Pool pump, hot tub and ventilation

A pool in the garden, a hot tub on the patio, a mechanical extractor fan or a freezer in the shed: great for your neighbours, but for you it can mean a low hum that never stops. During the day you barely notice it, but in the evening and at night it seems to be everywhere.

Your neighbours usually notice very little, because the unit stands outside or in an outbuilding and they are used to it. So describe what you hear, say that it seems to come from a certain direction and invite them to come and listen some time.

The example messages and the incident diary help you talk this through calmly and keep track of what you agree. Ask for one realistic change, such as a timer, anti-vibration mounts or an enclosure, and agree when you will check together whether it helps.

What do the rules say?

There is no law that says how long or when a pool pump, hot tub or extractor fan may run. Noise from a home can be a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 if it unreasonably and substantially interferes with the use of your home; the council's environmental health team looks at the time of day, how long and how often it occurs and the character of the area, and can serve an abatement notice. A constant hum at night is usually judged differently from a pump that runs for a few hours during the day.

How to approach it

1. Pay attention for a few days to when you hear it, where in the house and whether you’ve pinpointed the source.

2. Send a friendly message describing what you hear and suggesting that you listen together.

3. Ask for one specific change, for example the pump off at night, and note briefly in writing what you’ve agreed.

4. No change? Send a reminder and then ask the council or a community mediation service for help.

Tips for your message

Don't accuse; describe. A sentence like 'At night I hear a low hum in the bedroom; it seems to come from your pump, is that right?' works better than 'Your pump makes far too much noise'. Don't quote decibels you measured yourself and never switch off your neighbour's equipment yourself.

This is general information, not legal advice.