Handling undisciplined neighbors is a very important task.
Everyone has the right to live in peace at home, regardless of where they live, rent or own property. You are not expected to tolerate excessive noise or physical or verbal abuse from a neighbor.
We all hope that our neighbors will be friendly and reasonable, but unfortunately, some people just aren’t easy going. While being tolerant is important, there may be a point where tolerance is no longer an option and you really need to address every problem.
Disturbing behavior
Disturbing behavior is anything that inappropriately or repeatedly interferes with the peaceful enjoyment of your home. This may include:
Excessive and unusual noise or smell
Threat, threat, offensive behavior or aggression
Constant intrusion
Theft, vandalism or graffiti
Noise and disruption due to national arguments
Road battles and insults between a neighbor and his visitors.
Disturbing behavior does not include:
- Unpleasant, awkward or annoying neighbors.
- Noise and activity related to normal daily life such as children at play.
Interrupt management
Step 1
- Talk to your neighbor first
- Be reasonable and willing to compromise you have the right to live in peace and so are they
- Don’t be threatening or aggressive towards your neighbors or visitors
- Don’t argue with your neighbors or their visitors
- Do not engage in any illegal activity such as infraction, vandalism.
Advice and assistance in dealing with disputes and dissolution is provided:
- Consumer and business services
- Community mediation services
- Legal Services Commission
Preserve a written record
- Keep a detailed written record of each specific disturbance:
- Details of the incident where it occurred
- How did it affect you?
- What action have you taken? For example, report animal noise to your local council.
Report the incident to the appropriate agency
Specific agencies can act on certain types of behavior. Keep a copy of any letters received from agencies regarding your complaints and keep a record of your contact with them.
- Late at night with voice issues like loud music and parties
- Graffiti, vandalism and suspected illegal activity
- Reckless or dangerous driving
- And if you feel that your safety or that of others is in danger.
For this, the property owner or body manager can:
- Parking and vehicles, community company parking lot
- Normal condition of trees, debris or personal property
- Omitted properties Problems with screens, borders and encroachment.
- Anti-social behavior in social housing.
- If you do not know that you own a neighboring property, please contact your municipality.
Your local municipality can clarify :
- Trees, garbage or the general condition of your neighbors’ properties
- The problem of animals noises or wire, barking dogs
- Abandoned vehicles and street parking
- Noise from air conditioners, machines, power tools and household appliances.
Legal assistance with problem neighbors
Some home insurance policies include free legal advice. So check your own policy to see if you can access it. They may be able to give you good advice on the next step if the intervention of the council is getting you nowhere.
It may also be worth making a regular legal appointment with a local attorney to see if they can help you by writing a letter to your neighbor.
However, this is a last resort legal documents have a way of triggering already tense situations. Do not initiate legal action until you have actually exhausted all other options.
If you think your safety or the safety of others is in danger, contact the police.
