Does anyone know about noise monitoring equipment...

[Elfhame]

... As i think my neighbour is trying to falsify evidence against me.

He lives in the downstairs flat and used to bang up and shout every time the kids ran around. I told him to stop shouting and banging or I would call the police due to harrassment. He then writes to environmental heath and accuses me of shouting and banging! I got a letter from environmental health warning me they are monitoring the situation.

I am now hearing banging noises downstairs and am worried the council have put noise monitoring equipment in and he is faking evidence against me. I am a tenant and am worried that, if they believe him, I will get evicted.

Are these devices sophisticated enough to tell which property sounds are coming from?

There are probably lots of people with more knowledge than me but ime, most monitoring equipment wouldn't be able to tell directionality - certainly not the equipment council environment health have.
They would be highly unlikely to electronically monitor this sort if situation though - too many variables and too much risk to equipment if left unattended. From my limited knowledge (covered it at Uni but don't work in the industry) the council would be likely to monitor this situation by making a note of any complaints rather than electronically because as you point out, it's open to abuse.
Hth

I don't work in that particular field but the only noise-monitoring equipment I am aware of, a sound-level meter, is a handheld device and would be operated by the council employee on the spot, ie can't be left to monitor by itself.
I guess they may have devices which record over time but that may just be in films - we need an expert to come along!

Hiya.

The letter you received is the first letter that's sent out when anyone complains of noise. No monitoring equipment is likely to have been installed yet. They have probably asked your neighbour to keep a two week diary of the noise.

Once he sends that back, they will then decide how to best proceed. It may be noise monitoring equipment ( not a sound level meter, but a tape recorder.)

And so it will go on until they have evidence that you a causing a statutory nuisance. Or not. The very best thing to do is call the council officer who wrote to you to discuss this. They are really used to people making malicious complaints and counter complaints.

I could go into much more detail, but I think it won't help at this stage.

I would keep a log of any events too, so your neighbours banging etc. record the times and dates and type of noise and duration too.

Before any monitoring is undertaken the council MUST comply with the requirements of a piece of law called RIPA. They cannot monitor you without telling you first, so you will know roughly what's going on.

Happy to provide any more details.

Thanks for the replies.

I suppose I can dispute the noise was coming from my flat. I guess they would need concrete evidence for an eviction.

This whole situation has me treading on egg shells and has made me quite anxious.

most councils are extremely reluctant to take action based on normal every day kid noise

If he was making the banging himself, would it be clear on the tape recorder that he was doing it?

Or would I just have to dispute the banging was me?

I think that's why he has gone and made the malicious complaint about me shouting and banging, because he knows he is unreasonable moaning about kids playing.

Honestly, if you are not causing a problem, the council will not get evidence.

Also, ehos aren't able to evict people.

Try not to worry and give them a call.

I think by "monitoring" the situation, they mean that they are aware of it and are willing to keep an eye on it, not that they have installed any machinery. In my borough, if there is a noise complaint, the noise inspectors (?) come out with a sensor and stay there to measure the noise. If they have asked your neighbour to keep a diary, it is to establish if the noise that you are supposedly creating fits a pattern so that they can come out at a time when it is likely to be bad and test it themselves. If he is making it up, then it's not really going to work.

As others have said, normal household noise - walking about, talking, going up and down stairs is not something they would concern themselves about.

Have just e mailed them with my suspicions and complained about his unreasonable behaviour by shouting and banging up every time the kids run around.

Hopefully they will tell him where to go!

I keep telling myself I shouldn't worry as I haven't done anything wrong.

Most Council's use monitoring equipment, particularly to investigate domestic noise complaints. The equipment is installed in the complainants property for upto a week and is activated by the complainant to record the noise which is causing them disturbance. The officer does not stay with the equipment.

The Council has told you it will be monitoring, so may use monitoring equipment or officers may make programmed or reactive visits to witness the noise. They tell you as Council's are not allowed to carry out covert surveillance for noise nuisance cases. However they will not tell you exactly when this monitoring will be carried out. Many specify it will be within a three month period.

There is nothing to prevent the complainant creating their own noise on the recording. The equipment can't detect where the noise is coming from. However the officer reviewing the recording may be able to judge depending on other recordings made and how the noise sounds. Many Council's do not take formal action e.g service of an abatement notice on the evidence from noise monitoring equipment alone, but it is useful to establish whether there is actually a noise problem.

You have done the right thing by highlighting your concerns to the Council. If they have installed the equipment, they will review the recording with your concerns in mind. I would also keep a log of when the neighbour is banging around so it can be compared to the times of when the recordings are made.

If there are concerns about the reliability of recordings made, the Council may try to witness the noise firsthand through officer visits. They can then verify the source themselves.

Noise from children is a tricky one to deal with. One area you should look at is the floor coverings in your flat. A carpet with a good underlay provides better insulation from running around than a laminate flooring.

Thanks for all the replies

I am having the same issues. What was the outcome?.