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Residential Community

Noise Issues

NOISE

Check out this page for tips on how to manage noise and to discover who to report to when you have experienced excessive noise.

Is the noise I am experiencing happening right now?

Yes

Is the noise being made during quiet hours (12am-8am)?

No

Do you know who is making the noise?

No

Have you spoken to the students making the noise?

Yes

Call Community Safety, find their contact information below

No

Please speak with the Residential Community Team, find their contact information below

Yes

Have you spoken with the person?

No

Please speak to the students first, use our tips and tricks below to help!

Yes and they are still making noise

Please speak with the Residential Community Team, find their contact information below

No

Please speak to the students first, use our tips and tricks below to help!

Yes and they are still making noise

Please speak with the Residential Community Team, find their contact information below

How to have a conversation with your flatmate about noise

Keep reading for all of our tips and tricks!

Approach issues quickly and directly

  • The best thing to do when your flatmate is making noise is to address the issue in the moment (or just after). Addressing the issue at the time stops the issue from dragging on and gives you the opportunity to explain how it is affecting you in the moment.
  • When having a conversation with your flatmate be polite but firm. Explain what is exactly bothering you and offer suggestions on how to solve the issue. Don’t accuse your flatmate and make sure they have the opportunity to voice their own concerns as well.
  • Some students have never lived away from home before and often don’t realise how their behaviour can affect others.

Agree on a compromise and set rules

  • Consider ways in which you and your flatmate can make compromises to make your flat more liveable. If your flatmate doesn’t suggest anything, make the conscious effort to suggest some yourself.
  • If it seems appropriate, you can include the rest of your flat in a discussion about flat rules. Noise can be affecting more than one person and creating rules as a flat can lead to harmonious living.

Some examples of compromises and flat rules:

  • If your flatmate plays a musical instrument - you can discuss times when your flatmate could play their instrument that is the least impactive on the flat.
  • If your flatmate constantly has parties and people over - suggest your flatmate gives you advanced notice when they are having people over and find ways to stick to the university quiet hours (12am-8am).
  • If your flatmate is regularly using technology loudly in their room - discuss what specifically about this action is disruptive ‘i.e. using their phone on loud speaker on calls.’ You could suggest they wear headphones when on the phone etc.

Don't retaliate

  • It can be really easy to take a passive-aggressive approach to handle flatmate issues. However, this can have an even further negative impact on your overall flat and will only escalate the situation.
  • It can also have the reverse affect and result with the Residential Community Team having a discussion with you about your own behaviour. So you are better to address the issue directly and seek help if you need it.
  • Don’t forget you are going to have to live in this flat for the remainder of the academic year so you need to find a way to get along as a flat.

Please remember that tolerance is important too!

  • Just because your flatmate is making noise, doesn’t necessarily mean they need to stop. Noise is a part of day to day life and it in unfair for people to be silent 100% of the time, especially within their own home.
  • It is important to strike a balance between general noise and excessive noise.
  • Don’t forget there are places you can also utilise on campus to avoid noise including the library.

Have you spoken to your flatmate and they are still making noise?

Keep reading for contact information for the Residential Community Team and the Community Safety Team

Community Safety Team

If someone is making noise during quiet hours ‘12am-8am’, the best thing you can do is to call Community Safety.

General Enquiries

024 7652 2083

Emergency

024 7652 2222

Their number can also be found on the back of your student card.

When Community Safety attend they are able to evidence this incident with body worn cameras and send an official report to the Residential Community Team for a follow up.

Please keep in mind that Community Safety are an emergency response service on campus and have to triage calls they receive. Therefore they can’t always attend right away.

Residential Community Team

The Residential Community Team are the best team to speak to when you are having ongoing noise issues within your flat. They can speak to students, organise mediation sessions, or action their noise process (please see below).

Triage Form:

Complete their Triage form and someone will be in contact with you to arrange a catch up.

Online Triage Form (office.com)

Residence Hubs:

Our staff are available in your Residence Hub every evening between 7pm - 9pm.

RCT Hub (Red Square):

Our staff are available in the RCT hub from 9am -11pm Monday to Friday and 12pm -11pm Saturday and Sunday.

Did you know Quiet Hours are between 12am - 8am every night?

Although quiet hours are listed between these times, noise made outside of these hours can also be considered a breach if deemed excessive.

These quiet hours apply to halls of residence, communal spaces, and outside areas.

Check out the Residential Community Team's Noise Process

To move forward with this process RCT need evidence identifying the student making the noise.

Visit from the Residential Community Assistants (RCAs)

  • When a student is found making noise the first time, the Residential Community Team will send one of their RCAs to speak with the student/s making noise.
  • The RCAs will discuss the noise breach with the student and will explain what will happen if they breach the policy again. If the student isn't home an email will be sent.

Warning Letter

  • When a student is found making noise for a second time within the same term, they will receive a noise warning letter from the Residential Community Team.
  • This letter outlines that the student has been found in breach of the noise policy on campus and explains what will happen if they breach the policy again.

Behaviour Impact Session

  • If a student is found making noise for a third time within the same term then the student will be asked to attend a Behavioural Impact Session with the RCAs.
  • At the Behaviour Impact Session the student will reflect on their own behaviour and discuss ways in which they can be more considerate of the people they live with.
  • If the student fails to attend this session the Residential Community Team may decide to fine the student.

Disciplinary Meeting

  • If a student is found making noise for a fourth time within the same term then the student will be asked to attend a Disciplinary Meeting with the Residential Community Team.
  • At the Disciplinary Meeting the student will be asked to reflect on their behaviour and discuss why this has continued despite attending a Behaviour Impact Session. This meeting may result in a fine.
  • If the student fails to attend this session the Residential Community Team may decide to fine the student.

Student Discipline Referral

  • If a student is found making noise for a fifth time within the same term then the student may be referred to University's Student Discipline Team.
  • The outcome of this conversation is at the discretion of the Student Discipline Team.

Additional information about the noise process

  • This process can only move forward with evidence identifying the student who is making the noise. The best way to evidence this is to call Community Safety so they can witness the noise on their body worn cameras.
  • If you are the one reporting the noise, you won’t be notified when each stage of the process has been actioned. However, just know that the Residential Community Team follow up any reports they receive.
  • This process resets every term and can vary depending on the severity or complexity of each incident.

Did you know?

The Residential Community Team (RCT) give out free earplugs for residential students!

Just pop into the RCT Hub (located in Red Square) between 9am-11pm Monday to Friday and 12pm - 11pm Saturday and Sunday.