We all live in different ways, but thankfully most of us have a door and four walls to keep the rest of the world (and their frustrating habits) out of sight and out of mind. Unfortunately, these boundaries are infringed upon all too often – sometimes literally. Starting to sound familiar? Here are the top three complaints that plague neighbourhoods across the UK, followed by the practical steps you can take to win back your peace.
Endlessly Barking Dogs
Sure your neighbour’s dog might be sweet, but the fact that they let to yap away into the night (or early morning), isn’t cute in the slightest. Whether it’s howling because it’s been left outdoors all night, or simply because it’s never been trained to stay quiet, dog barking is one of the most common peeves between neighbours. Well, just like loud music and construction work, “sociable hours” apply, and a noisy hound can result in your neighbours receiving an Abatement Notice if Rover isn’t kept quiet between 11pm and 7am (some councils have slightly different hours, do check).
Drilling… into your house
It’s bad enough when next door’s DIY noises disturb the afternoon peace, but it’s not unheard of for them to get a little too carried away and end up joining you on the sofa (almost). Sure, accidents happen, but what work are they doing that’s caused them to come through the wall? If any substantial alterations to the party wall are being made, then they absolutely need to have served Notice and warned any adjoining neighbours that the boundary (be it a fence, wall, ceiling or building) may be affected.
Once damage has occurred it’s up to your discretion whether you settle the matter privately or take them to court, but it may be worth contacting a party wall surveyor if you are concerned about the amount of construction being made.
Crossing the boundary
It will probably come as no surprise to see boundary issues on this list, with the most common problems coming from disputes over fence positioning. If you’re embroiled in this kind of debate with a neighbour then the first thing you will want to do is check the deeds for boundary guidance, and to determine if the fence in question is actually on the boundary, or sitting on one side. If it follows the division of property perfectly, you should come to a spilt agreement about payment and maintenance, while if it’s on one side, ownership will usually fall to the person that owns the land, even if the other party uses it for privacy or plants.
How to deal with nightmare neighbours:
1. Keep a diary of incidents
If it comes to reporting your problems to a local authority, the first thing they will ask for is a record of the incidents. A diary or clearly ordered notebook will be fine, just make sure you list what the problem was, when it happened, how long it went on for and what (if any) steps you took to resolve it. Having a written record will also make it easier for third parties to comprehend the extent of what you’re going through.
2. Try to communicate
The last thing you probably want to do is go and have a civil conversation with a neighbour that’s causing you problems, but it’s surprising how unaware people can be about the impact their actions are having beyond their own walls. If you can manage to politely knock on their door and explain the problem, they might surprise you with a heartfelt apology and a complete change of ways. If your neighbour is behaving in an intimidating and anti-social manner, you should call the police or the dedicated department of your local authority.
3. Speak to your landlord
If you are a renting or own a leasehold, contact the landlord, freeholder or housing association to report the problem and see what action they will take to resolve the issue. There may be a certain procedure you have to follow, particularly with housing associations, so make sure you take the appropriate steps (if they do not respond or deal with your complaint poorly, you can escalate your issue to the Housing Ombudsman Service.
4. Contact the local authority
Councils have a responsibility to investigate and take action against any issue that affects the community, including excessive noise, improper rubbish disposal and anti-social behaviour. If you have attempted to speak with your neighbour but have not solved the problem, or if you are nervous about talking to them, the local authority can send a dedicated team to contact them instead.
