It can be the opposite of fun to have bad neighbors. Oftentimes, the unfortunate event can come about suddenly, and without any due warning too. In fact, it may happen to anyone and it’s not necessarily related to how good or bad a specific neighborhood is.
You just moved to a new neighborhood in a new town or city, and there they are – the Neighbors from Hell. Wait, didn’t your realtor/landlord assure you multiple times that you’d be surrounded by lovely neighbors?
Also, in a classic case of bad luck, problem neighbors may have recently moved into the vacant house next door or the top-floor apartment in your residential building before you have the chance to realize what’s happening.
As time goes by, some bad neighbors may turn out to be not as bad as you thought they were in the very beginning – that’s the good news. The bad news is that there may also be those folks next door who can easily turn your peaceful existence into a living nightmare.
So, what should you do? How to deal with bad neighbors? And what if you can’t reason with those people – does that mean that sooner or later you’ll be forced to move out because of bad neighbors?
If living around your new neighbors did become real torture, then moving because of neighbors could be the only option left for you to keep your sanity.
Your new neighbors are too nosy or gossipy
If you’re lucky, the worst thing about your new neighbors will be their excessive nosiness and their gossipy nature. There will always be nosy and gossipy neighbors wherever you go – sad people whose only occupation and purpose in life are to know everything about anyone living around them, at any cost, and then to spread around that “vital” information.
And while the folks next door seem uncharacteristically interested in your own affairs – things that do not really concern them in any way, having to deal with gossipy neighbors is not, at least in most cases, something that you should be seriously worried about.
It may take a few encounters before you spot them, but you’ll know who those sworn gossips are soon enough. When talking with gossipy neighbors, you should be extra careful not to disclose any sensitive personal information that you wouldn’t want everybody in a 5-mile radius to know.
Moving away because of nosy and gossipy neighbors is almost never worth it. The best course of action for you is to ignore those pitiful individuals, keep them at a healthy distance, and not preoccupy yourself with what they have to say.
See also: How to meet new neighbors after moving
Your new neighbors are excessively noisy
Noise pollution within a residential area is one of the most frequent issues and a never-ending source of disagreements and disputes among neighbors. Ideally, any excessive noise coming from your new neighbors will be the result of a planned situation or a scheduled event that will only be temporary.
But unfortunately, our world is far from being ideal.
Moving house because of noisy neighbors could become a necessity in the case of:
- Loud parties. A party celebration at some time or another should be ok, but regular wild parties after 11 pm with music at deafening levels and thunderous laughter and earsplitting screams are NOT ok.
- Constant fighting. Are the new neighbors always fighting over something? Incessant shouts and serious threats that often end up with the sound of things being smashed to pieces? The unmistakable sound of someone crying and sobbing after all the fighting?
- Musical instruments. The sound of a neighbor practicing on the piano or a violin every day can be bothersome, but very few instruments can produce a more maddening racket than a drum set.
- Raucous pets. If your neighbor’s dog never stops barking or their cat keeps meowing at crazy times, night or day, then it’s time to have a serious talk with those inconsiderate neighbors of yours.
Remember that the best way to deal with noisy neighbors is to have a chat with them and explain the situation calmly without seeking to attack them first or get too confrontational. It’s possible that your new neighbors hadn’t truly realized the trouble they were causing you and they may be willing to resolve the dispute without escalating it unnecessary.
Sometimes a simple conversation with your troublesome neighbors is all it takes to clear up any misunderstandings and help you solve the noise pollution problem. If not, then you may consider making a peace disturbance call to the local law enforcement.
Read also: What questions to ask neighbors when moving
Your new neighbors are too inconsiderate or too negligent
Bad neighbors come in all shapes and sizes. In reality, having to deal with people who are too nosy or even too noisy may be the least of your worries when moving to a new neighborhood or when such troublesome folks move next door to where you live.
Very inconsiderate or highly negligent neighbors can cause a number of serious problems for you as well.
- Pets. Your neighbors are obliged to control their pets and restrain them, if necessary. Therefore, if their dogs or cats are always coming over to your property and causing all types of trouble, then you should consider erecting a proper fence or contacting the local animal control agency for additional help. As you know, there are laws that require people to control their pets or clean up after them.
Of course, you should do those steps only after the pets’ owners refuse to do anything about it. - Property damage. If your new neighbors are causing or have caused damage to your property – most often some type of water damage, then they will be legally responsible for the damage to your home and will be required to cover the repair or restoration costs.
In such cases, your local public works or the government zoning agency can help you resolve such more serious issues with the folks next door. - Trees. Believe it or not, a tree can often become a source of trouble between neighbors. A tree can block a good view or it can fall on another person’s property and cause serious damage.
So, if the trunk of a problem tree falls within your neighbors’ property, then they are the owners of that tree no matter how far its branches or leaves extend. - Fences. Fences are often a source of serious disputes among neighbors living in adjacent houses. Fences never grow overnight, so if you spot any signs that your neighbor is thinking about erecting a fence between his property and yours, you have to make sure that the property line marks are accurate.
Act quickly to prevent much bigger problems later because it’s much harder to move a fence once it’s already constructed.
Must-read: How to find the right home when moving to a new city
Your new neighbors are too suspicious or too dangerous
Many neighbor disputes and misunderstandings can range from being minor nuisances to major problems that need to be solved one way or another.
However, if you suspect that your new neighbors are involved in any illegal activities – like growing marijuana, for example, then you must inform the police immediately. Remember any offenses or crimes next door should be addressed for the safety of the entire community and for your own safety as well.
You don’t have to reveal that you’re the concerned neighbor when you call the police.
Steps to take against your bad neighbors
Moving out because of bad neighbors should be the last resort – you should do all in your power to resolve whatever issue(s) you have with the folks next door and consider a house move only after you’ve exhausted all the possibilities to make peace with your Neighbors from Hell.
The majority of neighbor disputes should follow these resolution steps:
- Step 1. TALK with your neighbors about the problem at hand and try to work out a solution that will work out fine for everyone. Be candid and non-confrontational. Talking out first is, by far, the easiest way to solve most problems. If this fail, then
- Step 2. GET in touch with the homeowners’ association (HOA) if your community has one. HOAs have clear guidelines for almost everything, including the height of fences, so the association should step in and hopefully help you resolve the dispute in your favor. If this fail, then
- Step 3. ALERT local government agencies in the absence of a HOA – local ordinances and laws may be able to help you out with a specific complaint against your bad neighbors. If this fail, then
- Step 4. SPEAK with an attorney to find out whether taking your awful neighbors to court is a step worth taking. If this fails, then
- Step 5. MOVE OUT – your health is the most important thing, don’t ruin it with senseless fights with appalling people who cannot possibly be reasoned with.
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