Sadly, neighbour disputes are common and most people will encounter an issue at some point in their lives. Most disputes are resolved privately, but sometimes this is not possible and you may need to involve third parties. If you are reading this, you may be wondering how to file a complaint against a neighbour to the local council.

This article covers the disputes that the council is required to investigate, how to file a complaint about a neighbour with the council, what the subsequent steps are, and who to contact in case the council is unable to assist. Additionally, I have included some frequently asked questions that may help.

How To Complain About A Neighbour To The Council?

Follow the steps outlined below to file a complaint with your local council regarding a neighbour. Continue reading for a more in-depth explanation of each step:

Step 1 – Confirm that the council will deal with your neighbour complaint

The first step that you need to take when considering how to complain about a neighbour to the council, is if they are legally obliged to investigate the complaint.

The council is responsible for investigating specific types of disputes and complaints.

The different departments that handle complaints include the Local Environmental Health Department, the Planning Department, and the Anti-Social Department, depending on the nature of the complaint.

Your local council will be able to investigate the following (not exhaustive):

• Anti-social behaviour
• Noise and pollution
• Pest control
• Drainage
• Private sector housing
• Animal welfare licensing
• Dog warden
• Fly tipping
• Rubbish and waste
• Vandalism

If you are unsure if the council will be able to investigate your neighbour complaint, give them a call and they will be able to advise you.

If you are in immediate danger and feel threatened, then you should contact the police.

Step 2- Find out which council to lodge your neighbour complaint with

This may seem obvious, but if you are making a complaint about neighbour on behalf of someone else, such as a friend or family member, you may need to check which council to lodge your complaint with.

The easiest way to check the local council for a property is by using the Gov.uk website:

https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council.

Simply put in the postcode of the property and this will confirm who you need to contact for specific queries.

Step 3 – Check the councils website for any specific instructions

When you know what council to contact, head over to their website and search ‘neighbour complaint’ into the search bar. This should bring up some information that will be helpful to you. Some councils will have fact sheets that you can download that can provide further information.

The council website should also specify how they prefer complaints to be filed. If they have an online portal for lodging complaints, the link will be provided.

Most councils also offer a downloadable log sheet/diary that you can print and fill out, to provide details of the issues you are encountering and their frequency.

Step 4 – Gather evidence of the neighbour dispute

Before making your complaint with the council, it’s important to gather evidence to support your claims. There is a separate article that outlines how to gather evidence for a neighbour complaint, which you can find here.

Even if you have already recorded the information in your own log, if the council has a specific template for a log sheet, make sure to transfer the information to that form to ensure it meets the council’s desired format.

Generally the council will want the following information for each incident:

1. The issue (i.e noise or anti-social behaviour)
2. The date
3. The time (the time it started and how long it went on for)
4. Who the perpetrator was (if known)
5. If anyone else was present that could act as a witness
6. How the event is making you feel and the impact on your health
7. Noise level or severity of the problem (if appropriate)
8. Add any other details that are relevant, as memories fade and multiple incidents can merge into one

I would recommend filling out the log straight after the incident (or as soon as you can) so you don’t forget any of the details.

Step 5 – How to lodge the complaint about a neighbour

Depending on your local council you can usually make a complaint about a neighbour to the council by the following ways:

• By letter
• By email
• By phone
• By online portal (if your council has one)

Their website will provide you will the appropriate telephone number or email address. If they provide a name of who deals with the complaints, mark the letter/email for their attention.

Step 6 – The waiting game

The next steps taken by the council will be to send you a letter to confirm that your complaint has been received, and around the same time, they will send a letter to your neighbour to notify them of the complaint.

The council will ask you to continue keeping a log of the issue to monitor if it improves after the neighbour has received the letter. Usually, receipt of the formal letter from the council is enough to resolve the issue.

If the nuisance persists after the letter is received, the council will visit the property to observe the issue firsthand. The council will assess if the behaviour is unreasonable, taking into account the times when the nuisance is occurring and the duration.

Tip: keep a copy of all correspondence you have received and sent to the council

Step 7 – The outcome

Once the council has finished their investigation and determines that the complaint is valid and constitutes a “statutory nuisance,” they will take enforcement action. The type of enforcement will depend on the nature of the dispute.

For instance, if your neighbour plays loud music at 3 am, the council may serve an abatement notice on the neighbour, specifying the hours during which they are allowed to play music and how loud it can be. In severe cases, the council may even remove the speakers. If the neighbour fails to comply with the order, they may be fined or face prosecution

If your complaint was not upheld, they will also confirm this in writing to you.

Who to contact if you are not happy with the councils investigation?

If the council decides not to take enforcement action against your neighbour, or if you believe that the issue was not thoroughly investigated, you may file a formal complaint directly with the council. The council’s website should provide information on how to make an official complaint.

After going through the complaints procedure with the council, if you are still unsatisfied, then you can contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and lodge a complaint with them.

Related frequently asked questions about how to complain about a neighbour to the council.

Conclusion

In conclusion, complaining about a neighbour to the council can be a complex and lengthy process, but it is important to know the correct steps to take in order to resolve the issue effectively. The council is legally obliged to investigate certain complaints and before filing a complaint, it is crucial to gather sufficient evidence to support your complaint.