Restaurant extractor fan audible from garden

cannugec5

We live next door to catering premises that has a large extractor fan. I’ve never checked the Db, but we can certainly hear it in the garden which is about 6 feet away. We’ve lived here 20 years and the fan has been there far longer I’m sure. You simply stop noticing it after a while. Visitors might comment, especially as it starts up or stops, but it does not prevent our enjoyment from our garden in any way. 

lapaillade90

I do appreciate the responses, but whilst I understand that having children or living under a flight path generates noise, it's not comparable as those aren't really within anyone's control. Similarly, I've lived in London for a decade and have no problem with the noise of traffic/general hustle and bustle, as that's to be expected.

Planning permission will require commercial properties to reduce the impact on local residents to a reasonable extent. A noise nuisance is one that "interferes significantly with your right to enjoy your home".

I understand that a restaurant has to have an extractor fan to comply with health & safety standards, but I was hoping for advice as to whether having a fan that is audible all day three doors down would fall within that definition of a "nuisance"?

user1977

lapaillade90 said:

I understand that a restaurant has to have an extractor fan to comply with health & safety standards, but I was hoping for advice as to whether having a fan that is audible all day three doors down would fall within that definition of a "nuisance"?

I would expect to be able to hear some sort of noise coming from a restaurant if I were only three doors away from it. Like I said, if all they've done is install the fan which they've got permission for, I doubt it would somehow otherwise be deemed to constitute a nuisance.

lapaillade90

user1977 said:

lapaillade90 said:

I understand that a restaurant has to have an extractor fan to comply with health & safety standards, but I was hoping for advice as to whether having a fan that is audible all day three doors down would fall within that definition of a "nuisance"?

I would expect to be able to hear some sort of noise coming from a restaurant if I were only three doors away from it. Like I said, if all they've done is install the fan which they've got permission for, I doubt it would somehow otherwise be deemed to constitute a nuisance.

Hi there - is there a way I can check if they have the necessary permission?

lapaillade90

Again, I am not saying I would not expect no noise whatsoever, as I understand they have to have a fan in place. But I'm not convinced they should have a fan which sounds like someone is mowing a lawn next door for 12 hours straight!

Barny1979

I can't imagine they can do anything themselves and I would expect the fan is standard and therefore acceptable noise from it, so Environmental Health would not look to take enforcement action.

AdrianC

lapaillade90 said:

I do appreciate the responses, but whilst I understand that having children or living under a flight path generates noise, it's not comparable as those aren't really within anyone's control.

Extraction from a commercial kitchen isn't, either.

lapaillade90

Barny1979 said:

I can't imagine they can do anything themselves and I would expect the fan is standard and therefore acceptable noise from it, so Environmental Health would not look to take enforcement action.

You'd think it would be possible to install a quieter fan though, no? I can't say I've ever previously walked past a takeaway and thought someone is mowing a lawn in there...

Barny1979

lapaillade90 said:

Barny1979 said:

I can't imagine they can do anything themselves and I would expect the fan is standard and therefore acceptable noise from it, so Environmental Health would not look to take enforcement action.

You'd think it would be possible to install a quieter fan though, no? I can't say I've ever previously walked past a takeaway and thought someone is mowing a lawn in there...

Not sure why the business would want to pay for something that is working as it should and they're not being forced to by an authority. It would be a good neighbour however they presumably haven't had any complaints from other residents.

lapaillade90

Barny1979 said:

lapaillade90 said:

Barny1979 said:

I can't imagine they can do anything themselves and I would expect the fan is standard and therefore acceptable noise from it, so Environmental Health would not look to take enforcement action.

You'd think it would be possible to install a quieter fan though, no? I can't say I've ever previously walked past a takeaway and thought someone is mowing a lawn in there...

Not sure why the business would want to pay for something that is working as it should and they're not being forced to by an authority. It would be a good neighbour however they presumably haven't had any complaints from other residents.

Is it working as it should though, if it's so audible from that far away? I'm not an expert on extractor fans, but in my experience the noise this is making isn't normal!

I'm not sure if anyone previously raised any concerns, so I agree I should speak to the neighbours to get their views.

Not trying to be obtuse here, I do appreciated the answers.