The Difference between a One-Off Noise and an Ongoing Disturbance
Noise pollution is a violation of the London Borough of Bromley's Environmental Health regulations. However, the council does not consider all noises to be equal and instead classifies them into the following categories:
a. A One-Off Noise.
According to the Noise Act 1996, one-off noises relate to loud events or noises that take place at night between the hours of 11 pm and 7 am. For them to be considered one-offs, they should be temporary and not recurring. For example, a single loud private party falls into this category, as does a single fireworks display.
In the event of such a noise, you can contact the council’s out-of-hours noise service, which is available on nights and will respond to such a complaint. Their job is to serve a notice to the event organizer, thus compelling them to reduce or stop the noise altogether.
b. An Ongoing Nuisance.
Unlike one-off noises that take place temporarily and do not recur, ongoing nuisances are regular and repetitive noises that interfere with your ability to enjoy your property. Examples include loud parties every weekend, a dog that is always barking, and someone operating loud machinery in the wee hours of the night.
Per the Environmental Protection Act 1990, such noises require a formal investigation. To start with, the resident making a complaint must keep a detailed log of the disturbances over a period of time, after which an officer from the council can visit the property to investigate the matter further and gather the evidence. If the nuisance is confirmed, an abatement notice is issued.
Who Should You Contact?
The London Borough of Bromley's Environmental Health regulations are very clear on who you should contact based on the nature of your complaint, as follows:
- Only Noise.
If your complaint relates to only noise, your go-to is the London Borough of Bromley's Environmental Health Team, which comprises both in-hours and out-of-hours service teams. Where the noise is urgent and one-off, contact their out-of-hours service as they operate during nights. But where the noise is ongoing, you should contact the team during the normal working hours so as to set the ball rolling on a formal investigation.
- More than Noise.
Noise complaints generally fall under the London Borough of Bromley's Environmental Health Team. However, there are cases where involving the police is the best course of action, including:
- Where someone is in immediate danger or has been the victim of violence.
- Where the noise is a result of criminal activities, e.g., someone being robbed.
- Where the noise is because of public disorder.
As such, where the noise escalates beyond shouting or loud music, it may be time to call in reinforcement, especially when someone’s well-being is at risk.
What to Include in Your Noise Log
While detailed logs are often necessary when reporting ongoing nuisances, they are also essential in reporting one-off noises, as they provide the response team with enough evidence to take legal action. Regardless of the nature of the noise, it is thus important that you include the following information:
- The date.
- The time.
- The address.
- The type and nature of the noise.
- The duration and frequency of the noise.
- How the noise affected you.
- Whether you took any action.
Where possible, you can record the actual noise using a noise app or your phone’s recording software, as this can serve as further evidence.
How to Avoid Noise Complaints
As an event organizer, the risk of being the subject of a noise complaint is quite high, especially for night parties where sound tends to carry. Can you reduce this risk? Why, of course! Here are some tips to help you do this:
- Communicate with residents in advance. Let people know that you will be having an event that will involve some loud activities - include the date and time. Also, provide them with a number they can call at the event if the noise proves to be too loud.
- Manage the sound. You can easily prevent the noise from disrupting other people’s peace by keeping the doors and windows closed, directing the speakers inwards or downwards, and monitoring the noise with a noise meter.
- Advise your guests to limit their noisemaking and to limit the time they spend outdoors. Keep reminding them as the event continues, especially if they are enjoying alcoholic drinks.
Finally, stick to the agreed-upon finish time you earlier communicated to the residents.