Noise nuisance

Before you report a noise problem 

Try to resolve the issue informally before contacting the council. If you feel safe doing so, speak to the person responsible – they may not realise they’re causing a problem. 

A brief, calm conversation or letter can often help. In some cases, formal involvement from the council can escalate tensions, especially if the person is unaware of the issue. 

When the council can investigate 

We can investigate a noise complaint if it may be a statutory nuisance. This means the noise must: 

  • unreasonably and substantially interfere with the use or enjoyment of your home or other property 
  • cause or be likely to cause injury to health 

Examples of what is not a statutory nuisance 

We usually cannot investigate the following: 

  • DIY during the day or on weekends 
  • children playing 
  • cooking smells from homes 
  • normal road, rail or aircraft noise 
  • one-off or occasional parties 
  • smoke or fireworks on bonfire night 
  • everyday sounds like footsteps, talking, or crying babies due to poor sound insulation 
  • noise in the street, such as revving engines, loud car stereos, shouting and drunken behaviour – these are matters for Thames Valley Police

Many people now work from home, but it’s not reasonable to expect your neighbourhood to be silent. Normal activities like home repairs, gardening, or children playing are allowed and we cannot investigate them.

How to respond to specific types of noise 

Use the dropdown menu below to learn how to respond to particular types of noise nuisance. 

Construction noise

Recommended hours for noisy construction work:

  • Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm
  • Saturday: 9am to 1pm
  • No noisy work on Sundays or bank holidays

    • If you’re disturbed outside these hours:

  • report a noise nuisance online
  • include the planning application number (find it on our planning portal)
  • provide the name of the contractor or builder
  • submit any recordings via The Noise App

    • Fireworks and bonfires

    We are unlikely to investigate fireworks or bonfires if they occur:

  • on bonfire night
  • occasionally on recognised celebration days

    • If the activity is frequent, dangerous, or produces excessive smoke, you can still report noise nuisance to us for review.

    Building alarms

    If you hear a building alarm:

  • wait 20 minutes – many alarms stop automatically
  • check for a contact number on the alarm box
  • call Thames Valley Police on 101 to ask if a keyholder is registered
  • knock on nearby doors – a neighbour may have access
  • if the property belongs to Reading Borough Council, contact property services

    • If you’ve tried all of the above and the alarm is still sounding, report a noise nuisance.

    Student-related noise

    We work with the University of Reading on issues involving student accommodation.

    You can:

  • visit the university’s local community page
  • contact the university’s community relations team to raise concerns

    • The university supports students and residents to help maintain good neighbour relationships.

    Report a noise nuisance

    Please read the following information carefully before reporting.

    Reporting to the correct team

    If you are a housing association tenant, report the issue to your housing association’s antisocial behaviour team. Details can be found on their website.

    If you are a Reading Borough Council tenant or reporting one, report the issue to the council’s antisocial behaviour team by email: asb.team@reading.gov.uk

    If you are a private tenant or homeowner, continue reading the following information. You can report the issue to the council for investigation.

    Essential information 

    We cannot act on anonymous complaints or those made on behalf of others. 

    When contacting us by email or using a contact form, you must include: 

    • your full name 
    • your home address 
    • your phone number 
    • the address where the noise is coming from 

    If any of this information is missing, we may not be able to progress your complaint. 

    Complete a noise diary 

    You’ll need to complete noise diary sheets to help show that the noise is having an unreasonable impact on your home life. 

    You will need to: 

    You can also use The Noise App to log incidents and send recordings. 


    Report a noise nuisance to the council

    If you’re a private tenant or homeowner, you can report noise nuisance directly to the council using our online form.

    Report a noise nuisance

    What happens next

    Investigations can take several months and may involve court proceedings. You and other witnesses may need to give evidence in court while still living near the person you’ve complained about.

    Please consider this carefully before we move forward. Let us know early if you have any concerns about this process.

    Private legal action 

    If we are unable to help, you may consider taking your own legal action for common law nuisance. This can sometimes be quicker than a statutory nuisance case, but may involve legal costs. 

    A common law nuisance is one that interferes with your use and enjoyment of your home. 

    We recommend seeking advice from a solicitor or the Citizens Advice Bureau before proceeding. 

    Last updated on 17/07/2025