Your Local Guardian submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to Croydon Council to find out how many noise complaints classified as statutory nuisance were made in 2024.
Statutory nuisance refers to a legal term for activities or conditions that cause significant harm or disruption to people’s health, comfort, or property, such as excessive noise.
In 2024, 880 complaints were made to Croydon Council, 120 more than there were in 2023.
The most common complaint was Domestic Music, meaning the music people played at their homes was deemed to be too loud by others.
A total of 343 complaints logged as Domestic Music were submitted to Croydon Council.
In 2023, 263 complaints logged as Domestic Music were submitted, 80 less than in 2024.
2024:
2023:
The second most common complaint in 2024 was about barking dogs and other animals with 121 complaints, followed by noise caused by the demolition of a building with 51 complaints, and 45 complaints of noise caused by building works in a residential property.
Other complaints were about noisy DIY work (45), noise from shops, (36), noisy restaurants (28), and noisy parties (25).
There were also 24 complaints from members of the public about noise from places of entertainment such as pubs or night spots.
Less common complaints were about noisy deliveries, noisy street machinery, and noisy fireworks.
Croydon Council have powers to deal with noise that is considered a statutory nuisance.
This is determined by a number of factors, including type of noise, volume, frequency, duration, and its impact on others.
They generally adopt an escalating approach to noise enforcement and can deal with unreasonable noise like loud music, parties, dog barking, and car and house alarms.
Those who are causing a noise nuisance can be hit with a fine or have their equipment causing the noise confiscated.
Croydon Council, however, do not have the powers to deal with nose that arises from people going about their normal day-to-day activities in a reasonable manner.
This means they can’t deal with noise that can be heard due to poor sound insulation, children playing in gardens or in the street, or doors closing loudly.
