Supporting a Positive Living Environment

We aim to ensure that all students in Halls enjoy a comfortable environment, where everyone can study, rest, and socialise without unreasonable noise disturbances. To maintain this atmosphere, we ask that all residents keep noise levels within their rooms, especially between 23:00 and 07:00, so they’re not audible by anyone else. Excessive noise, including loud music, TV, gaming, or gatherings, is not allowed if it disrupts others’ peace and wellbeing.

This policy allows everyone to unwind peacefully after a busy day. If you or your guests have difficulty following these guidelines, please remember that disciplinary measures may be applied.

Our team is here to help manage persistent noise issues if they arise.

Living with noise

Life in a bustling hall in central London means there will be occasional background noise, including traffic sounds, lively conversations, or door activity. While Connaught Hall’s policies minimise noise disruptions, we recommend earplugs for sensitive sleepers as a practical way to enjoy uninterrupted rest while ensuring you’ll still hear important sounds, like alarms.

Neighbourly Resolution

We are a community of adults living together, and maintaining a comfortable and harmonious environment depends on mutual respect and consideration. Often, the best way to resolve a noise issue is through direct communication between neighbours. This approach not only fosters understanding but also encourages a more cohesive living experience.

If you are disturbed by noise from a neighbour, we suggest you approach them calmly and politely to let them know. Often, the person may not even realise that their activities are disruptive. A simple request can go a long way in preventing further disturbances. Phrasing your request kindly and explaining how the noise affects you can make your neighbour more receptive.

However, we also recognise that not everyone feels comfortable confronting a neighbour directly, and that some situations may be more complex or ongoing. In these cases, our team is here to help mediate and provide additional support. We encourage you to use our reporting procedures, as outlined below, if you feel uncomfortable approaching your neighbour or if informal resolution attempts do not work.

Steps to take

If noise becomes an issue, our team is here to support you. Following the steps below will allow us to respond effectively and work with you toward a solution.

1. Immediate Contact: Report the noise to reception while it’s happening so we can evaluate and address it accurately.
   
2. Follow-up Documentation: Send a brief email with the incident details to adrian.clark@london.ac.uk. Include the time, type of noise, and any recurring issues. Your input helps us keep a record and spot patterns, making it easier to resolve ongoing problems.

Real-time reporting matters

If you need our help with a noise disturbance, an RA or staff member needs to hear the noise while it’s happening. This allows them to verify the sound level and document the incident accurately, which is vital should further action be necessary. Without real-time confirmation, we can’t collect the evidence needed to follow up effectively or pursue disciplinary action if the problem persists.

Room changes

Requests for room changes due to noise are generally challenging to fulfil as our Halls are usually at capacity. We cannot normally move either the person making noise or the person complaining about noise.

Instead, our structured procedures allow us to work through the problem with the residents involved, which has proven to be the most effective approach to ensuring a peaceful community environment.

Noise complaints: step-by-step resolution

If, after verification by an RA or staff member, the noise from a resident’s room is deemed unreasonable, they will be subject to the following steps, giving them clear opportunities to adjust their behaviour:

1. Informal email reminder: After the first confirmed incident, the Warden will email the resident causing the noise, reminding them of the noise policy.
2. Disciplinary meeting with the Warden: If there’s a second confirmed report, the resident will meet with the Warden, where a formal warning is likely to be issued.
3. Further disciplinary meeting: Following a third confirmed incident, the resident may receive a final warning.
4. Termination of licence agreement: If the disturbances continue and are documented as unreasonable, the resident may face being removed from the Hall.

This approach balances the need for a peaceful environment with opportunities for residents to adjust and communicate openly with the team. By following these steps, we work together to create a positive and supportive student community.

Policy on anonymous noise reports

To ensure fairness and accuracy in handling noise complaints, we cannot use anonymous reports as evidence in any disciplinary action. For a complaint to be actionable, a Resident Advisor or staff member must be able to independently verify the noise while it’s happening and document it as unreasonable for the time of day. This ensures that any follow-up steps, including possible disciplinary action, are based on clear, documented evidence rather than anonymous claims.

If you experience disruptive noise, we encourage you to report it directly to reception at the time it occurs, allowing us to address the issue effectively and maintain a peaceful environment for everyone in Hall.