How Can I Deal With an Annoying Neighbor?
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No matter how much you love the area in which you live or how much you love your home, having an annoying neighbor can take away from your pleasure. While it is often best to try to ignore minor or infrequent annoyances, that isn’t always possible with a particularly annoying neighbor. You may eventually have to confront the person who is keeping you from enjoying your home or yard.
If the transgression isn’t extreme but is still a nuisance or an inconvenient disturbance, consider approaching the annoying neighbor in a friendly manner. Invite him or her over for coffee, and attempt to discuss your complaint in a gentle way. In some cases, the person may not even be aware that his habits are bothersome.
A good example is a neighbor that mows his lawn late in the evening while you’re children are trying to sleep. It may be that he only wishes to cut grass when it’s not so hot outside, and he may not be aware of your children’s bedtime. Once aware, he may simply agree to mow earlier, and you will have settled the difference and may even end up liking your once annoying neighbor.
There are however some worse situations as well. If your annoying neighbor encroaches on your property, doesn’t maintain the home or yard appropriately, or does other things that could decrease your property value, you may have to call the appropriate agency to lodge a complaint if your neighbor fails to act after being asked to take care of the situation.
You may also find yourself living beside the kind of annoying neighbor that creates real problems. He or she might throw parties or play loud music, fight loudly with a boyfriend or girlfriend, drive too fast up and down the street, or engage in any number of inappropriate behaviors. The best way to approach this type of person is to avoid the heat of the moment confrontation. Don’t storm over to the annoying neighbor’s home while angry and while or while the person is drinking.
Problem neighbors can sometimes be dangerous, and you don’t want to find yourself in the middle of a physical altercation. You might approach the annoying neighbor at another time to ask for some consideration. You may also find that you have no choice but to call the police if the problems persist. This won’t help your relationship with your neighbor, so you might consider making the report anonymously. However, it may help quiet things down.
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15
i have neighbours who live on the social act like they own the street. they dump joint ends all over the place, scream and shou. They are just total freeloaders who fill their boredom by annoying hard working tax payers. I wish the government would get these pests into work. - anon51082
14
I'm not the quietest neighbor, so I'm not one to tell you to be quiet either. I have two young children. Compared to others, my children aren't even that bad. My neighbors from down stairs make noise from 5 a.m. till midnight. They hang out in the hallway crying, playing, banging, running, yelling, slamming doors, fighting, partying and "trying to" sing. When they walk around they sound like they're wearing combat boots and stampeding into battle. The problem I have isn't the noise they make (cause everyone makes noise). My problem is that they ask me to be quiet and usually in front of my guests when I am having a get together or party. They would say they didn't know I had guests. One time when they asked me to "keep the kids quiet" during my son's birthday party a guest told them that it would be hard to keep them quiet because it is in fact a party. My neighbor cried "Disrespect!" - anon50533
13
Well get this one, everyone. i can't even decorate in my yard, plant flowers or anyhthing outdoors because the neighbor next door puts up three times as much as i put up on holidays and makes me look like i am nothing. they are real showoffs and all they live on is social security but they try to act like wealthy people. it drives me nuts! - anon48841
12
I wouldn't mind if my neighbours had taste but somehow I don't think they are going to start playing Bowie.
Its that repetitive doof, doof crap that makes me mad. they are across the street, three houses away and it still going through. Does my bleeping head in. - anon48360
11
Nobody is gonna move out of town, or change their ways after they just spent 200,000-plus for a house because of your few spoiled requests. I don't care about annoying neighbors. I just look at the crime and murder rates. To tell you the truth I would rather have a party animal live next door than drug dealers. - anon45972
10
You people are cry babies. You will always have annoying neighbors. Cops can't do anything because the noise level stops at ten. some towns even later. Others don't give a crap. have you ever heard that phrase what's mine is mine, and what's your is yours? People can do what ever they want with their property. Whether it's putting up a mud bog, fence, what ever. Just reading your complaints gives me a headache. I have jerk neighbors too. They're everywhere! You can't talk anywhere around here without them listening. Gossiping with the rest of the jerks in the neighborhood. Just like they're so perfect. You have bad habits too, I'm sure. I shouldn't have to whisper on my property. I have seen many people doing work on cars outside. There's nothing wrong with that! You can complain all you want! Stop being a crybaby! - anon45970
9
For the last six years or so, the house across the street from me has been rented to one large group of college students after another. There are continuous parties with loud music and talking, beer bottles thrown in my yard, urination on my plants, vandalism of my property etc. It's like living across the street from a bar or a dormitory. I've become quite adept at getting the police and the city's code enforcement involved, but as soon as one group is dealt with -they move out. Then here comes a new group and I have to start all over. Don't look for much help from property managers, since they make money from renting such a house and only see *you* as the problem. Instead, keep property managers in the loop, but primarily use the police. Don't waste your time talking to such problem neighbors because they'll just tell you what they think you want to hear and continue business as usual. If the police won't help you, then I leave it to your imagination regarding payback. - anon45429
8
I've been going through this for a while. My neighbor is 11 years old, and comes to our door every single day and asks if I can come outside. And I'll say nicely, "Nah. I don't want to come outside today. I'm too hot." And right then and there, she whines, and fusses, and makes a huge dramatic scene. I'm so tired of her whining and fussing. I'm great friends with her, but playing outside every single hour of every single day? No way! lol - anon42029
7
I am going through this right now! My neighbor next door to me plays his music so loud that I can hear it in my whole house! I tried in the past to talk to him but he is just irrational. I have called the police over 50 times! We have recently engaged in a confrontation. Hate to say it, but it's has not worked at all. It just pisses him off more and plays his music louder. The police do nothing for this type of dispute!
pissed off annie - anon40287
6
Our neighborhood is in one acre lots in the woods and is backed by a rod/gun club with hundreds of acres. My neighbor decided to put a four-wheeling racing track encircling the house and tracks running up and down the property lines. She put in mud bogs (note the s for multiples) and even ramps for jumps. She not only uses this for her own recreation but has friends over with their four-wheelers. Additionally this person put a good part of this track on the private property of the rod/gun club behind all the homes. She is a dandy. We have had many issues with this neighbor over the years but this one takes the cake. I could write a book! - anon40012
5
My neighbors are really on my last nerve. They are trying to build a fence on the easement of the cul de sac. Yes, it is on their property, yes, they have the right to do it, but should they? The fence or should I say, piece of fence they want to put up will not connect to anything. It will just be a piece of fence along a private ingress/egress. There are no fences in any front yards in the entire neighborhood and we know it will not only decrease our home values, it will advertise to potential buyers that there is a crazy neighbor on the block so, "find another house".
They sit in their house and look out the windows and sneak around listening to others' conversations. If you try to engage them in conversation, they call the police and say you are harassing them. We cannot win! - anon38305
4
I have a neighbor across the street from me that does constant car work. He buys junkers and restores them. It's loud and the exhaust flows into my house giving me migraines. I have complained numerous times, even video taped it for proof and he still does it even after being warned to stop. I have run out of options on what to do. Did I mention I live in military housing? They are no help at all! - anon32604
3
this guy smokes!!!!!! hes on the third floor, im on the sixth floor, and yes, SIXTH FLOOR! i really dont wanna call the police, because im afraid ill need to go court. what should i do??? - anon24863
2
I am going through this right now! My neighbor across the street plays her music so loud that I can hear it in my whole house... and yes I said ACROSS THE STREET! I tried in the past to talk to her but she is just irrational. I have called the police over 50 times and her landlord is an out of town management company! We have recently engaged in a physical confrontation and I had to beat her up. Hate to say it... but it's been pretty quiet over here ever since! lol. I would never recommend this but sometimes depending on where you live... the police does nothing for this type of dispute! - anon24645
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Written by
Sherry Holetzky
Last Modified: 03 November 2009
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