MPs have voted in favour of legislation which will give greater powers to local mayors to deal with anti-social neighbours.

Mayors will be allowed to intervene if a neighbour’s dog barks day and night or if music is repeatedly played too loudly late at night. For example, a mayor will be able to order a dog be muzzled or the music turned off.

Mayors will also be able to take action if people cause problems by letting their homes out via Airbnb and to force aggressive neighbours to undergo behavioural therapy.

The draft law, which still has to be approved in the senate, has been several years in the making.

The aim is to force the person creating the nuisance to change their behaviour without taking them to court to have them evicted.