Nuisance alarm noise guidance to Slough residents
Slough Borough Council is promoting a practical solution to house alarm noise which can be a real nuisance to residents living next door.
Ensure your Slough alarm system is maintained and not accidentally going off. Intruder alarms can go off accidentally and disturb neighbours, especially during the night and if no one is home to turn it off, the council can silence the alarm at a cost for the home owner.
In order to prevent this from happening, Slough residents are advised to take the following measures:
* Ensure the alarm is installed by a qualified engineer.
* Maintain the alarm – have it serviced regularly.
* Make sure it’s fitted with an automatic cut-out device to prevent both its sound for more than 20 minutes and its reactivation, unless the system has been manually reset. This is particularly helpful if you do not have a neighbour you can leave your keys with.
* Register a key holder, who lives nearby or within 20 minutes of the property, with Slough Borough Council. Should the alarm accidentally activate whilst the owners are away, the nominated key holder can be contacted to turn it off.
However, if the alarm continues to ring for 20 minutes continuously, or on and off for an hour, the council can enter the property to silence the alarm if no nominated key holder is given to the council.
This involves applying for a warrant from the Magistrates Court if it is necessary to make a forced entry. Any costs incurred by the council in silencing an alarm will be claimed back from the owner.
Natalie Wood, technical enforcement officer for Slough Borough Council, said: “We all know that house alarms can go off accidentally, but it can be a nuisance when the owner is out or on holiday and the alarm rings throughout the night.
“The key holder idea will save residents from having to endure the noise and also stop the home owner(s) being penalised for the noise.”
For an alarm key holder notification form please contact the neighbourhood enforcement team on 01753 875255.
Slough Borough Council