How to Deal with Bad Neighbors

Even the most beautiful home in the most serene town can become a nightmare if you live next door to the wrong kind of people.

Bad Neighbors: Who Are They?

If you live where homes are placed shoulder to shoulder, you know that bad neighbors come in all shapes and forms. Some of them make it impossible to sleep at night, some can’t keep their pets under control, and some leave their trashes along hallways. 

What to do with Bad Neighbors?

First off, make sure you’re not the bad neighbor!

1.      Develop a Friendly Relationship

That’s what you need to do first thing if your neighbors start to annoy you on a regular basis, especially if you just transferred to your new condo for rent. By simply introducing yourself and letting your neighbors know what bothers you might make wonders. Firstly, because people tend to be more ashamed and respectful in regards to those they know personally. Secondly, there is a chance that your neighbors have no idea they annoy you, and telling them so will solve the problem once and for all.

2.    Assume good intentions

Neighbors often don’t realize that they’re creating a problem, and it’s best to avoid seeming like you’re accusing them. Put yourself in their shoes, and start by assuming that their problematic behavior is not because of any ill will towards you. 

You may opt to tell them that you’re bothered, but keep the conversation friendly and polite. Try to find the root cause of your neighbor’s bad behavior and offer to help if possible.

3.  Document everything, just in case

While it’s worth doing everything you can to resolve an issue peacefully and willingly, you should also document every step along the way. Just in case you need to involve a homeowner association, a neighborhood group, the building department, or even the local police or an attorney, maintain a record of relevant dates, times, texts, and even photos, so the facts are at your fingertips if you need them. It also helps to have a broker you can easily contact and ask help to connect you with the administrators.

4.     Research the rules before taking action

Before turning your complaint into legal action or a formal complaint, make sure you know what you’re talking about. You can even do some solid Googling to get a sense of what the neighborhood rules and the law have to say about your issue. You’d want to make sure you’re on the right side of things before making a big deal out of it. Then, again, in a gentle and friendly way, you can let your neighbor know that the law or rules are on your side.

But no matter what happens, remember that conflicts are best resolved through negotiations, not wars. Talk to your neighbors, tell them what bothers you, and propose a solution. Only refer to authorities in case a friendly approach doesn’t work or you have grounds to assume that your neighbors might have the history with the law.