Noise nuisance in hired halls

What is noise nuisance?

Noise is defined as unwanted sound and music played at a level that may not be considered reasonable by your neighbours. If the council's Noise and Nuisance Team receive a complaint about noise in Southwark, officers will visit to hear how loud it is.

If the noise severely affects the use of the complainant's property, the officers will visit the person causing the noise to ask them to lower the volume.

Who is responsible?

The owner of the hall is ultimately responsible for events within the hall, but the person hiring the hall is responsible for ensuring that noise doesn't cause a nuisance to local residents.

The person hiring the hall is the person responsible at that time if complaints are received. If another person is responsible for the music such as a band or DJ, they may also be considered responsible and ultimately may have their music equipment seized.

Legal position

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 defines what noise nuisance is and the steps the council can take to put a stop to it.

If a Noise Abatement Notice is served on you as the organiser of an event, you'll be required to reduce the noise so it no longer causes a nuisance. Our Noise and Nuisance officers can advise you how much the noise needs to be reduced. If further complaints are received and officers return to find the level is still causing a noise nuisance, the notice would have been breached. This means that you can be prosecuted in a Magistrates Court. In order to stop the noise immediately, our officers may also seize all the music equipment.

Recommendations

• Walk around the hall at regular intervals throughout the duration of the event. Walk near to residential properties to check the level of the music. If the music is clearly audible near the properties, it is highly likely that the residents will hear it too and make a complaint. Reduce the level of the music and check again.
• If the event takes place at night, do not allow people to stand outside the hall, as noise from talking, shouting, could cause complaints.
• Keep all windows and doors facing residential properties closed to stop noise escaping.
• If a noise-limiting device is installed within the hall, ensure all music equipment is played through the limiting device.
• Co-operate fully with council noise officers should they visit.