- For noise complaints between tenants, it’s always advisable to speak directly with the tenants to make them aware of the noise
- Noise incidents should be carefully documented before escalating legal action
- Landlords have the legal obligation to provide a quiet, peaceful living environment, so they may need to get involved with noise complaints on behalf of their tenants
To handle noise complaints between tenants, there are various steps to follow, including first speaking to the neighbour about the noise, documenting incidents (including dates and times) and contacting their landlord or managing agent.
If the situation escalates beyond that, it might be the moment to consider a mediator or getting the local council involved.
As a landlord, it can be difficult to know exactly how to deal with tenant disputes such as noise complaints, but at J Property Management London, we’ve got you covered. We help London landlords with their tenant management, ensuring that things are running smoothly and that any issues are dealt with quickly, professionally and legally.
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When Can A Noise Complaint Be Made?
Noise complaints can be made if there’s:
- Neighbours making excessive noise
- Loud television or music
- Renovation or construction work
- Pets making noise
- Use of appliances or equipment that makes loud noises.
What Should Tenants Do If There’s A Noise Complaint?
If tenants are having noise issues, there are a few steps they should follow:
Speak To The Neighbour
If they can, tenants should always try to talk to the neighbours making the noise before they do anything else to make them aware of the noise.
Document Everything
The tenant should document any incidents of noise, noting down the date, time, type of noise and how it impacted them.
Contact The Landlord Or Letting Agent
If the noise continues after speaking directly to the tenants, the landlord or letting agent should then be notified in writing. They’ll then need to review the tenancy agreement and speak to their tenants directly to keep the noise down.
Hire A Mediator
In the case that the noise complaints remain unresolved, it might be worth contacting a mediator to help resolve the dispute professionally.
Contact The Local Council
For ongoing, disruptive noise, tenants can make a noise complaint directly to the local council. In situations like excessively noisy parties, the police can also be advised.
How Can Landlords Handle Noise Complaints Between Tenants?
Landlords can handle noise complaints between tenants through:
Strict Tenancy Agreements
Landlords can proactively minimise the risk of noise complaints between tenants by including noise-related clauses in tenancy agreements, including prohibiting excessive noise and laying out certain hours during which tenants must be quiet.
Speaking To The Tenant
If a tenant is causing noise, the landlord can speak to them directly, give them a written warning or even step in to contact the neighbour’s landlord or letting agent.
Legal Action
Landlords could offer their tenants mediation if the noise complaints persist without a solution. If their own tenants are the ones causing the noise, the landlord could cite antisocial behaviour and start eviction proceedings under Section 8; however, there will need to be clear evidence, such as a specific violated clause in the tenancy agreement and demonstrable evidence of the ongoing noise.
What Do Landlords Need To Know About Noise Complaints?
If landlords have received noise complaints about their own tenants, they should know that if the complaints continue, local authorities could serve them a noise abatement notice. This could lead to time-consuming and expensive court action, which is best avoided.
If a landlord receives a noise complaint about their tenants, they should:
- Advise the tenants
- Warn them that they are in breach of the tenancy agreement
- Only threaten eviction proceedings if the tenants continue to make excessive noise (landlords will need clear evidence in order to do this).
Landlords also have a legal obligation to provide a quiet and peaceful living environment for tenants, so if tenants are making noise complaints about other neighbours, pets or the external environment, landlords may be required to step in.
This may require speaking to neighbours or their landlord, dealing with local authorities or contacting the block management company. It may be up to the landlord to initiate legal action if these noise complaints continue.
Why Is It Important To Handle Noise Complaints Between Tenants?
As a landlord, it may be easy to assume that noise complaints don’t concern you because you’re not living in the property; however, handling noise complaints between tenants is in the best interests of the landlord, too.
Higher Turnover
If tenants are dealing with excessive noise that causes them stress or impacts their sleep, they are having a less positive experience in their tenancy. That will make them less likely to renew their lease and could mean lost rental income and void periods.
Tenancy Disputes
Noise complaints could result in tenancy disputes, which could be time-consuming and expensive for landlords. Having a strong tenancy agreement in place can help avoid this.
Noise Abatement Notice
If your property receives a noise abatement notice, you should take immediate action to stop the noise. That could include warning tenants or even taking steps to soundproof the property. If action isn’t taken, the household could face fines or even criminal prosecution.
Soundproofing The Property
For ongoing noise complaints, landlords may need to soundproof the property itself. This is important to bear in mind when carrying out renovations. For example, choosing carpet instead of wooden flooring can help muffle sound. Landlords can help to minimise the noise of the property itself, regardless of who is living there.
Professionally Manage Tenant Issues With J Property Management
As a landlord, various tenant issues can pop up – from noise complaints to property damage – making being a landlord a full-time job. Being on call for your tenants 24/7 can help keep tenants happy and maintain your property value, but it can also be exhausting. That’s where we come in.
At J Property Management, we’re there to help you manage your property and your tenants, from overseeing maintenance to handling emergencies and being on call for your tenants around the clock. Whether it’s noise complaints, urgent repairs or general queries, we can manage your tenants professionally and efficiently, so you don’t have to.
Contact us today to find out about our personalised property management solutions and how we can help.
