Alarm that keeps going off

An alarm should only sound when something is actually wrong. If your neighbour’s car alarm or house alarm keeps going off, there is usually a technical cause: an over-sensitive sensor, a weak battery or a lack of servicing. The owner often notices little of it, especially when they are not at home.

Describe what you hear: which alarm, when, for how long and whether there seemed to be a trigger. Ask for something realistic, such as having the alarm checked, a shorter siren setting or a phone number for when it goes off while your neighbours are away.

The example messages and the incident diary help you talk this through calmly and keep track of what you agree. Only use facts you heard yourself and make clear that you are not asking them to remove the alarm.

What do the rules say?

In England and Wales, the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 lets a council enter premises to silence an intruder alarm that has sounded continuously for more than 20 minutes or intermittently for more than an hour, and recover the cost from the person responsible; in an alarm notification area a key-holder must be nominated. Vehicles are not covered, but a car alarm that goes off night after night can be a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. If an alarm keeps sounding and the owner can’t be reached, contact the council or the police on 101; for an actual break-in or immediate danger, call 999.

How to approach it

1. Note the date, time, duration and which alarm it was a few times, and whether the owner seemed reachable.

2. Send a friendly message with one specific suggestion, such as a check and a number to call when it goes off.

3. Offer to text them the moment it goes off, and agree a date to check whether it helps.

4. Nothing changes? A community mediation service can help, or the landlord or managing agent if there is one.

Tips for your message

Don’t accuse; describe what you hear. A sentence like ‘Your car alarm went off a few times last night; would you be able to have it checked?’ usually works better than ‘That alarm of yours is unbearable’. Never touch the car or the alarm yourself.

This is general information, not legal advice.