NOISY NEIGHBOURS: A NOISE COMPLAINT MADE EVERY 80 SECONDS

·         In 2019, nearly 424,000 noise complaints were made to local councils across the UK – the equivalent of one every 80 seconds

·         Music and parties (28 per cent), domestic (14 per cent) and animal noise (13 per cent) were the top three causes for complaints over the past three years

·         London is the noisiest region, but Belfast, Newport and Coventry all make the top 10 noisiest local authorities

·         Nearly 24 million people believe antisocial noise from neighbours during lockdown has adversely impacted their mental wellbeing

A noise complaint is raised with a local council in the UK every 80 seconds, reveals new research from Churchill Home Insurance¹. In 2019, some 424,000 noise complaints were made to councils across the UK, the equivalent of one every 80 seconds. Despite the frequency of complaints, however, just one in every 54 resulted in a noise abatement notice² being issued.  

Noisy neighbours have had a significant negative impact on people during lockdown³. Nearly half (24 million) of Brits believe neighbours’ antisocial noise has had a negative impact on their mental wellbeing over the last couple of months. Playing loud music (18 per cent) is the leading cause of antisocial noise, followed by breaking lockdown by having a party (13 per cent), playing with children (13 per cent), having arguments (11 per cent) and loud animals (10 per cent).

This is largely mirrored by complaints received by councils. The most common type of complaint received by councils over the past three years has been as a result of noise caused by music and parties. In fact, music and party noise accounts for over a quarter (28 per cent) of all complaints, nearly 365,000 out of a total 1.29 million. Since the beginning of 2017, an average of 333 complaints about loud music or parties have been made across the country every single day.

Completing the top five causes for noise complaints are; general domestic noises like shouting, footsteps or DIY, which account for 14.2 per cent or 183,000 complaints over the past three years, animal noise like dogs barking (12.5 per cent, or 161,000), construction site noise (5.2 per cent, or 68,000) and noise from commercial premises (5.2 per cent, or 67,000).

Table one: Top 10 reasons for noise complaints

Source: Churchill Home Insurance 2020

 

The number of noise complaints has, however, fallen very slightly over the past three years, from 430,700 in 2017 to 423,800 in 2019, a decrease of around 6,900 complaints (two per cent), or 18 per day. Unsurprisingly, the number of noise abatement notices issued over the same period has also fallen, from 8,800 to 7,900 which is a decrease of around 900 complaints (11 per cent). This means that the overall proportion of complaints resulting in noise abatement notices has fallen, from one issued for every 49 complaints to one issued for every 54 complaints.

The reduction in the number of complaints and subsequent abatement notices issued did not translate into a reduction in fines. In 2017, 252 fines were issued as a result of a noise complaints, while 253 were issued in 2019. The value of these fines has changed significantly over this period too, rising by over £100 per fine. In 2017, the average fine handed out was £533, yet by the end of 2019 this had increased to £630. Collectively, fines have risen by 20 per cent across the UK over the same time period, from £134,500 to £159,500, an increase of £25,000.

Pritpal Powar, Head of Churchill home insurance, said: “Noise from other people can be extremely debilitating and disruptive to our daily lives, so it’s not surprising to see so many complaints issued across the UK. It is often the case, however, that people don’t realise they are being disruptive, they may have wooden floorboards or are using a piece of DIY or sound equipment and don’t know how it is affecting their neighbours.

“Speaking to your neighbour should always be the first step for any potentially contentious issues. However, if they do not listen or carry on with a level of noise that you believe is unreasonable, then keep a record of the type of noise and time of day and speak to your local council about raising a potential noise complaint.”

Regional findings

On a regional basis, London experienced the highest volume of noise complaints, with a third (33 per cent, or 420,000) of all UK noise complaints over the past three years. Scotland saw the second highest volume of noise complaints (13 per cent, or 165,000), despite having the lowest population density in the UK.

The South East (nine per cent, 116,000), North West (eight per cent, 102,000) and Yorkshire (seven per cent, 85,000) complete the top five regions for volume of noise complaints, while Northern Ireland (three per cent, 39,000), had the lowest.

Table two: Noise complaints by region

Source: Churchill Home Insurance 2020

London also has the highest proportion of people who say their mental wellbeing has suffered as a result of loud neighbours during lockdown with 67 per cent of adults in the capital saying that they have been negatively impacted. This is followed by the East Midlands (57 per cent) and South East (50 per cent).

The local authorities with the highest annual number of noise complaints per capita are mainly in London. City of London tops the table, with 92 complaints per 1,000 people, while Kensington and Chelsea (77 per 1,000) and City of Westminster (72 per 1,000) complete the top three. Belfast (20 per 1,000), Newport (17 per 1,000) and Coventry (15 per 1,000) do, however, also make the top 10.

When looking at the number of noise abatement notices issued, the regional picture is more varied. The local authorities which issued the greatest number between 2017 -2019 were Caerphilly, issuing 541 on average per year, Cannock Chase (345) and Manchester (297).

Table three: Top 10 local authorities for issuing noise abatement notices

Source: Churchill Home Insurance 2020

The highest volume of noise recorded following a complaint in 2019 was recorded in Blaenau Gwent, with the reading reaching 123.7 decibels, the equivalent of a shotgun being fired and twice the volume of a vacuum cleaner.

                                                                        ENDS

 

Notes to Editor

 

¹          Freedom of information Act request issued to all UK councils on 24^th January 2020. A total of 313 out of 382 local councils (81.9%) responded, of which 297 (77.7%) provided usable data. The councils that provided usable data accounted for 80.1% of the UK population.

²          A noise abatement notice is an official notice² given by a council to those responsible for causing a disturbance, telling them to either stop the activity or limit it to certain times to avoid causing a nuisance. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/statutory-nuisances-how-councils-deal-with-complaints#abatement-notices

³          Consumer omnibus research conducted by Opinium between 29^th May and 2^nd June 2020. A nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults were polled, of which 914 stated that neighbour noise of some form had had a negative impact on their mental wellbeing

 

 

For further information please contact:

 

Claire Jarrett
Home PR Manager

Tel: 01651 832 095

Email: [email protected]

 

Alannah Sims

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

[email protected]

0207 025 6563

 

Churchill

Founded in 1989, Churchill is now one of the UK's leading providers of general insurance, offering car, home, travel and pet insurance cover over the phone or on-line.

Churchill general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.  

Churchill and U K Insurance Limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.  

Customers can find out more about Churchill products or get a quote by calling 0300 200 300 or visiting www.churchill.com