Dear Residents,
Please can we remind you of the current Lockdown restrictions in relation to gatherings / parties.
When the restrictions allow and gatherings may go ahead please be sure to follow our Private Party Guide (PDF Version available click here):
Parties, Loud Music and Excessive Noise
Reasonable neighbours are not usually ‘killjoys’ and most of us will want to have a party celebration at some time or another. The best way of avoiding any problems with your neighbours is to tell them in advance that you are planning a party, what time it’s going to start and, more importantly, what time you’re planning to end it (or at least the time by which you’ll ensure that they won’t be disturbed by excessive noise – usually related to loud music but also by rowdy conversations and boisterous behaviour).
In terms of the ending time, it’s not unreasonable to expect your neighbours to agree to a finishing time of the ‘noisy’ element to a party to, say, by 11pm or midnight. That’s not to say you can have the volume at whatever level you want, as there are strict laws surrounding that issue. Ending at midnight also doesn’t mean that the party can’t continue beyond that time, but you’ll need to keep the music and the noise down to a reasonable level so as not to disturb neighbours.
You also need to take even greater care and be more sensitive to your neighbours if you’re planning on holding the party outside in the garden, where noise travels more easily and where its impact is felt even greater. Better still, why not invite the neighbours?
Most of us will want to let our hair down in our own homes from time to time and to hold a party of some kind. Unless this turns into a regular occurrence, most reasonable neighbours will not have any serious objections to this as long as you’re respectful towards them and you are not creating excessive noise levels.
A Quick Guide
- Tell your Neighbours First
If you’re planning to hold a party, visit your closest neighbours, especially those who live next door, and tell them the approximate time that your party is going to start and when it’s likely to finish. You might also consider inviting your neighbours to the party. Not only will that foster good relations, the effects of the party are far less likely to upset or annoy those living around you.
- Inform the estate management team
Parking and vehicle movements can sometimes create difficulties when holding a party where vehicles are parked on verges or blocking neighbours’ driveways. You should take the time to inform the estate management team well in advance to ensure there are no conflicting events on that day. The security team will be better prepared to deal with any neighbour’s concerns as well as being able to manage on road parking where necessary.
Please note that parking on verges is not permitted.
- Information you should tell your guests
Your guests should also be told what time the party begins and, even more importantly, what time it’s going to end. Of course, nobody can always be completely certain of an ‘end’ time to a party, and even though it may go on longer than you anticipate, it’s important that you and your guests show some courtesy towards your neighbours as the night wears on.
After about 11pm, you should ensure that any music is turned down to an acceptable level so it would have little or no bearing on your neighbours’ ability to get a good night’s sleep. Loud music might be the most commonly cited complaint from a party, but even loud conversation and boisterous behaviour needs to be tempered somewhat after around 11pm, as that can be equally annoying to a neighbour.
You should also ask your guests to ensure they leave quietly when the party is over. Preferably, they’ll have come to the party and left their cars at home but if they’ve turned up in cars, advise your guests not to be revving engines and slamming car doors, and not to linger outside the house having conversations but to leave quickly and as discreetly as possible.
- Practical Things you Can Do
Keeping your windows closed while the party is in full swing is one of the most practical steps you can take to keep the noise levels down. In fact, before the party begins, a good test is to have one member of your family twiddling with the volume controls on the music system while another goes outside and walks down the driveway or in the garden. When that person can hardly hear the music, that’s the point at which anyone closer will be able to hear it, so you can usually gauge an acceptable volume level that way.
As far as next door is concerned, don’t position your speakers against any outside walls. Moving them to the furthest point from any outside walls and even suspending from the ceiling can often help. Pay attention to the bass control. It’s often the ‘thudding’ sound of the bass which will annoy neighbours the most, so be aware of how high you have that.
- Parties Outdoors
You need to be even more aware of all of these guidelines if you’re planning on having a party outdoors. Noise travels much further and has an even greater impact.
Dealing with Repercussions
If you do not pay attention to any of the above advice, there is a strong possibility that not only will you damage relations between you and your neighbours, but you may also find that you get a visit from either your local environmental health department and/or maybe the police. In some cases, this can lead to fines being imposed, further legal action being taken against you, and you might also run the risk of having your sound equipment seized in extreme cases.
To ensure a problem-free party, following some of these simple measures will result in it being a success, and it should pass off peacefully without becoming an annoyance to neighbours living close by.
