Noisy neighbour fined £1,000

On Friday 14 May 2021, a resident at Edinburgh Court in Regents Park Road was fined £1,000 at West Hampshire Magistrates Court after failing to comply with a noise abatement notice

Southampton City Council’s Environmental Health Service received complaints about noise coming from a flat in Edinburgh Court. After initial warning letters did not resolve the issue, further investigation confirmed that the loud amplified music and raised voices caused unreasonable disturbance to neighbours. On 11 August 2020, the person responsible for the noise was served with a noise abatement notice requiring the noise be controlled so they do not cause a nuisance to neighbours.

This did not resolve the issue either and further complaints were received by neighbours. On 20 December 2020, the council’s investigating officer was satisfied that the loud music and raised voices were continuing to cause a statutory nuisance, where noise unreasonably interferes with someone’s enjoyment of their property. The decision was made to initiate legal proceedings for the failure to comply with the noise abatement notice.

The case went before the court on Friday 14 May 2021. The defendant did not attend, and the case was proved in their absence resulting in a £1,000 fine plus a victim surcharge and costs which is to be paid within 28 days.

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 places a duty on the Council to investigate noise complaints and where a statutory nuisance exists to serve an abatement notice on the person responsible for the noise. Any further incidents following the service of the abatement notice may be subject to prosecution.

Do you need to report a noise complaint? Find out about reporting a noise nuisance.