A sound strategy to avoiding tension

Thinking about the noise we are generating is an important part of being a good neighbour. Equally, we all deserve to not have to live with excessive noise. Here is some general advice about how you can manage your own noise, and react to other people's.

Thinking about our own noise

• Your room is probably not soundproof! If you are watching TV, or calling family or friends at night or early in the morning, it might be worth checking-in with your immediate neighbours to make sure they can't hear you from their rooms.
• Be considerate in the corridor and communal spaces. The fire doors should be shut anyway, but if they are held or propped open it is worth being aware that noise will travel further. The same applies with open windows. 
• Don't slam doors! While the heavy fire doors are great from a fire safety point of view, they can generate a fair amount of noise when they close, so try to close them gently if you're up and about in the early hours of the morning or at night. 
• Check-in with flatmates ahead of large gatherings. It is important to let your flatmates know if you're planning to have lots of people over, especially if you're expecting it to be noisy. 

Managing reasonable noise

It is inevitable that you will hear your neighbours from time to time, and we all have days where we want peace and quiet, or to take a midday nap. Here are some tips on what you can do when you reaaaaally want to shut out noise:

• Use headphones or earplugs. This one is a bit obvious!
• Use other noise (at a reasonable volume - of course!) to block out the sound. Pleasant noises, such as your favourite music, or white noise, such as a fan or a white noise generator. 
• Close windows and doors. Either your own, or ask those generating the noise to close theirs.
• Decorations. Using wall hangings and rugs can block out some sound. 

Sounding the alarm

You have the right to not live with excessive noise while living in halls. While there isn't necessarily a precise definition of excessive noise in this context, it is generally referring to things like music and loud talking during night-time hours, such as between 11pm and 7am. There are a few actions you can take if you are being disrupted by excessive noise:

• Ask directly if it is your neighbours, or their guests, and you feel able to.
• Call Security about the disturbance. You can call security on 01225 383999 and someone will investigate and ask for the noise to be turned down. 
• Report it on SafeZone. You can use the 'Report a Tip' button on the SafeZone app to notify Security about the disturbance. There is the option to raise it anonymously. 

If you're worried about noise, hopefully you know now that you don't have to suffer in silence or in excessive noise!