Introduction

There are many ways in which people can be disturbed by noise. These include noise from neighbours or businesses, and noise in the street. Cornwall Council can investigate certain types of noise nuisance. Examples include:

• Intruder alarms 
• Neighbour noise such as: 
• regular rowdy parties 
• persistent dog barking 
• DIY at unsuitable times 
• house alarm 
• late night music 
• Entertainment noise including live bands and recorded music 
• Building noise, for example a generator, night or weekend working 
• Noise from business premises, including extraction system, early morning deliveries 
• Industrial noise such as a generator or wind turbine 
• Sport and leisure activities including from skateboard parks and clay target shooting 
• Noise from farming activities such as bird scarers not operating in accordance with the NFU code of practice 
• Street noise from parked vehicles, such as car alarms, noisy car repairs, parked HGV refrigeration units 

Ideas for you

Before you make a complaint to the Council please visit Noise – Cornwall Council you may also want to consider the following steps:

Try to resolve the problem informally 

• Try talking to the person or business causing the noise. Sometimes people don’t realise that other people can hear their noise. 
• If you’re worried about approaching them you could write a polite letter. You should explain the problem clearly and sticking to the facts. 
• If the problem affects other neighbours it may be easier to settle if the complaint comes from a number of people. 
• A tenants’ association might help if you’re a member of one. 

Contact the landlord 

• If you and your neighbour are in rented social housing, including Cornwall Housing. You should first speak with your Housing Officer. Housing providers may also be able to provide mediation. 
• If your neighbour is in rented property, you can complain direct to their landlord. This could be a housing association or a private landlord. Some of the main social housing providers are: 

• Cornwall Housing 
• Ocean Housing 
• Coastline Housing 
• Cornwall Rural Housing Association 
• LiveWest 
• Westward Housing 
• Sanctuary Housing 

If you don’t know who the private landlord is, you could first speak with the letting agent, who may be able to help you. 

Things that might help

Take your own legal action:

• You can complain about noise nuisance directly to a Magistrates’ court. There are steps that you have to follow and there are costs involved. Further information is available in the Taking your own action leaflet. 
  
• You can take other private legal action, and you may be able to claim compensation. However, taking someone to court can be expensive. There may be court fees and you may have to pay a solicitor. You may therefore wish to: 

1. seek legal advice from a solicitor 
2. get some free legal advice from a law centre or Citizens’ Advice.