Housing and noise regulations for people with autism, can the NAS please respond?

Flats are often noisy, whereas houses are more likely to be quiet. Having grown up in a house along a very quiet residential road, I have always taken quietude at night for granted. I think I have inherited sensitive hearing from my mum, although she is not on the spectrum. As a family, we are introverted, and like an undisturbed night of sleep. I have grown up with fairly quiet neighbours, but sound insulation is good at my parent's home, even when we used to live in an ex council house. Night time noise has never been an issue before, but it is for me now, at my flat.

I think I am more sensitive to noise than so called 'normal' people because of my genetics, ie aspergers. Surely Councils should take our needs into consideration? Why can't they build special autism housing, that is to say, detatched houses in really quiet locations, with no traffic passing through? I wish. More realistically, what are my rights in this situation? What can I do?

Parents
  • Hi Hope - sorry that the noise problem is going on.  I don't know the law + how it relates to noise/autism.  I know that if neighbours are causing very loud noise then the council's environmental health dept can install a noise meter in the complainant's property + leave it for a period of time to record the decibels.  There has to be noise that goes on for a length of time regularly over a period of time.  Sorry I don't know the specifics.  Think very loud music several times a week, late night-early morning parties etc.  Taking up that option might not be of help to you.

    Have you thought of approaching your landlord or another landlord to see if you can move to somewhere quieter or to see if they can install some sound insulation?  Your social worker should be supporting you rather than dismissing your situation so please don't let her get away with that.  If you wanted you could complain about her.

    I'd also like to know if the nas or anyone else has advice on this as it must affect a number of people :  children + adults + their families, support workers etc. 

Reply
  • Hi Hope - sorry that the noise problem is going on.  I don't know the law + how it relates to noise/autism.  I know that if neighbours are causing very loud noise then the council's environmental health dept can install a noise meter in the complainant's property + leave it for a period of time to record the decibels.  There has to be noise that goes on for a length of time regularly over a period of time.  Sorry I don't know the specifics.  Think very loud music several times a week, late night-early morning parties etc.  Taking up that option might not be of help to you.

    Have you thought of approaching your landlord or another landlord to see if you can move to somewhere quieter or to see if they can install some sound insulation?  Your social worker should be supporting you rather than dismissing your situation so please don't let her get away with that.  If you wanted you could complain about her.

    I'd also like to know if the nas or anyone else has advice on this as it must affect a number of people :  children + adults + their families, support workers etc. 

Children
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