closed as possible to control the noise. This is particularly important as the evening progresses.
  • Do not let your party spread onto communal areas, balconies or the street.
  • If your guests are leaving late at night ask them to say their goodbyes inside your home and no sounding of car horns.
  • If you intend to play music outside, your ability to control the noise is seriously reduced. You should start the party earlier so the party can finish earlier or continue inside.  

Pets and animals

  • Dogs especially can be problematic, especially when they bark or whine for prolonged periods.
  • When leaving the dog unattended indoors make arrangements to leave it with a neighbour or friend or get someone to call in.
  • Leaving toys and possibly leaving a radio on at a low volume will help to occupy them.

We recommend you do not keep cockerels as pets as they can often disturb neighbours with their ‘crowing

Car and building alarms

  • If you are installing a new alarm system you should take steps to ensure your alarm system is well maintained and has an automatic cut-off device fitted to stop the alarm sounding after 20 minutes.
  • Often car alarms keep going off because of faulty sensors, low battery, wiring problems, and broken key fobs. Make sure you check these with a mechanic and keep you car in good repair.
  • If you are installing a new building alarm system you can notify the council with details of two key holders who can be contacted in your absence if your alarm is causing a nuisance.

Bonfires, barbecues and smoke

We recommend that you do not have bonfires as it is likely that the smoke will cause nuisance to your neighbours and contribute to local air pollution. Although it is not illegal to have a bonfire it is an offence to:

  • emit dark smoke from industrial or trade premises
  • burn trade waste

The council does not generally deal with odour or smoke associated with barbecues.

You should ensure you: 

  • barbecue as far away as possible from neighbours doors and windows, so perhaps the end of the garden
  • put the barbecue out as soon as you are finished
  • do not burn any trade waste materials. The burning of this type of waste is an offence which carries fines up to £20,000

Contact the Nuisance Control Team

Address:
Nuisance Control Team

Brent Civic Centre

Engineer’s Way

Wembley

HA9 0FJ

Opening hours: Monday to Friday - 11am to 6pm

Friday to Sunday - 6pm to 2am

Report a noise nuisance: Download the Brent Noise App


Report other nuisances: Online nuisance form