The nation's capital is lively, frenetic, bustling with an estimated 7.8 million people living in it so it's bound to be a noisy place. But in the last three years noise levels, and complaints, have been on the increase.
In 2008, 2009 and 2010 there were 367,073 complaints about noise from the 33 London councils.
The noisiest area of London was Westminster where the council received a total of 39,794 complaints in the last three years.
The second noisiest area was Southwark, followed by Tower Hamlets.
Southwark council's Ian Wingfield said: "The figures reflect the fact that we have robust reporting procedures in place to allow the public to let us know when they have concerns about noise and we have a range of tools and powers to deal with their complaints.
"We understand that excessive noise can be a blight on people's lives and for that reason we strive to make sure the levels of unacceptable noise in the borough are kept to an absolute minimum."
To combat noise nuisances, councils can issue abatement notices to offenders. An abatement notice will be issued when the council decides that the noise levels are unreasonable and therefore a statutory nuisance.
It can be difficult to decide what a statutory nuisance is, but generally the council will determine how many people are affected by the noise and whether it is a health risk.
The abatement notice will explain what is required of the person creating the noise nuisance, such as only playing music between certain times.
If a person does not comply with the abatement notice they will be fined up to £5,000 for a residential property and up to £20,000 for a business or industrial property.
Anti-social behaviour prosecutions can be made if the noise nuisance persists.
Figures from Freedom of Information showed that 3,608 noise abatement notices were issued by councils in 2010 and while the majority of complaints about noise were against residential properties for parties and loud music other complaints were made concerning DIY, singing, musical instruments, karaoke, fireworks, buskers, street speakers and church bells.
Of the 33 councils, ten reported a total of 158 prosecutions made for noise nuisance. Across all the councils, over the past three years, 397 cases were reported in which equipment was confiscated.
Related links:
Read more on the story (BBC)
Read about noise nuisance and neighbour disputes (FindLaw)
Find local dispute resolution solicitors throughout the UK (FindLaw)
