Noise from alarms
Alarms fitted to your home/business or vehicle should not become a source of nuisance to your neighbours, you have a legal responsibility to ensure that any alarm activated should ring for:
- a maximum 20 minutes - home/business
- your vehicle alarm should have a 5 minute cut-out device fitted
Burglar alarms
If an alarm has been sounding continuously for 20 minutes or intermittently for more than an hour and is judged to be giving reasonable cause for annoyance, and, reasonable steps have been taken to contact a key holder, an Officer can enter the premises to silence the alarm. A warrant of entry will be obtained if entry can only be gained by force.
The homeowner is liable for any costs incurred by the Council when silencing a nuisance alarm. The Council may also decide to prosecute. A prosecution could result in an unlimited fine.
To avoid causing problems with your burglar alarm follow the steps below:
- Make sure you install a good quality alarm that complies with British Standard
- Make sure it has a 20 minute automatic cut out
- Have your alarm regularly maintained
- Provide a neighbour with contact details for someone who can attend and silence an alarm in the event it sounds for a prolonged period
Car alarms
Car alarms can be accidently triggered by the vibration of passing traffic or windy conditions and the noise can disturb people living nearby, especially at night.
If you have a car alarm, make sure it is properly fitted, regularly maintained and has a 20 minute cut out. And remember - if your car alarm continually malfunctions, your car could be impounded.
Noise from ice-cream vans can also be a source of annoyance. The Code of Practice provides guidance on minimising the disturbance caused by the operation of loudspeakers fixed to ice-cream vans and similar vehicles.
Contact City and neighbourhood for further information.
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