We receive a number of complaints each year regarding misfiring audible intruder, fire and car alarms.

While the main aim of an audible alarm is to protect property from intruders, theft and damage, a continually misfiring alarm can cause disturbance to neighbours and may even amount to a statutory noise nuisance.

If we determine the alarm to be causing a noise nuisance, we may have to:

• serve an abatement notice on the occupier of the property
• obtain a warrant from a magistrate to enter the property and disconnect the alarm to stop the nuisance
• recover our costs from the person on whom the abatement notice was served

To avoid this action, you should:

• make sure your alarm is serviced regularly, it should cut out within 20 minutes of sounding
• appoint two keyholders for the property, preferably people who can attend within 20 minutes
• tell your neighbours who your keyholders are
• inform us of your keyholder details, as detailed below

Car alarms

Car alarms should be properly maintained. If we witness a car alarm sounding that is likely to be a nuisance to residents in the area, we can serve notice on the owner.

If the vehicle owner cannot be located to silence the alarm, we might take enforcement action. If we do, we will seek to recover any incurred costs from the car owner.

Report an alarm

If you have an urgent complaint about an audible alarm please call us. Our customer service centre is open from 9am to 5.15pm, Monday to Friday. We close on public holidays.

If the alarm is sounding outside of the customer service centre operating hours, you can call 0300 303 8389 to report your complaint. We will contact you as soon as possible during the next working day.

We do not have a response service to deal with out-of-hours noise.

Tell us your alarm keyholder information

Please contact us by email to tell us your keyholder information – contact us at residential.eh@cambridge.gov.uk for domestic premises or commercial@cambridge.gov.uk for commercial premises.

Make sure you include the following information:

• the address where the alarm has been installed
• the name of the resident if not yourself
• the names and contact details of any keyholders.

It would also be helpful to know who installed the alarm for you.

Alternatively, you can download an Alarm Keyholders Form [RTF, 48Kb] and email the completed version to residential.eh@cambridge.gov.uk or commercial@cambridge.gov.uk.