Neighbour's TV or gaming too loud at night: what can you do?
Updated: 4 days ago
It is half past eleven, you are in bed, and through the wall you can hear an action film, an intense gaming session or someone on a speakerphone call. Sometimes you can even make out the words. TV noise and loud voices are among the most common complaints in flats and terraced houses. Most of the time your neighbours have no idea how far their sound carries. In this article, you’ll find out why you hear it so clearly, which agreements help and how to raise it in a friendly way.
Why you can hear TV and voices so clearly
Voices and TV sound mainly travel through the air. They find their way through thin party walls, ceilings, vents and open windows. The mid tones of speech are especially easy to follow, so you do not just hear noise, you hear words.
Common situations include:
A TV or soundbar against the shared wall. The sound goes straight into the wall, especially with a soundbar or subwoofer.
Gaming on a headset. Someone wearing a headset hears their own voice less and naturally talks louder. In the heat of the game there may be some shouting too.
Calls on speakerphone. Both sides of the conversation can be heard, often louder than necessary.
Late chats on the balcony or in the garden. On a summer evening the windows are open and voices carry, especially when everything else is quiet.
Late films and series. Action scenes have big jumps in volume: quiet dialogue, loud explosions.
Raise it kindly
Assume your neighbours do not know. In their own room it sounds like an ordinary evening. Say specifically what you hear, when, and what it means for you:
"When you're gaming or watching TV in the evening, I can sometimes make out the words in our bedroom, especially after 11. I'm not sure whether you notice. Could we look together at whether something can be done?"
You could also offer to let them come and listen at your place. Many people are surprised by how clearly their voice comes through, and an agreement is then quickly made.
What can you ask for or agree?
Don't ask for total silence straight away; ask for something small and realistic:
A set time. For example, the volume goes down after 10.30 pm on weeknights.
A different spot for the TV. A few metres from the shared wall often makes a big difference.
Night mode or subtitles. Many TVs and soundbars have a night mode that softens loud peaks.
Headphones for the late film. Wireless headphones are cheap and comfortable these days.
Talking more quietly while gaming. Or using push-to-talk, so the microphone isn't open all the time.
Bringing outdoor conversations inside. For example, carrying on indoors after 10 pm with the window closed.
Agree a date to check together whether it helps.
Are there rules about TV noise and voices?
Watching TV, gaming and talking are ordinary domestic noise. There is no law that says how loud your TV may be. However, under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, noise from a home can be a statutory nuisance if it unreasonably and substantially interferes with the use of your home; the council looks at how loud, how often and how late it is. Some councils can also act against night-time noise between 11 pm and 7 am under the Noise Act 1996. Your tenancy agreement, lease or house rules may contain terms on noise too. This article is not legal advice.
Keep a log
If the noise keeps bothering you, keep a log for a few weeks. Note the date, start and end time, which room you heard it in, what you heard (TV, gaming, calls, voices outside) and whether you could make out words. Note quiet evenings as well: that way you can see whether an agreement is working.
In practice
Voices are a bigger issue than many people think. In a Which? survey of 2,602 UK adults, 27% said they had had a problem with neighbours in the past year. Among them, arguing and loud voices were the most common nuisance (41%), and loud music and noisy TVs were mentioned by 29% (source: DJS Research). A calm, early conversation often prevents a small irritation from growing.
If you can't solve it together
Send a second, clear letter. Refer to your earlier message and mention a few examples from your log.
Try community mediation. A neutral mediator can help you reach an agreement together.
Do you rent or live in a flat? Then the landlord, housing association or managing agent may play a role.
Contact your council. Its environmental health team can explain what applies and whether it can investigate. In an emergency, call 999.
Help with the first message
The CalmNotes pack for loud TV, gaming and voices gives you editable example messages to raise the noise calmly, follow-up messages if nothing changes and a log to record when it happens. You will find more examples and tips on our page about TV, gaming and voices.
Choose a suitable next step
Free incident diary — Record incidents, contact and agreements.
Prepare your records and request for help — Organise your information and prepare a request for help.
Find support — Find out who may be able to help with your situation.
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