Living beside other people can raise problems from time to time. Late night noise, barking dogs and boundary disputes can lead to arguments. Negotiating with your neighbours is usually the best way to deal with any problems.

• Boundary disputes
  
• Noisy neighbours

Boundary disputes

A dispute over a boundary, fence or wall is a major cause of neighbour disputes. In a boundary dispute, the best course of action is to try to settle the problem amicably. If an amicable solution is not possible, then legal advice is necessary.

Contact an advice agency if you have a neighbour dispute over the boundary of your property.

Back to top

Noisy neighbours

Some noise from neighbours is acceptable. Noise becomes a problem if it so loud that you can't use your home in the normal way. This might be the case if you are woken up by a neigbour's noise or you can't hear your own television above the noise.

The action you can take depends on:

• the type of noise,
• the time of day or night the noise occurs,
• how often the noise occurs,
• how long the noise lasts,
• how the noise affects you,
• the type of building (older homes often have less sound insulation).

Negotiation is the first step in dealing with noise. Talk to the person causing the noise and try to reach a compromise. If you aren't comfortable doing this, contact the Environmental Health Department in your council area.

If your neighbours are private tenants and talking to them directly doesn't work, it is worth talking to their landlord. The tenants may be breaking the terms of their tenancy agreement by making the noise.

If the problem is serious, your local council may take action to stop your neighbours making noise. In extreme cases the council might be able to take your neighbours to court because of their antisocial behaviour.

Back to top