Latest news with #NoiseAct1996
Daily Record
29-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Householders warned over £5,000 fine for breaking 9am gardening rule
Gardeners should avoid mowing their lawn very early in the morning or late at night to avoid any complications. Gardeners are being warned not to cut their grass too early or risk being slapped with a £5,000 fine. From early morning lawn mowing to loud parties and DIY renovations, experts have revealed the legal complications of springtime activities. While most people assume they are free to mow their lawn whenever they want, the legal reality is more nuanced. Daniel McAfee, Head of Legal Operations at Lawhive said: "There is no nationwide restriction on when individuals may cut their grass; however, the Environmental Protection Act 1990 provides local authorities with powers to address noise that constitutes a statutory nuisance. 'To be more precise, noise that is excessive, unreasonable, and persistent, particularly during unsociable hours, can result in abatement notices, fines up to £5,000, and in some cases, even prosecution.' To stay within legal bounds during gardening work, Daniel advised avoiding very early or late hours. He added: "Generally speaking, it's safest to operate noisy tools between 9am and 7pm." Daniel's top tips to stay within legal bounds during garden work: Notify neighbours in advance of using machinery like hedge trimmers or pressure washers. Opt for quieter tools where possible. Limit duration and avoid back-to-back noisy days, especially on weekends. Consider your neighbours' specific circumstances (e.g., shift workers, infants), and adjust accordingly. Social events and garden gatherings during unsociable hours can also land householders in trouble. Daniel added: "The Noise Act 1996 provides supplementary powers that local authorities may choose to implement specifically for night hours — defined in law as 11:00 pm to 7:00 am. While implementation of the Noise Act is voluntary for councils, many have adopted these provisions to address excessive domestic noise during night hours. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "For the avoidance of doubt, a statutory nuisance can arise at any time of day, provided the noise is both unreasonable and substantially interferes with the use or enjoyment of another person's home, or is likely to cause harm to health. Beyond council action, private civil claims for nuisance may follow, including applications for injunctions and compensation.' If you break any of these rules, you could end up with an abatement notice - basically an official warning requiring the offender to stop the noise disturbance. If you ignore it then you take the risk of being taken to court and given a fine of up to £5,000. These measures aim to maintain community peace and ensure that noise disruptions are kept under control. DIY and renovation projects are another frequent source of tension between neighbours, particularly when carried out over long periods or outside of daytime hours. Daniel added: "Renovation noise is generally lawful but becomes problematic when it is excessive and poorly timed. Again, the Environmental Protection Act 1990 applies, and failure to heed warnings can result in abatement notices or civil claims."
Powys County Times
03-05-2025
- Powys County Times
What time does loud music and noise have to stop in the UK?
Loud music from next-door neighbours, especially on a weekday, is a common headache that comes with living in a residential area. Luckily, there are a number of rules in place to regulate this, as well as sanctioned actions you can take if you are affected. If you're unable to get to sleep and want to know what you can do to get your neighbours to quieten down, look no further. What time does a neighbour need to stop playing loud music in the UK? Estate Agents Ellis and Co says that the Noise Act 1996 defines the maximum acceptable amount of noise that can be made during 'night hours,' which are between 11pm and 7am. The permitted noise levels after 11pm in England and Wales are 34 dBA (decibels adjusted) where background noise is no higher than 24dBA and 10dBA above the level of background noise if this exceeds 24dBA. Disucssing the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004, the Scottish Government states: "In any case where the underlying level of noise does not exceed 21dB between the hours of 23.00 - 07.00 (night), 27dB between the hours of 19.00 - 23.00 (evening) and 31dB between the hours of 07.00 and 19.00 (day), the permitted level shall be 31dB, 37dB and 41dB for each of the noise control periods respectively." While it isn't technically illegal to play loud music after these hours, but doing so makes it easier for the council to take action as it doesn't have to be considered a 'statutory nuisance', according to The Mix. Can I call the police if my neighbours are playing loud music at night? Citizens Advice says you should try and resolve the issue informally by speaking with your neighbours about the noise. If this doesn't work, it might be a good idea to contact their landlord (if they rent) about the issue. If the problem continues, you could also keep a record or diary of the disturbances for future evidence. If an informal approach is unsuccessful, you can take action by contacting your local authority (usually the environmental health department). They might be able to visit your neighbour to ensure the loud music or noise is reduced. Recommended Reading: How high can a garden fence between neighbours be in the UK? Can someone use my driveway to turn around without permission? If the local council officer thinks there is a noise problem, they might be able to issue a notice (for night hours) which allows them to hand out fines if the problem continues. For noise coming from people in public spaces, the police can get involved as this may be classed as anti-social behaviour. This is also the case in Scotland, where police can issue fines and confiscate sound-producing equipment.
Leader Live
03-05-2025
- General
- Leader Live
What time does loud music and noise have to stop in the UK?
Luckily, there are a number of rules in place to regulate this, as well as sanctioned actions you can take if you are affected. If you're unable to get to sleep and want to know what you can do to get your neighbours to quieten down, look no further. Estate Agents Ellis and Co says that the Noise Act 1996 defines the maximum acceptable amount of noise that can be made during 'night hours,' which are between 11pm and 7am. The permitted noise levels after 11pm in England and Wales are 34 dBA (decibels adjusted) where background noise is no higher than 24dBA and 10dBA above the level of background noise if this exceeds 24dBA. Disucssing the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004, the Scottish Government states: "In any case where the underlying level of noise does not exceed 21dB between the hours of 23.00 - 07.00 (night), 27dB between the hours of 19.00 - 23.00 (evening) and 31dB between the hours of 07.00 and 19.00 (day), the permitted level shall be 31dB, 37dB and 41dB for each of the noise control periods respectively." While it isn't technically illegal to play loud music after these hours, but doing so makes it easier for the council to take action as it doesn't have to be considered a 'statutory nuisance', according to The Mix. Police may get involved if the noise is coming from public land (Getty) (Image: Getty Images) Citizens Advice says you should try and resolve the issue informally by speaking with your neighbours about the noise. If this doesn't work, it might be a good idea to contact their landlord (if they rent) about the issue. If the problem continues, you could also keep a record or diary of the disturbances for future evidence. If an informal approach is unsuccessful, you can take action by contacting your local authority (usually the environmental health department). They might be able to visit your neighbour to ensure the loud music or noise is reduced. How high can a garden fence between neighbours be in the UK? Can someone use my driveway to turn around without permission? Can my neighbour lean things on my fence? Here is the law in the UK If the local council officer thinks there is a noise problem, they might be able to issue a notice (for night hours) which allows them to hand out fines if the problem continues. For noise coming from people in public spaces, the police can get involved as this may be classed as anti-social behaviour. This is also the case in Scotland, where police can issue fines and confiscate sound-producing equipment. Police can be contacted on 101 (do NOT use 999 for this).
