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Noise pollution check

Check road and rail noise levels at properties in England. Noise affects quality of life, sleep, and property values: check before you buy or rent.

Noise pollution FAQ

How is road and rail noise measured?

Noise is measured in decibels (dB). The UK government uses the Environmental Noise Directive to map road and rail noise above 55 dB Lden (day-evening-night weighted average). Properties above 65 dB are considered high exposure. For reference, normal conversation is ~60 dB and heavy traffic at 10m is ~85 dB.[1]

Does noise affect property value?

Yes: research suggests properties with high road or rail noise sell for 2–5% less than comparable quiet properties. For very high noise levels (above 70 dB), the discount can be larger. Noise is also a key factor in rental demand and tenant satisfaction.

What can I do about noise at a property?

Secondary glazing, acoustic insulation in walls and loft, solid core doors, and acoustic curtains can all reduce internal noise levels significantly. For persistent severe noise, residents can report to the local council's Environmental Health team.[2]

Should noise be disclosed when selling?

Significant noise issues (such as a known neighbour dispute over noise, or proximity to a flight path or motorway) should be disclosed on the TA6 form under environmental matters. Failure to disclose material facts can lead to legal claims after completion.

Sources

  1. [1] DEFRA: Noise Mapping
  2. [2] GOV.UK: Noise Guidance

Further reading

DEFRA noise mapping · GOV.UK noise guidance

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What does a noise pollution check show?

The noise pollution checker returns road and rail noise levels in decibels (dB Lden: day-evening-night weighted average) for properties in England, sourced from the DEFRA Environmental Noise Directive strategic noise maps. These maps are produced every 5 years using modelled noise levels from major road and rail routes across England.

How noise levels are measured

Noise is measured on the decibel (dB) scale, which is logarithmic: a 10 dB increase represents roughly a doubling of perceived loudness. The Environmental Noise Directive uses Lden (day-evening-night) as its primary metric, which weights noise more heavily in the evening (+5 dB) and at night (+10 dB) to reflect the greater sensitivity to noise during those periods.

  • Below 55 dB Lden: below the EU/UK action threshold; most people would not notice significant road or rail noise
  • 55–65 dB Lden: moderate exposure; noticeable indoors with windows open
  • 65–75 dB Lden: high exposure; double glazing recommended, can affect sleep quality
  • Above 75 dB Lden: very high exposure; typically within a few hundred metres of a motorway or mainline railway

Why noise matters before buying

Noise is consistently one of the top reasons tenants leave properties and one of the most-cited issues in buyer surveys. Yet it is one of the least-checked factors before purchase: partly because noise is hard to assess during a daytime viewing and is rarely disclosed proactively by sellers.

At high noise levels, evidence suggests a 2–5% price discount against comparable quiet properties. More importantly, persistent high noise affects sleep quality, stress levels, and general wellbeing over the long term.

Data source: DEFRA Environmental Noise Directive strategic noise maps, published under the Open Government Licence. Last reviewed: May 2026.