Noise Control
How to report noise
You can use our online form to report noise. However, please note that our officer finishes duty at 3am each morning (4am on Friday and Saturday nights) and does not return to duty until 9am (8am on Saturday and Sunday). However you can report noise to us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online using the form below or by telephone. If there is no officer on duty the complaint will be picked up after an officer returns to duty. If you do not receive a response to a 'noise on now' complaint registered through the website we recommend you call 020 8489 0000 and the call centre staff will have up-to-date information on officer availability.
Contact telephone numbers to report a noise
Office Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9am-5pm, Tel 020 8489 1335
Outside Office Hours:
- Weekdays - Monday to Friday 5pm-9am, Tel 020 8489 0000
- Weekends - Friday 5pm to Monday 9am, Tel 020 8489 0000
Please note: we no longer offer a 24 hour response service.
If there is an officer on duty then we undertake to call you back within 30 minutes. During exceptionally busy times the response can be delayed. You will be advised when you call if there isn't an officer on duty to respond immediately to your call, but all calls will be logged.
What is Noise Control?
We have duties and powers which allow us to deal with noise problems that affect residents or businesses in our area. We take noise problems seriously. Our Enforcement Response Team receives thousands of calls about noise nuisance each year. The service aims to deal with these noise problems quickly, efficiently and fairly.
It is not permissible to cause noise nuisance at any time.
How we prioritise calls
It is not uncommon for duty officers to receive several calls together. Each call may result in the need for a visit leaving the officer with decisions to make on how to prioritise their time and resources. The types of complaint received on a shift have been ranked below in order of descending priority to assist the officer in making these decisions. When a visit is necessary, service requests can be ranked and visited in accordance with the priority.
Priority one
Noise nuisance affecting several complainants at unsocial hours eg car / intruder alarms, loud parties, items marked for priority on the Duty Officer’s Action list: Immediate follow up action to abate the nuisance, proportionate to the level of nuisance, including visits to the complainant and noise maker where appropriate, service of notice by hand, if necessary, work in default and/or seizure and having regard to health and safety considerations.
Priority two
Random and intermittent noise with a likely duration greater than 30 minutes with a subsequent visit to the noise maker where appropriate having regard to health and safety considerations. (These could be considered higher priority if there were several complainants or the complainant may be vulnerable).
Priority three
Noisy air conditioning, road works and noisy building works with subsequent visit to the noise maker/premises where appropriate subject to access availability and having regard to health and safety considerations.
(All cases can be considered Priority one if the case history indicates a notice has been served or there has been a previous prosecution for a similar offence or the Team Leader has requested urgent proactive visits be made.)
The types of complaint listed in priority four are considered to be more appropriately dealt with on a planned basis. Officers may not therefore be required to visit but should gather as much information as possible.
Priority four
Random and intermittent noise with likely duration less than 30 minutes which the officers are unlikely to be able to witness eg banging or slamming doors and routine sound insulation problems.
Abatement action process
- The first time excessive noise is witnessed we may issue a warning letter, However if previous advice or a warning has been given with regards to noise, or the noise is considered to be so serious as to require immediate enforcement action to address a nuisance then an abatement notice may be served. In addition if it is believed that a nuisance could be created then a Notice may be served to prevent the ‘likely occurrence'
- If noise nuisance continues following a Noise Abatement Notice, enforcement action may be taken and/or seizure of equipment for failing to comply with the abatement notice
- Enforcement action may include a prosecution in the Magistrates Court, issuing a caution, issuing a fixed penalty notice, or sending a further written warning
Contact
- The Enforcement Response Service
Level 1 - River Park House
225 High Road
Wood Green
N22 8HQ - Tel: 020 8489 1335 (Office Hours) - 020 8489 0000 (Out of Hours and Weekends)
- Email: enforcement.response@haringey.gov.uk
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