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This section contains advice on living in Belfast. Select a topic for more information.Noise
Not everyone living in the university area is a student.In Belfast, the council has powers to deal with noisy neighbours. If someone is making excessive noise, our noise control officers will serve them with a warning notice, asking them to reduce the noise within ten minutes.
If they don't, we can issue the person with an on-the-spot fine of £100, or we can take them to court where they could be fined up to £5,000.
We can also seize equipment such as CD players, CDs, mixing decks, amplifiers and speakers.
If you are having friends round to your house we advise you to:
- Tell your neighbours in advance
- Ask them to contact you if the noise is annoying them
- Keep doors and windows shut, especially after 11pm
- Ask guests to stay inside and to keep quiet when entering and leaving your house
- Make sure to turn music down, especially after 11pm. Your neighbours should not be able to hear your music or party in their house.
If you are affected by noise, call the noise hotline (Monday to Sunday 8pm - 4pm) on 028 9037 3006.
Drinking on the street
It's illegal to drink on the street in most areas of Belfast, and it's illegal in Botanic Gardens, and the Holylands and greater University area at any time of the year.The police can confiscate alcohol, take the names of offending drinkers and then pass them on to the council for prosecution. Anyone over the age of 18 caught drinking in a specified non-drinking area can be prosecuted and could face a fine of up to £500.
Community safety wardens
Community safety wardens carry out high visibility foot patrols during term time in the greater university area. They work with students and the local community to make your area safer and to tackle antisocial behaviour.Throughout the academic year the wardens will be patrolling the Holyland and greater university areas along with noise control officers, university and students' union staff, with support from street pastors and the police.
You can contact the wardens on 07528 965980 or 07528 965981 or email them at cswardens@belfastcity.gov.uk
Rubbish and recycling
It is important that you put your black bin and recycling bin out for collection regularly. If you don't, you could attract rats and mice to your home. If you don't have a black bin, ask your landlord to get you one.If you live in a shared house (house of multiple occupancy containing 2 or more unrelated people) and the landlord refuses to supply you with a bin, you should contact the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
To make sure your bin is collected:
- Put your bin out by 7am
- Make sure the lid closes and don't put out any side waste.
You should have a black kerbside recycling box for your recyclable materials. You can use this to recycle:
- Glass (bottles and jars)
- Paper and cardboard
- Plastic bottles (drinks bottles and toiletries)
- Put your box out on your kerbside by 7am.
If you are caught littering, you get will get a £80 fine. And if you fail to remove offensive rubbish from your property, you could be prosecuted and fined up to £2,500.
