I have lived in my three-bedroom townhouse for over 15 years.
Heathrow and Gatwick airports are both fairly close by. I knew I was buying a house that was affected by nearby airports, but this was never a big issue. I expected some noise and it didn’t bother me.
However, in recent years, and especially this summer, the noise from airplanes has intensified dramatically, especially at night. The planes seem to be flying lower and lower. It sounds as if they are right above the house.
How can I complain about the noise of planes flying overhead? Is this even possible? And would it be necessary to warn buyers about this if I decided to sell?
Now that Angela Rayner has given the green light for more flights from London City Airport, I fear that further expansion – and more noise – may be on the horizon.
Too much: This is Money reader finds plane noise over his home unbearable
This is Money’s Jane Denton responds: Aircraft noise is largely unavoidable, especially if you live near Heathrow and Gatwick.
The government’s decision to approve the expansion of London City Airport is “a sign of things to come”, some climate campaigners have warned, suggesting that more large airports could be built in the future.
Returning to your topic, the Government says on its website that “noise is regulated to some extent at all UK airports”.
He added: ‘Aircraft trajectories are generally designed to fly over less populated areas.
‘Some airports offer grants to install soundproofing in affected homes. Contact the airport you are affected by to find out if they have any.’
Regarding your noise complaint, the Government suggests that it is best to contact the relevant airports.
He Airports have a duty to investigate your complaint and respond to it, in accordance with the Civil Aviation Authority.
Decisions on when an airport is allowed to be open for flights, whether its aircraft can operate at night and how many aircraft can fly on a given day are often set as part of the planning process that approves airport construction or expansion, the CAA adds.
In the case of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, decisions like these are overseen by the Department for Transport.
At other airports, these processes and decisions are usually handled by the local authority where the airport is located.
I asked two experts for their opinion on what, if anything, can be done.
Know the Law: Richard Buxton
Richard Buxton, partner at Richard Buxton Solicitors in Cambridge, said: Since the early days of aviation, civil aircraft have been exempt from noise claims.
There are some exceptions, but they do not apply to normal flights in and out of major airports.
There are strong economic and political pressures to keep the rules as they are.
The number of flights and flight routes are controlled by a combination of airport capacity and planning constraints.
There are special rules designed to reduce the disruption caused by night flights at Heathrow Gatwick and Stansted.
In recent times, navigation systems have improved with GPS, so that planes follow a very precise trajectory in the wide permitted corridor, which makes flights tend to concentrate on some people and leave others in a better position.
Navigation beacons also tend to focus aircraft into noisy turns.
These issues could potentially be controlled by the Government and the CAA.
The European Court of Human Rights has found that there is wide discretion over what controls are appropriate, but the sanction of the Human Rights Act is there to stop complete arbitrariness and to exert pressure for better regulation if that can be justified.
There are noise concern groups at most airports and these may be the best first point of contact for more information on what can be done.
Lisa Hayes, real estate expert and owner of Ready Steady Sell, says: When it comes to selling a property affected by external factors such as aircraft noise, transparency is key, not only for ethical reasons but also to comply with legal requirements.
In the right place: Property expert Lisa Hughes
Disclosing these factors is crucial as they can significantly influence the buyer’s decision-making process and the overall value of the property.
Sellers must complete Form TA6, part of the Property Information Questionnaire, which requests details about disputes and complaints relating to the property, including those relating to noise.
This form includes a specific section where sellers must disclose issues such as aircraft noise.
Failure to disclose such information may result in the buyer seeking compensation or even rescinding the sale once completed if they can prove that the seller concealed information that could affect the enjoyment of the property.
Regarding how aircraft noise can affect property value, this can be significant.
Properties located under flight paths or near airports are often valued lower than those located in quieter areas.
The degree of noise pollution can vary, but its presence often triggers a market adjustment. Potential buyers may be deterred by noise, resulting in fewer interested parties and the need to reduce the price to attract offers.
Market studies and analyses often show that homes exposed to significant noise pollution sell for 5 to 20 percent less than comparable properties in quieter environments.
Please note that improved sound insulation and noise reduction technologies are becoming more sophisticated and accessible.
Sellers can invest in such improvements to make their properties more attractive and potentially offset some of the depreciation caused by aircraft noise.
Peter Barclay is Chairman of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign
Peter Barclay, Chair of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign, says: Aircraft noise is one of those irritants that almost nothing can be done about, but it seems to be getting worse everywhere.
Although moving can alleviate the problem if you move far enough away, in the UK, especially in the South East, it is not possible to escape it completely. Unfortunately, aviation is exempt from noise nuisance claims, so there is little legal protection for those affected.
Flights from the UK, mainly to holiday destinations, have increased massively since the recession of the early 2000s. For example, in 2006, Gatwick handled around 30 million passengers and in 2019 that figure rose to 46.5 million – an increase of more than 50 per cent. Very few flight routes have changed over the years, but they have of course become much busier with the increase in flights.
What can be done about this? Each airport has a complaints system. Both airports also have a tracking system where you can see the altitude of the aircraft, which airline, where it is going to or coming from, and thus be able to report any specific disturbances.
The airport expansion is on the rise! As readers comment, London City has already been approved, but an important fact is that the total number of flights that can be operated from there has not been an increase. The expansion will be managed with larger aircraft and, at London City, the nature and location of the airport means that they will be newer and quieter.
Sadly, that will not apply if the planned expansions of Heathrow or Gatwick go ahead: huge increases in flights are planned without any real consideration of the impact of noise or air pollution on communities.
