Is it illegal to use a vacuum cleaner after 6pm?

WE understand that the only time you have to do any housework is in the evening after work. But unfortunately, if you vacuum your home after 6pm, you are breaking the law. Is it illegal to use a vacuum cleaner after 6pm? You may be an accidental law breaker if you make loud noises such […]

WE understand that the only time you have to do any housework is in the evening after work.

But unfortunately, if you vacuum your home after 6pm, you are breaking the law.

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Is it illegal to use a vacuum cleaner after 6pm?

You may be an accidental law breaker if you make loud noises such as hoovering after 6pm.

This is because nuisance behaviour is not limited to loud music and late night parties and covers any sound that exceeds the tolerable decibel level.

According Gorvins Solicitors, you are not permitted to go over following decibel levels, by law:

• 34 dBA 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

What does the law say about noisy housework?

Danielle Clements, Senior Dispute Solicitor at Gorvins Solicitors, said to the Sun Online: “Many people do not realise that they are breaking the law by doing a simple household task because of the noise level that a hoover emits.

“Nuisance noise is one of the biggest causes of neighbour disputes and is on the rise.

“With regards to noise in relation to hoovering and other things the first port of call for all complaints and nuisance neighbours is the local council.

“Reporting nuisance noise such as hoovering after a certain time and doing DIY at unsociable hours will result in the council sending out an environmental health officer to assess the noise level and determine whether a fixed penalty notice should be issued for the offenders.

“We always advise anyone who is experiencing issues with their neighbours to first of all speak to their local council or if the problem persists, to see professional legal advice.”

Are there any other surprising household laws?

Gorvins Solicitors drew up a list of 13 things of seemingly innocent acts that could result in you breaking the law.

How many of these have you done?

• Attaching your washing line, garden hose or even plants to a neighbour’s wall or fence without obtaining consent first. It is your neighbour’s property so consent is required.
• Heating a hot tub could constitute a nuisance due to noise.
• Cutting back trees into your neighbour’s property is illegal. Only cut back foliage to the extent that they overhang your land, and if the tree has a preservation order you cannot cut any branches.
• Throwing overhanging plants or hedge trimmings into your neighbour’s house without permission could count as garden waste fly tipping.
• Taking fruit from a neighbour’s tree, even if it hangs into your garden, constitutes theft.
• Keeping chickens can lead to noise, odour, flies and vermin which can be deemed to be nuisance behaviour.
• Bright security lighting if it shines directly into a neighbour’s property can constitute light pollution or a nuisance.
• Smoke from a wood burner in the house or a barbecue, for example, can constitute a nuisance.
• Ensure any CCTV cameras around your property do not point at part or all of a neighbour’s land. This could in some cases breach privacy laws under the Human Rights Act and possibly lead to allegations of harassment.
• Be mindful where you position children’s trampolines to ensure that the noise is not too disturbing but also to avoid children (and adults) being able to see into neighbours gardens and affect their right to privacy.
• It is recommended by environmental health officers that noisy DIY should only take place between 8am and 6pm on weekdays, Saturdays between 8am and 1pm and never on a Sunday.
• If you are parking a caravan on your drive give some thought to whether the position of the vehicle might affect your neighbours right to light and constitute a nuisance.
• Do not use a neighbour’s unsecure wifi connection without their knowledge i.e ‘piggybacking’. Criminal charges can be brought against you under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 / the Communications Act 2003.