Noise nuisance

  • The Night Time Noise Service is open Friday and Saturday nights from 21.00 - 05.30 the following morning. The last weekend the service will run is 28 September 2019.
  • Phone 01484 414828

There are several different ways of dealing with the problem of noise. These are the options:

Speak to the person causing the problem

They may respond better to a polite word from you rather than a visit from a council official.

Write to the person causing the problem

They may respond better to a polite letter from you rather than an official one from the council.

Here is a Sample letter to send to your neighbour which includes some of the points that you could use.

Use a mediation service

This can prove effective in finding long-term solutions to neighbour issues and it can avoid the possible unpleasantness that may arise if the council becomes involved and has to take formal action.

Yorkshire Mediation is an independent organisation offers a confidential dispute resolution service across Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield. Contact them if you think you would benefit from mediation.

Complain to Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing or registered social landlords

If you live in a house managed by Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing (KNH), or if the problems come from a KNH tenant, action may be taken under the terms of the tenancy agreement. Your local housing office will be able to give you advice on this: Neighbourhood housing offices

Similar action may be taken by registered social landlords if their tenants are in breach of tenancy conditions.

Complain to us

How to complain to us

Fill in our simple online form.

Clock Completing this form takes around 10 minutes

Paperclip We are unable to investigate anonymous complaints. If you make a complaint your details are kept confidential. See our privacy statement

Report it

After you've complained

We will visit your neighbour and/or write to them telling them we have received a complaint and explain their responsibilities about nuisance. We do not tell them the name of the person who has complained at this stage.

If the problem continues

  • We will ask you to keep written records which help us to try to witness the problem and enable us to take formal action. You can record them on this Complaints record sheet. Make sure you record:
    • the date
    • start and finish times
    • description of the nuisance
    • where it is coming from
    • how if affects you
  • Formal action may be by a legal notice and ultimately prosecution.

If the case goes to court

  • We may require you to be a witness and may not be able to keep the complaint anonymous.
  • You may have to give evidence in a court of law against the person causing the problem.
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Consult a solicitor

You could use a solicitor to write a letter on your behalf to the person causing the problem or to give you legal advice.

Take your own legal action

You can take your own legal action in the Magistrates' Court. We have an information booklet about how to do this. Contact us if you would like a copy of it.

Contact West Yorkshire Police

The Police deal with certain types of neighbour problems such as those involving violence, or threatening behaviour.

  • Police (non-emergency)
  • Phone 101

Playing loud music

There is no set volume that you can play music. It depends whether anyone is likely to be disturbed by the noise.

There are no set times when you can play loud music. It depends whether you are causing annoyance. In general, daytime noise is more likely to be tolerated than night time noise.

We can't take action against occasional cars passing through. However, if there is a persistent offender, report it and we will investigate.

Burglar alarms

Repeated or prolonged ringing of alarms can cause nuisance and distress to neighbours. We can take steps to disconnect alarms and charge or even prosecute owners for this.

Alarms should be fitted with an automatic cut out to silence them after 20 minutes.

Nominate burglar alarm keyholders

Fill in our simple online form to register your alarm keyholders with the Police and the council.

Clock Completing this form takes around 5 minutes

Register keyholders

After you've registered them

Keyholders may be contacted if your alarm rings for a long period of time

Barking dogs

What to do when a neighbours dog is always barking and causing a noise nuisance.