Good neighbours
Most complaints are misunderstandings or one-off events, often easily resolved by just speaking to each other.
Are you causing a nuisance?
You might be causing a nuisance to your neighbours without realising or meaning to. For example:
- Do you carry out DIY in the evening? If so, consider knocking on your neighbour’s door or leaving a note in advance to let them know and don’t make noise late into the evening
- Are your children kicking a football against, garages or in the road near other people’s cars? There are plenty of green areas in Tamworth for children to play in
- Do you know where your children are, who is supervising them and what they are doing?
- Can you hear your stereo or TV from another room in your home? If you can hear it, can your neighbours hear it?
- Do you have a loud exhaust or rev your vehicle outside your property?
- Does your dog bark? If so, will it annoy the neighbours?
Noise and disturbances can impact people in many ways. Please consider the community you live in.
Approaching your neighbour about nuisance
We’d advise trying to resolve any nuisance yourself first where it is safe and possible to do so. Here are some tips on how to approach the situation.
- Stay calm, explain why you are there and what you would like them to do. If they are drunk and rowdy, it is probably best to wait until the following day.
- Don’t use angry or threatening behaviour
- Describe the nuisance and be prepared to quote some examples, particularly times and dates
- Accept there may be something you do that causes your neighbour a problem too
- Listen carefully and accept differences on attitudes and ways of life
- Be open to suggestions for resolving the problem and come to an agreement to suit all of you
- Compromise – treat it as a shared problem and work to solve it together
- Don’t exaggerate the problem or your neighbour may be defensive and less likely to compromise
- Keep yourself safe at all times. If threatening behaviour is used, walk away.
If you don’t feel you can approach your neighbour in person, try writing a note and putting it through their door. Keep a record of this and preferably a copy in case it is needed later on to show your efforts to resolve the situation.
If your neighbour approaches you about nuisance
Listen to what your neighbour has to say and let it sink in. Most people just want to know when the noise will stop, so if you make it clear beforehand, this situation should not arise.
If you have been unable to resolve an issue and feel you would benefit from mediation and/or a Good Neighbour Agreement, please email [email protected].