Anti-Social Behaviour & Neighbour Disputes

Why Talk First? 

It seems that more people are coming to us because they're having problems with anti-social neighbours.

The best way to sort out issues with neighbours, and to keep things friendly going forward, is for both sides to talk things out and try to understand each other. Getting someone else involved too early can make things even worse between you.

The Unwritten Rules of Neighbourly Behaviour

How neighbours act isn’t really about strict laws, but more about unwritten rules and a shared idea that everyone should be able to enjoy their home, as long as it doesn’t spoil things for the people next door.

Being a good neighbour is about having some patience and understanding that people live in different ways and have different needs. For example, if a neighbour’s noise gets on your nerves but isn’t really “unreasonable,” it might be better to see what you could do to reduce the inconvenience rather than head straight to court.

How to Complain

If you do have a complaint, the first step should always be to talk to your neighbour directly. But if you think tempers may fray, it’s often better to write things down instead.

Sometimes, if a whole group of neighbours speaks up, it can help someone realise their behaviour isn’t okay.

What If That Doesn't Work?

If talking to your neighbour doesn’t work, it might be worth checking if there are local mediators who can help.  Go to www.civilmediation.org.uk for more details.

If the problem neighbour is a tenant and still doesn’t listen, getting in touch with their landlord could be the next step.  If the property is owned by a housing association, try getting in touch with them, they might contact the neighbour themselves or help in other ways. If it’s about anti-social behaviour, the council can sometimes get an injunction to stop it.

When to Call the Police

If things get really bad and you think a crime’s being committed such as a breach of the peace or assault then of course, call the police. Sometimes just having the police turn up can make someone realise their behaviour is out of line. Also, keeping a record of police visits can help if you decide to take legal action later.

But calling the police isn’t always straightforward. Without clear evidence, or if stories don’t match up, especially with domestic problems, they might not be able to do much. Most importantly, think about how involving the police could affect things with your neighbour in the long run.

PWCAC is OPEN for face-to-face advice (appointments and drop-ins) Monday to Friday, 9:30 – 1:30. If you need advice about welfare benefits, housing and homelessness, debt, relationship breakdown, consumer issues or anything else, get in touch:

info@pwadvice.org | 01892 838619    94 Commercial Road, Paddock Wood, TN12 6DP