Almost 1 in 5 homeowners have complained about noisy neighbours

Almost one in five (18%) homeowners have made a noise complaint about their neighbours, with 14% having made one in the past year, new research has revealed.

According to Confused.com, who surveyed 2,000 homeowners and renters, 47% of complaints made are about neighbours talking loudly, eight percentage points more than late night parties (40%).

Additionally, 18-24 year olds are the most likely to make a noise complaint about their neighbours, the research showed.

However, despite the high figures, Confused.com found that noise complaints are becoming less frequent, after soaring by 50% during the first lockdown.

Household and people noise is the most common reason neighbours raise a noise complaint, with almost half (47%) of residents complaining about this. Households with four children (68%) received 30% more noise complaints from neighbours compared to households without children (38%).

Loud music and TV (40%) and late night parties (39%) come in second and third place. Over half (53%) of those living in rented properties have complained about late night parties, compared to just over a third (35%) of homeowners. Almost two thirds (64%) of homeowners with mortgages consider themselves to be “fairly friendly” with their neighbours, compared to almost half (46%) of tenants.

More than a third (36%) of 18-24 year olds surveyed admitted to complaining about noise from their neighbours’ homes. Over a quarter (27%) have made a complaint in the last year, compared to just 6% of those aged 35-44.

Social housing residents also report 17% of noise complaints. This is amid news that the Housing Ombudsman has released its report calling for social landlords to develop a stronger strategy for “handling noise seriously”.

In comparison, those aged between 45-64 are least likely to make noise complaints, with over two-thirds (67%) reporting they’ve never done this. However, the survey shows that noise complaints have become less frequent in the past year, with just 14% raising a complaint. This is compared to 22% in previous years, a decrease of eight percentage points.

Matthew Harwood, Confused.com home insurance expert, said: “Living with noisy neighbours can be difficult to handle without creating tension. More often than not, a friendly conversation goes a long way. But when that fails, where to turn to next can be confusing.

“We’ve created a guide to understanding basic neighbour etiquette, including how best to handle noisy situations. Calling the police should only be used as a last resort, but you should also consider getting in touch with your local council.

“Accidental property damage can also be the cause of neighbour disputes. If your neighbour refuses to accept fault or pay for the damage, you might end up having to make a claim on your home insurance policy. However, you’ll only be able to do this if your policy covers accidental damage. You may have to pay the excess for the claim, even if you’re not at fault, so resolving informally might be the best course of action.”