60 calls a day to councils over noisy neighbours

SCOTS councils are receiving around 60 complaints a day about noisy neighbours, figures show.

More than half of all grievances made to local authorities are about noise disruption, at an average of five per hour.

Creeping plants and light pollution make up a third of complaints.

Research indicates that only 130 noise abatement notices were issued by councils last year, out of more than 20,000 complaints received.

The average value of fines for flouting the warning was just £144 in Scotland, compared to £528 across the rest of the UK.

Statutory nuisance notices can be handed down for issues including smoke, smells and hoarding rubbish.

Each complaint must be investigated and can lead to fines or even a High Court injunction.

An estimated 43,222 people complained to councils about noisy neighbours in the year to July 2017.

Martin Scott, of Churchill Home Insurance, which carried out the research, said: ‘Council enforcement is crucial to ensure the actions of inconsiderate individuals don’t blight the lives of others. Living next to a noisy neighbour can have a serious impact on the mental well-being of the victim.

‘It is a worrying indictment of modern society that so many are failing to take responsibility for their communities by keeping noise and other disturbances to a minimum.’

‘Blight the lives of others’