Make a noise complaint

If noise is affecting you, there are things you can do to help resolve the issue.

You can try to resolve the issue with your neighbour. You can also report noise to your local council.

Check what to do:

Resolve the issue with your neighbour

Try talking to your neighbour about the problem first.

Do not talk to them on your own if you're worried about your safety.

If you’re worried about approaching them, write a letter, explaining the problem clearly and sticking to the facts. Keep a copy so you have a record of what you said.

Mediation

If this does not work, you could explore mediation. Mediation is when an independent expert helps you decide what to do about your problem.

Documenting noise

If the problem keeps happening, it helps to keep a record of it.

You can keep a diary and write down:

what happened
the dates and times it happened
the impact it had on you

This can help if you need a record for mediation or the council.

Reporting noise to the council

You can report noise to your local council. This can be for things like:

house alarms
banging or shouting
excessive dog barking

The council will give you advice on how to resolve the issue. They may also:

help arrange mediation
issue a fine, usually a fixed penalty notice
issue a notice, demanding that noise either stops or is limited

Contact your local council

Neighbour noise complaints

If the problem does not stop

If you're not happy with how your report has been handled by the council, you can make a complaint.

Contact the council through their complaints procedure.

Make a complaint

More information

You can get advice on neighbour noise from Citizens Advice Scotland.

Noise problems

Unwelcome noise is a common problem between neighbours and can include:

loud music
barking dogs
DIY

Try talking to your neighbour about the problem first. If this does not work, you could suggest mediation or speak to your neighbour's landlord.

If none of these things work, you can contact your local council about the problem.

Local councils can do several things to try to tackle neighbour noise issues. They can:

issue the person or people with an 'noise abatement notice' - this demands that noise stops or is limited for example music is not played after 9pm. If you fail to comply with an abatement notice you could face prosecution
give a warning notice or a fine called a fixed penalty notice
remove whatever is making the noise from the house

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