![\"Homes\"](\"https:\/\/www.gardenbenches.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Homes-1024x721.jpg\")
\nSimple Tips for being a good neighbour
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- Introduce Yourself to new neighbours –\u00a0<\/strong>Whether you are moving into a new neighbourhood or you are a long time resident who sees a new family moving in, introducing yourself to your neighbours is a kind and friendly thing to do. Not only does it break down barriers, it helps to build valuable bonds with the people who live around you. If you are welcoming a new family into the area, consider introducing yourself with a casserole or some baked goods. This will help the new residents settle in and will show that you are someone who can be relied upon to help out when times are stressful.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Volunteer in your Local Community –\u00a0<\/strong>Volunteering for a worthy cause is one of the best ways to meet new people and give back to the local community when you first move into a new neighbourhood. Consider walking dogs for a local rescue, helping harvest food from an allotment, or spending time with local seniors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Respect Your Neighbours –\u00a0<\/strong>When you have a bright and shiny new (or new to you) home it can be tempting to want to host a ton of parties, or engage in a lot of loud demolition and construction to help perfect your space. While these urges are normal, it is a good idea to get to know your neighbours before making a lot of noise or mess! Raucous parties are never going to win you many friends, unless your neighbours are in on the fun!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Love Your Home –\u00a0<\/strong>We all have busy schedules, but nothing can irritate your neighbours more than neglecting your front garden, fence or the fa\u00e7ade of your home. If you don\u2019t keep up on your weekly, monthly and annual maintenance tasks, you can inadvertently devalue your neighbours\u2019 property values. You don\u2019t want to be the neighbour who owns the local dilapidated mess!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Register To Vote –\u00a0<\/strong>Registering to vote might seem like a solely personal decision, but your vote affects the local council and all that it entails, including rubbish collection, local schools, GP surgeries and more. Staying informed and voting in local elections helps you to be the best neighbour possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Keep Your Neighbours In The Loop –\u00a0<\/strong>Going on holiday? Having a major operation? Having a big party? Hosting some house guests? These are all things that you could have an effect on your neighbours. It pays to keep them abreast of all new developments in your daily life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Make Sure You Know When Bin Day Is –\u00a0<\/strong>Constantly forgetting to take out your rubbish on the correct day, and letting it pile up outside your home? Not only does this create a nasty eyesore, it can attract rodents and spawn flies, causing health issues (and massive arguments with neighbours).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Parking Etiquette –\u00a0<\/strong>Have you ever arrived home to find someone parked in your space? It can be truly maddening, especially if you live in a busy area where parking spots are at a premium. Make sure that you never park in your neighbours\u2019 designated spots, and follow normal parking etiquette in general.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Common Problems That People Have With Their Neighbours
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\nWhile you might go out of your way to follow the above tips and treat your neighbours with respect, they might not do the same for you. Here are some of the most commonly cited issues that people have with their neighbours.<\/p>\n- \n
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- Noise<\/strong> \u2013 Parties, loud music, screaming matches, loud garden equipment (such as mowers and leaf blowers) \u2013 all of these noisy occurrences can enrage those who live nearby.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Pets<\/strong> \u2013We all love our pets, but sometimes our neighbours do not! Barking dogs, defecating cats, and aggressive pets \u2013 all of these can be a nuisance (and potentially dangerous) to others in the area.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Children \u2013 <\/strong>Children can be little angels, but they can also be the opposite! Misbehaving children can wreak havoc on neighbours\u2019 gardens, drives and local streets, so ensure that your little ones respect the property of those around them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Physical appearance of your home \u2013 <\/strong>As we listed above, a shabby or run down home can negatively affect the property values on your street. This is sure to make your neighbours angry, especially if they are planning to sell their home in the near future.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Property boundaries<\/strong> \u2013 Making changes or improvements to your garden? Ensure that you are very clear on your property lines so that you do not infringe on your neighbours\u2019 property.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Suspected criminal behaviour<\/strong> \u2013 Criminal behaviour can be a major concern for your neighbours, especially if they are concerned about the health and safety of their children.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Health or building code violations \u2013 <\/strong>Every local council has its own bylaws and guidance about building and health codes. Failing to follow these to the letter can really upset your neighbours, as their health and safety could be impacted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Parking<\/strong> \u2013 As mentioned above, parking etiquette can be a very sore subject between neighbours. Exercise politeness and common sense when parking in your neighbourhood.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Putting in a new driveway<\/strong> \u2013 Putting in a new driveway can be a noisy, dirty and even
\ndangerous process. Make sure that you follow all local guidelines, and give your neighbours a head\u2019s up before you get started.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\n
What To Do If You Have a Problem With Your Neighbours<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
Do you have neighbours who are engaging in any of the behaviour listed above? You are not powerless. Try some of the methods suggested below in order to assuage the situation and come to an amenable solution.<\/span><\/p>\n
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- Talk to them \u2013 <\/strong>Never underestimate the power of a face to face conversation. There is a common urge to try to bury your head in the sand and hope the problem goes away, but speaking with your problem neighbour can be very effective. They may not even realise that they are causing an issue!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Contact their landlord (if applicable) \u2013 <\/strong>If you have an issue with someone who is renting their home, you can always reach out to their landlord directly. They can often take the necessary steps to correct the problem.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Complain to the ombudsman<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Some housing developments, estates and condos have an ombudsman, an individual who has been designated to assess complaints about companies and organisations. Utilise their services if and when applicable.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Keep a diary and take notes<\/strong> \u2013 If you are having a hard time getting the help you need to support you through the problem, you might be headed towards mediation or a potential legal battle. The best thing you can do in the meantime is keep a written record of all of the incidents, which will help demonstrate your position in the legal process.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Use a mediation service<\/strong> \u2013 A professional mediator is there to act as an impartial third party and issue a non-binding recommendation. While this is not a legal ruling, mediators can really help people to come to a mutually beneficial middle ground.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Make a complaint to the local council \u2013 <\/strong>If the issue involves rubbish, an unsightly property, or noise violations, you should contact the local council. They can make binding rulings that can help keep your neighbours in line.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Contact the police \u2013 <\/strong>If criminal behaviour is suspected (and in particular, dangerous criminal activity) you should report the matter to the police. His might also be necessary if the argument escalates to threats or violence.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Legal action through the courts<\/strong> \u2013 While this is a last resort, you might have to get the courts involved. While this isn\u2019t likely to be a pleasant experience, it might be the only way to reach a satisfactory conclusion to the problem.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It\u2019s a wonderful day in the neighbourhood \u2013 or is it? In previous generations, people tended to have close-knit relationships with the people in their own backyards, but today it is more and more common to hardly know one\u2019s neighbours. If you live in an apartment building, or a busy urban setting \u2013 you might […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1787,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.gardenbenches.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Homes-1024x721.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Anna Sharples","author_link":"https:\/\/www.gardenbenches.com\/blog\/author\/anna\/"},"yoast_head":"\n
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- Legal action through the courts<\/strong> \u2013 While this is a last resort, you might have to get the courts involved. While this isn\u2019t likely to be a pleasant experience, it might be the only way to reach a satisfactory conclusion to the problem.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Contact the police \u2013 <\/strong>If criminal behaviour is suspected (and in particular, dangerous criminal activity) you should report the matter to the police. His might also be necessary if the argument escalates to threats or violence.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Make a complaint to the local council \u2013 <\/strong>If the issue involves rubbish, an unsightly property, or noise violations, you should contact the local council. They can make binding rulings that can help keep your neighbours in line.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Use a mediation service<\/strong> \u2013 A professional mediator is there to act as an impartial third party and issue a non-binding recommendation. While this is not a legal ruling, mediators can really help people to come to a mutually beneficial middle ground.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Keep a diary and take notes<\/strong> \u2013 If you are having a hard time getting the help you need to support you through the problem, you might be headed towards mediation or a potential legal battle. The best thing you can do in the meantime is keep a written record of all of the incidents, which will help demonstrate your position in the legal process.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Complain to the ombudsman<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Some housing developments, estates and condos have an ombudsman, an individual who has been designated to assess complaints about companies and organisations. Utilise their services if and when applicable.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Contact their landlord (if applicable) \u2013 <\/strong>If you have an issue with someone who is renting their home, you can always reach out to their landlord directly. They can often take the necessary steps to correct the problem.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Talk to them \u2013 <\/strong>Never underestimate the power of a face to face conversation. There is a common urge to try to bury your head in the sand and hope the problem goes away, but speaking with your problem neighbour can be very effective. They may not even realise that they are causing an issue!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Putting in a new driveway<\/strong> \u2013 Putting in a new driveway can be a noisy, dirty and even
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- Parking<\/strong> \u2013 As mentioned above, parking etiquette can be a very sore subject between neighbours. Exercise politeness and common sense when parking in your neighbourhood.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Health or building code violations \u2013 <\/strong>Every local council has its own bylaws and guidance about building and health codes. Failing to follow these to the letter can really upset your neighbours, as their health and safety could be impacted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Suspected criminal behaviour<\/strong> \u2013 Criminal behaviour can be a major concern for your neighbours, especially if they are concerned about the health and safety of their children.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Property boundaries<\/strong> \u2013 Making changes or improvements to your garden? Ensure that you are very clear on your property lines so that you do not infringe on your neighbours\u2019 property.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Physical appearance of your home \u2013 <\/strong>As we listed above, a shabby or run down home can negatively affect the property values on your street. This is sure to make your neighbours angry, especially if they are planning to sell their home in the near future.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Children \u2013 <\/strong>Children can be little angels, but they can also be the opposite! Misbehaving children can wreak havoc on neighbours\u2019 gardens, drives and local streets, so ensure that your little ones respect the property of those around them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Pets<\/strong> \u2013We all love our pets, but sometimes our neighbours do not! Barking dogs, defecating cats, and aggressive pets \u2013 all of these can be a nuisance (and potentially dangerous) to others in the area.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Noise<\/strong> \u2013 Parties, loud music, screaming matches, loud garden equipment (such as mowers and leaf blowers) \u2013 all of these noisy occurrences can enrage those who live nearby.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Parking Etiquette –\u00a0<\/strong>Have you ever arrived home to find someone parked in your space? It can be truly maddening, especially if you live in a busy area where parking spots are at a premium. Make sure that you never park in your neighbours\u2019 designated spots, and follow normal parking etiquette in general.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Make Sure You Know When Bin Day Is –\u00a0<\/strong>Constantly forgetting to take out your rubbish on the correct day, and letting it pile up outside your home? Not only does this create a nasty eyesore, it can attract rodents and spawn flies, causing health issues (and massive arguments with neighbours).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Keep Your Neighbours In The Loop –\u00a0<\/strong>Going on holiday? Having a major operation? Having a big party? Hosting some house guests? These are all things that you could have an effect on your neighbours. It pays to keep them abreast of all new developments in your daily life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Register To Vote –\u00a0<\/strong>Registering to vote might seem like a solely personal decision, but your vote affects the local council and all that it entails, including rubbish collection, local schools, GP surgeries and more. Staying informed and voting in local elections helps you to be the best neighbour possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Love Your Home –\u00a0<\/strong>We all have busy schedules, but nothing can irritate your neighbours more than neglecting your front garden, fence or the fa\u00e7ade of your home. If you don\u2019t keep up on your weekly, monthly and annual maintenance tasks, you can inadvertently devalue your neighbours\u2019 property values. You don\u2019t want to be the neighbour who owns the local dilapidated mess!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Respect Your Neighbours –\u00a0<\/strong>When you have a bright and shiny new (or new to you) home it can be tempting to want to host a ton of parties, or engage in a lot of loud demolition and construction to help perfect your space. While these urges are normal, it is a good idea to get to know your neighbours before making a lot of noise or mess! Raucous parties are never going to win you many friends, unless your neighbours are in on the fun!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Volunteer in your Local Community –\u00a0<\/strong>Volunteering for a worthy cause is one of the best ways to meet new people and give back to the local community when you first move into a new neighbourhood. Consider walking dogs for a local rescue, helping harvest food from an allotment, or spending time with local seniors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Introduce Yourself to new neighbours –\u00a0<\/strong>Whether you are moving into a new neighbourhood or you are a long time resident who sees a new family moving in, introducing yourself to your neighbours is a kind and friendly thing to do. Not only does it break down barriers, it helps to build valuable bonds with the people who live around you. If you are welcoming a new family into the area, consider introducing yourself with a casserole or some baked goods. This will help the new residents settle in and will show that you are someone who can be relied upon to help out when times are stressful.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n