Make a Noise Complaint

Summary

• The first step is to talk to the person responsible for the noise.
• Who you contact to make a complaint depends on the source of the noise.
• You need to record details about the noise in a diary.

Problem noises can often be resolved with a simple conversation. However, there are steps you can take if a noise continues to be a problem for you in your home.

Step 1: Talk to your neighbour

If you are having problems with noise around your home, we strongly recommend you first speak to your neighbour or the person responsible for the noise. Sometimes people aren’t aware they're making unreasonable noise or that they're disturbing you.

Step 2: Find the responsible authority

If talking to the person responsible for the noise doesn't resolve the situation and the noise continues to be a problem, then you need to find which authority is responsible for dealing with the noise issue; this could be Council or another authority, such as the police.

Step 3: Record details of the noise

Please complete a noise diary initially for a 2-week period. Your diary sheets need to adequately reflect the problem. For the matter to be investigated, we need you to record:

• The times the noise occurs (dates and times of day)How long the noise continues for
• The specific type of noise that is of concern, e.g. air conditioner, music from radio
• Which room you are in when you can hear the noise
• An indication of its volume, e.g. compared to a vacuum cleaner
• How this noise affects you, e.g. Does it keep you awake? Does it prevent you from hearing your television? Does it wake your children?

The noise diary is essential for helping us determine the trend and scale of the problem, and to progress your complaint. Keep completing (and submitting) diary sheets every two weeks until there is a determination on the matter. You must also be willing, if necessary, to give evidence in relation to this matter in a court of law. 

Step 4: Submit a formal noise complaint