Playing music between 11pm and 7am is generally considered a noise nuisance (Image: Getty)
The summer season officially kicks off this month which means barbecues, garden parties and sunbathing are all on their way.
It is finally the time of year when you can make the most of your outdoor space and enjoy soaking up some sunshine until the late evening thanks to the long summer days. But if you are making the most of the warm weather by throwing open your windows and doors, and spending more time in your garden, be wary of just how much noise you’re making or you could land yourself in trouble.
Of course there is nothing wrong with playing some background music when entertaining guests, or relaxing alone, but if you blast it too loudly you could be handed a £5,000 fine.
Read More: Gardeners face £5,000 fine for mowing lawn on Saturday and Sunday
Local councils can issue fines to those who play music excessively loud or during unreasonable hours for creating a noise disturbance. If a council determines a noise disturbance they can issue a Noise Abatement Notice which requires the noise to be stopped or restricted during certain hours of the day.
It is generally considered a noise nuisance if you play music between the hours of 11pm and 7am, as these are regarded as ‘night hours’ according to the Noise Act 1996. So if your summer gathering lasts into the wee hours, make sure you turn the music down to avoid a hefty fine.
Government guidance explains: “Councils can investigate complaints of statutory nuisance to tackle noise produced at any time of day or night. They may also issue warning notices in response to complaints about noise above permitted levels from 11pm to 7am. These warning notices can be used by councils for noise that’s not a statutory nuisance. The warning notice must tell the recipient:
- that the noise is coming from the premises between 11pm and 7am
- that the noise exceeds, or may exceed permitted levels as measured from within the complainant’s dwelling
- that the noise must be reduced to below the permitted level in a specified period (this must be at least 10 minutes after the notice is served and must end by 7am)
- what time the notice is issued
“The permitted noise level using A-weighted decibels (the unit environmental noise is usually measured in) is:
- 34 dBA (decibels adjusted) if the underlying level of noise is no more than 24 dBA
- 10 dBA above the underlying level of noise if this is more than 24 dBA.”
But noise can be considered a ‘statutory nuisance’ at any time of the day, so if you’re playing music outside of ‘night hours’, it should still be kept at a reasonable level.
Daniel McAfee, Head of Legal Operations at Lawhive, said: “The Environmental Protection Act 1990 provides local authorities with broad powers to address noise that constitutes a statutory nuisance. Where excessive noise is determined to substantially interfere with the use and enjoyment of another person’s home, local councils are legally obliged to investigate such complaints.
“If a statutory nuisance is established, the council will issue an abatement notice requiring the noise to cease or be restricted. Non-compliance with an abatement notice can lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £5,000 for domestic premises. This is not an empty threat — these fines are real, and local authorities do enforce them.
“Additionally, the Noise Act 1996 provides supplementary powers that local authorities may choose to implement specifically for night hours — defined in law as 11:00pm to 7:00am. While implementation of the Noise Act is voluntary for councils, many have adopted these provisions to address excessive domestic noise during night hours.”
He adds: “For the avoidance of doubt, a statutory nuisance can arise at any time of day, provided the noise is both unreasonable and substantially interferes with the use or enjoyment of another person’s home, or is likely to cause harm to health. Beyond council action, private civil claims for nuisance may follow, including applications for injunctions and compensation.”
British businesses fear hackers could wipe them out by targeting home workers
M&S cyber attack (Image: -)
British businesses fear hackers could completely wipe them out by attacking staff working from home, following the devastating cyberattack on retail giant Marks and Spencer two thirds of security leaders at medium and large sized companies in the UK admit an assault on a similar scale could “cripple” their organisation and lead to potential financial devastation.
Experts have warned the financial damage from ransom demands and clean-up costs can often run into millions of pounds – enough to jeopardise some firms’ futures. The poll by Absolute Security was carried out just weeks after M&S was hit by a mammoth cyber attack over the Easter bank holiday weekend. The attack cost the retailer £300m and shaving £1bn off its market value. M&S boss Stuart Machin recently admitted the attack – caused by “human error” – had been “the most challenging situation we’ve encountered”.
The M&S website displayed on a mobile phone, informing customers that online orders are paused, (Image: PA)
working from home (Image: Getty Images)
In the wake of the attack British firms are frantically reviewing their security protocols but the polling of 250 UK security chiefs revealed staff who work from home remained a major problem, with 62% revealing remote devices were the “biggest weakness” in their digital defences.
Over half – 51% – of the businesses polled had been hit by a ransomware attack in the past year, with 59% citing it as their biggest concern.
The consequences of such an attack are profound, with 63% of the 250 security leaders polled in May revealing the financial loss from ransomware could cripple their organisation.
In response to these growing risks, over a third (34%) have implemented full bans on AI due to cyber security concerns, while 30% of CISOs say they’ve already pulled the plug on AI tools within their organisation.
Andy Ward, SVP International of Absolute Security, said: “Recent high-profile cyberattacks have highlighted just how vulnerable major British retailers, and indeed many UK businesses, have become. Cybercriminals now have the capacity to severely disrupt, or even dismantle, organisations at scale. Our research reveals that many large and medium-sized UK businesses believe that a serious cyber incident could cripple their operations or threaten their very survival.”
“One of the biggest challenges organisations face today is the evolving nature of the modern workforce. People are constantly on the move, working from multiple locations and often on personal or mobile devices. At the same time, family responsibilities mean remote working is no longer a perk—it’s part of daily life for many employees. While this flexibility supports productivity and wellbeing, it also introduces serious security vulnerabilities, especially when staff connect to corporate resources via unsecured public or home networks. These environments often lack the protections of traditional office infrastructure, creating openings for cybercriminals to exploit. Businesses must urgently rethink their approach to cyber resiliency and invest in systems that are built for a hybrid world—resilient, responsive, and ready for anything.”
