Nuisance neighbours can have a real impact on your health and wellbeing. From unwanted noise to a lack of privacy, inconsiderate neighbours can quickly turn your dream home into a nightmare!
Luckily, there are steps you can take to minimise disruption and tackle the problem in practical ways. Our experts are here to help you tackle common problems with nuisance neighbours, such as late night disturbances and barking dogs.
Read on to learn what to do if your neighbours set up a hotel in their garden, what to do if you want more privacy in your backyard and ways to soundproof your home.
How to deal with nuisance neighbours – your problems answered!
Q. I work from home and my neighbour’s dog barks all day while they are out of the house – is there anything I can do?
Esme Wheeler, RSPCA pet welfare expert and clinical animal behaviourist, says…
Dogs bark for lots of reasons – and their owners may not be aware that they’re barking when they’re out. In the first instance, please approach them to let them know; they may appreciate the information so they can address any issues, such as separation-related behaviour problems, which is one of the most common causes of barking and affects approximately eight in 10 dogs.
Dogs should never be left for long periods, and teaching dogs to settle for short periods can take some time, so please be patient with your neighbour. If this doesn’t help, then you should contact the local authority to make a noise complaint.
Please don’t call our emergency hotline, as our teams are incredibly busy trying to help animals suffering cruelty and neglect, and a call about a barking dog could block our phone lines.
Council staff have statutory powers, so are better placed to investigate the barking and will contact us if they have welfare concerns we can assist with.
Q. My next-door neighbour has set up a holiday rental in their garden and now they have noisy guests there most weekends – can I ask them to stop?
Annabel Clark, a dispute resolution partner at Keystone Law, who handles cases across a wide range of areas, says…
The first thing you should do is talk to your next-door neighbour who, if they continue to live in their house while renting out their garden room, may also be concerned by the noise from their holiday guests most weekends. You should express your concerns about the level and timing of the noise nuisance, and suggest some reasonable restrictions to include.
For example, a time when outside music should be turned off, the number of guests allowed, and anything else relevant to your particular circumstances. If they are unwilling to cooperate, you may wish to consider with the local authority planning department whether they have the correct permissions to let out the garden room as accommodation. Different planning regulations apply when there are bedrooms in garden rooms.
You can also report particular instances of noise nuisance to the council. If it’s regular, keep a diary to record the time, duration and nature of the noise. If it’s a one-off that is unbearable, you should call the local noise abatement officer. Every set of circumstances is different, and if in doubt you should take legal advice.
Keep a diary to record the time, duration and nature of the noise
Annabel Clark, a dispute resolution partner at Keystone Law
Gloria Elliott OBE, chief executive of Noise Abatement Society, a UK charity dedicated to cutting noise and improving soundscapes for people, says…
Noise pollution can be a statutory nuisance caused by a variety of activities, including loud neighbour noise and can be extremely distressing and disturbing. The law in respect of noise states that no-one (person, business, or other entity) may cause a statutory nuisance.
However, what constitutes this is determined upon investigation by your local authority environmental health team as they enforce noise law, and also the police in certain cases. It’s important to understand how your local authority and/or police assess noise complaints as each case must be decided on its merits.
Resolving noise complaints can sometimes be a lengthy process so persistence is key. If other neighbours nearby are similarly affected by the noise, then involving them may further support complaints in some cases.
Further information and resources for resolving noise complaints can be found at gov.uk in the section ‘Resolving neighbour disputes’.
Q. I want to raise the height of my fence for privacy, but my nosy neighbour wants the space left open – do I need their approval?
Paula Higgins, CEO of HomeOwners Alliance, which exists to give practical help to homeowners across every aspect of buying, owning and selling, says…
Most residential properties can have a fence up to two metres in height – including trellis – without requiring planning permission.
If you plan to install a higher fence, then you will need to seek approval from the planning department of your local authority. If this is the case, then your neighbour will be able to raise an objection, but you do not need to get their approval as long as the fence is on your property.
That said, it’s essential to be clear about the boundaries of your property and to check that the fence is indeed yours, as it is possible to have a shared boundary or fence. You can do this by looking at your property deeds.
Contrary to common belief, there is no hard and fast rule as to who gets the front (or smooth side) of the fence. If you are paying for the fence, it can face any direction you like, as long as the posts are within your boundary. But we would always advise that you avoid getting into a dispute with your neighbour by letting them enjoy the smooth side of the fence; especially in this case, where they are not happy with the fence in the first place.
Q. There is a leak in my flat coming from my upstairs neighbour. We are both renters, living in a converted terraced house. Who’s responsible for repairing the leak and fixing the damage?
Nick Donlon, housing expert at Citizens Advice, who has worked in housing advice for over a decade, says…
If the leak from your neighbour’s flat has caused damage to the structure of your home, then your landlord is likely to be responsible for repairing it. Your landlord might also be responsible if your home isn’t safe for you to live in, but only once they know about this damage. Your landlord is unlikely to be liable for any damage to your belongings if they weren’t responsible for the leak.
If the flood or leak was caused by your neighbour being careless, for example they left the bath to overflow, you could make a claim against your neighbour on the grounds of nuisance or negligence. You could claim for the damage caused to your belongings, but in this case it’s best to first speak to your neighbour.
If you share the same landlord with your neighbour and the cause of the leak was the failure to make repairs in their flat, which is down to your landlord, then they could also be responsible for the damage caused by the leak.
How to soundproof a room
Be a considerate neighbour by minimising noise in your own home – follow these five steps to soundproof your house
- Place rugs above hard flooring or invest in padding beneath carpet, to help reduce footfall noise. This can be particularly beneficial on stairs and upper floors.
- Hang heavyweight curtains in front of windows and your front door, as a barrier to block out sound.
- Upgrade cabinet door and drawer hinges to soft-close mechanisms, or add adhesive bumper pads to help absorb impact and prevent slamming.
- Strategically place large pieces of furniture – such as bookshelves or sofas – against shared walls to act as sound absorbers. Also try to seal cracks and gaps around the skirting with caulking, to prevent noise travelling between the walls.
- Establish mutual quiet hours with your adjoining neighbours. Night hours are generally accepted as being from 11pm until 7am. Being mindful of noise during early-morning and late-evening hours can contribute to a more harmonious living environment for everyone.
How to deal with noisy neighbours according to the experts
If you have noisy neighbours, the good news is that there are measures you can take to deal with any disturbances, especially if the noise is a regular occurrence. Our experts recommend discussing the situation with your neighbours as a first step – if that doesn't work, you can take your complaint to the authorities.
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