Noise control of DIY activities

A distinction needs to be made between noise from construction sites and noise from DIY activities in the home.

The working hours imposed on building sites would not normally be applicable to home DIY jobs. This is because people can often only undertake DIY work in the evenings and at weekends.

Sensible precautions can be taken to minimise complaints from neighbours. If you are undertaking DIY activities that are likely to generate some noise the following advice may be helpful:

1. Apologise to neighbours in advance for disturbance caused by DIY.
2. Tell them what it is you're doing. Try to agree times of work. Often neighbours will tolerate more disturbance for a short period if they know the work will be finished sooner.
3. Have regard to your neighbour's circumstances. Do they have young children who go to bed early during the week? If so, negotiate to work longer during the weekend so as to minimise disturbance.
4. Remember, at some stage your neighbour may wish to undertake DIY works you can hardly expect to be shown some consideration if you've ignored your neighbour's views?

Complaints to Environmental Health can be made about noise from DIY work. Initially Environmental Health will attempt to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement informally between neighbours.

Where work is being carried out unreasonably the Council can use its noise nuisance powers to minimise (but not stop) disturbance.

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Page last reviewed 14 Apr 2008