New homes end noisy neighbour rows

All new flats and houses will be fitted with an extra layer of sound-proofing to head-off noisy neighbour disputes, the Government said today.

Builders will be forced to comply with beefed-up rules on how much noise can travel from one house or flat to the next. Older properties will not be affected.

Noise is one of the main causes of disputes between neighbours. An estimated seven million people live in homes with poor sound insulation and more than two million are thought to suffer badly. Thousands complain every year to environmental health officers.

Today's announcement was welcomed by Val Weeden, of Noise Network, who said: "This is something we have been demanding for some time. Domestic noise isn't just a minor irritation. People can get quite distressed and their health can be dramatically affected."

Common sources of domestic noise pollution include washing machines, stereos and televisions.