Noise control
Party down the street keeping you awake at night? Noisy neighbours making your life a misery? Then call our noise control service - we're here to help keep the volume down.
What is noise nuisance?
Our service aims to tackle unreasonable noise disturbance and reduce its impact on the quality of people's lives in the borough.
We investigate complaints about:
- loud music, TV or radio
- persistent shouting, banging or other unreasonable domestic noise
- parties or other entertainment
- pubs, clubs and entertainment venues
- building and DIY work at unreasonable times of the day
- constant dog barking
- car and burglar alarms.
We do not deal with noise from ordinary domestic activities or where there is poor sound insulation.
What you can do
We provide a rapid response service at night, operating:
Sunday to Thursday evenings: 10pm - 3am
Friday and Saturday evenings: 10pm - 5am
Tel: 020 7926 5999
You can also report noise disturbances during normal office hours, Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm.
Tel: 020 7926 6111
You can also use the complaint about noise form.
What we can do
When you call our night-time telephone hotline, the operator will take the details of your complaint and pass them on to Noise Service officers, who will call you back and make arrangements to visit your home as soon as possible.
They will need to assess the level of the noise from inside your home.
If it's loud enough to be considered a statutory nuisance, the Noise Service officers will visit the person making the noise and ask them to turn it down or turn it off altogether.
The person making the noise will not be told who has made a complaint about them.
Abatement notice
If the noise does not stop or it is not reduced, the officer can serve a legal notice (an abatement notice) on the person responsible for the noise telling them that they are committing an offence if they ignore the notice.
If this doesn't work, the person responsible for the noise may be taken to court and fined up to £5,000.
For noise problems that persist, the council can also apply for a Warrant of Entry which allows officers to seize noise-making equipment used by the perpetrator.
We take noise nuisance seriously
It's our policy to prosecute people who do not co-operate in reducing noise when asked.
People who are taken to court for committing serious noise nuisance may:
- get a criminal record
- be fined up to £5,000
- be evicted from their home if they are a council tenant.
Enforcement policy
We have published our policies on enforcement which you can download.
Enforcement policy for noise and pollution control
What other action can I take?
In some circumstances we may be unable to get sufficient evidence to be able to take action on behalf of an individual who has made a complaint.
Should this happen, you can take independent action by complaining direct to the Magistrates' Court under section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
This is quite simple and need not cost much; you do not need to employ a solicitor, but is advisable to obtain some legal advice.
Download our step-by-step guide on how to take your own legal action.
Are there alternatives to legal action?
We have a partnership with an independent mediation service who can help resolve disputes between neighbours.
What about noise from outdoor music events?
Lambeth has produced Guidance on the control of noise at outdoor events. This guidance provides event organisers, sound engineers, noise consultants, residents and other interested parties with information on acceptable noise levels at outdoor events held at Brockwell Park, Kennington Park, Clapham Common and Streatham Common.
What about noise from construction sites?
Construction sites are a common source of noise pollution.
Lambeth Council has drafted clear, simple guidance for building contractors designed to minimise disruption and noise. Phone Environmental Health on 020 7926 6111 for a copy of the guidance. Briefly, the guidance recommends that contractors (and subcontractors) should inform local residents prior to work commencing and they should provide contact details.
The guidance also specifies that noisy construction work should normally take place between the following hours:
- Monday-Friday, 8.00am - 6.00pm
- Saturdays, 8.00am -1.00pm
- Sunday/Bank Holidays: No noisy activities
What about noise from aircraft?
- The council's powers do not extend to noise from aircraft.
- The council has supported campaigns to limit further development at Heathrow and to stop night flights.
- The British Airports Authority operates a 24hr noise line on which you can report noisy aircraft. The number is 0800 344844.
You may also wish to contact the campaign group Heathrow Association for Control of Aircraft Noise (HACAN) on 020 8876 0455 or visit their website at www.hacan.org.uk
Consultations regarding airports and aircraft movements
The Government has recently consulted about proposals to expand Heathrow Airport and National Air Traffic Services (NATS) has consulted regarding proposed changes to flight paths over London.
Burglar alarms and keyholders
Under the London Local Authority Act 1991, all properties with an audible alarm must be registered with the police.
Keyholder information stored at local police stations is no longer in use. If you are registered you must now register your premises on a new system.
For further information and to register online please visit the official Metropolitan Police Database website.
Our service standards
- During operational hours of both the daytime and night time response service we aim to respond to 80% of complaints about noise nuisance within one hour.
- Complaints requiring ongoing investigation will be allocated to an enforcement officer who will contact you within 5 working days. We aim to respond to 90 per cent of ongoing complaints within 5 working days.
- Your complaint will be dealt with confidentially and we will not disclose your identity or give out your personal details to the person making the noise.
- We aim to answer 90 per cent of our public contact telephone numbers within 15 seconds.
Who to contact
You can contact us by phone or email or by visiting our offices.
Environmental Health
2 Herne Hill Road
London
SE24 0AU
Night-time telephone hotline: 020 7926 5999 (10pm-3am Sunday-Thursday and 10pm-5am Friday and Saturday)
Day-time telephone: 020 7926 6111 (9am-5pm)
Fax: 020 7926 6150
Email: noise@lambeth.gov.uk