A city boss has sued his neighbours for £25,000 after complaining their dogs bark too much.
Filippo Alloatti claims his family have to leave their home in Streatham, west London, every weekend to escape the supposed constant racket from two German Shepherds living next door.
It has also meant his wife has been forced to abandon her clothing business which she ran from home, while his three children, aged 16, 15, and 11, have been unable to concentrate on their homework.
Mr Alloatti, who works as head of finance for an investment firm, has been keeping track of the dogs’ barks since 2021 in his own ‘barking diary’ and once counted 74 barks in just 24 hours, according to High Court papers.
The animals produce such a racket that they breach World Health Organisation guidelines and are also being trained to bite on sleeves, the 43-year-old also claimed in documents seen by The Sun.
Mr Alloatti is seeking £25,000 damages from neighbours Mohammed and Saima Uddin as well as an injunction to remove the dogs or have them locked up at night.
He has reportedly tried to resolve the issue with his neighbours directly before seeking help from the council and the police.
But businessman Mr Uddin and his wife disagree that the barking is excessive and unacceptable, the High Court claim says, according to reports.
City boss Filippo Alloatti (pictured) has decided to sue his neighbours for £25,000 after complaining their dogs bark too much
Mr Alloatti claims his family have to leave their home in Streatham, west London , every weekend to escape the supposed constant racket from two German Shepherds (Stock image)
A council must investigate if a dog barking complaint is made – and take factors into consideration including the volume, duration and time of day.
If the council regards the issue as a statutory nuisance, they will often first serve an informal warning letter – but if the situation does not improve, a noise abatement notice can be issued.
The owner has 21 days to appeal the notice – but if the barking continues, a prosecution may then be brought under the Environmental Protection Act and the owner taken to court.
People can be fined up to £5,000 if they are found to be in breach of a noise abatement notice. This is further increased to up to £20,000 for a factory or business.
Lambeth Council specifically advises keeping a diary of the dates and details of noise incidents that may a nuisance to residents. This can then be used as evidence if any legal action is taken.
