Complaints from neighbours, about noisy groups partying in a hot tub at a holiday let, allowed the council to work with the owner, with no further complaints.
Neighbours complained to the council 3 times about anti-social noise, which disturbed people’s sleep and which came from a short-term rental property in a residential area of Acomb.
The complaints were about large groups playing loud music, shouting, holding parties and using an outdoor hot tub late at night. Each time the neighbours complained, a warning letter was sent to the owner and the noise died down for a few months.
In April 2026, the council’s Noise Patrol was alerted to more late-night noise and visited the property at 11.30pm. The officers heard loud music, and found a large group of women drinking and shouting in the hot tub, and who reacted aggressively to the officers when they were asked to be quiet. Another complaint was received at 12.30am that night.
On 1 May 2026, the council served a noise abatement notice on the owner of the Air B&B, requiring him to stop allowing loud music and raised voices.
The owner quickly responded to say that he had immediately taken action. This included decommissioning the hot tub and reducing the number of people allowed to stay at the property. No further complaints have been received.
Cllr Michael Pavlovic, Executive Member for Safer Communities at City of York Council, said:
We welcome the fact that people want to come and enjoy our beautiful city, and we know that holiday lets have a role to play in York's visitor economy. However, nobody should have to put up with repeated late-night noise and disruption in the place they call home. This case shows the action the council is prepared to take when residents are affected by ongoing nuisance.
“I want to thank our Environmental Protection and Noise Patrol teams for their persistence and professionalism in investigating complaints, gathering evidence and taking enforcement action where it was needed.
“If residents are experiencing ongoing noise nuisance or anti-social behaviour, I would encourage them to contact the council. We take complaints seriously and will not hesitate to act to protect local communities when problems persist."
If you are disturbed by noise at a holiday let, see information about how we deal with holiday lets and noise complaints.
To report noise complaints on Fridays and Saturdays, from 9.00pm to 2.30am, please call the council's Noise Patrol on telephone: 01904 551555, or email: neo@york.gov.uk .
See guidance for owners of holiday lets, including how to manage your guests.
Failure to comply with a noise abatement notice could result in prosecution in the Magistrates’ Court with a fine of up to £20,000.