TV, gaming and voices

TV sound and voices carry easily through thin walls, ceilings and open windows. Someone gaming on a headset hears their own voice less and naturally talks louder. So your neighbours often don’t realise how clearly you can hear them, sometimes down to the words.

Describe what you hear yourself and what it means for you. Ask for a small, realistic change, such as turning it down after an agreed time, moving the TV away from the shared wall or no speakerphone calls late in the evening.

The example messages and the incident diary help you talk this through calmly and keep track of what you agree. You can also invite your neighbours to come and listen at your place.

What do the rules say?

Watching TV, gaming and talking are ordinary domestic noise; there is no set limit for how loud a TV may be. Noise from a home can, however, be a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 if it unreasonably and substantially interferes with your home, and your lease or tenancy agreement may contain terms about noise and quiet hours.

How to approach it

1. Note a few times when you hear it, how long it lasts, in which room and whether you can make out words.

2. Send a friendly message with one specific suggestion, such as a set time after which the volume goes down.

3. Agree a date to check together whether it helps.

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

Tips for your message

Don’t accuse; describe what you notice. A sentence like ‘When you’re gaming in the evening, I can sometimes make out the words in our bedroom; could we look at what might help?’ usually works better than ‘You’re far too noisy every night’.

This is general information, not legal advice.