How to Deal With Bad Neighbors

Have any nosy or hellacious neighbors? Take a deep breath and study these suggestions for coping with them.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Research the neighborhood before you move in. Become familiar with the tone of the area, regardless of whether you're buying or renting. Ask around. Ask your realtor. Does the neighborhood have a homeowner' s association or community guidelines? Limitations such as these tend to prevent bad neighbors from moving in.
2. Consider the fact that you may be overreaching. If you live with someone else, get their opinion of the neighbor problem. Was Apt. 1B's music really too loud, or are the walls just really thin? Did the Smiths intentionally leave trash in your yard, or did the wind blow it over accidentally?
3. Write down the problems. Keep a running list of your complaints and include as much detail as possible. This will help you in a few ways - 1. You'll be more organized; 2. You have something to fall back on if/when you approach your neighbor; and, 3. If, unfortunately, the incident leads to legal issues, you will have a much better case if you have written documentation.
4. Communicate with your neighbors. This will almost always better the situation! Several things may result from discussing a problem. Best case scenario? Your neighbor recognizes the problem, apologizes and works to correct it. Another possibility? The neighbor will react with surprise. Sometimes people don't even realize they are being disrespectful or annoying. If this is the case, you're in luck! Chances are, they'll immediately stop whatever they were doing. After all, no one wants to be the "bad" neighbor. The worst case scenario is resistance to your communication and an angry reaction. If this happens, and the problem persists, you may have to take a less genial approach.
5. Write a letter. If the communication with your neighbor has broken down, the next step is to write them a detailed and formal letter. Make the tone of your letter humorless and the details explicit. You can cite sections from your homeowner' s association or community guidelines, but don't use threat or talk in certainty about the law until you've consulted an attorney.
6. Get help. If the neighbor problem persists, it may be necessary to file a formal complaint. This may be something minor, like writing a letter to your landlord or homeowner' s association president. For serious issues, consider getting the advice of a lawyer. It all depends on the gravity of your situation. If legal help is in your future, hit up the library or do an Internet search of tenant and homeowner law.

Tips & Warnings

• Visiting a neighbor with a complaint can be intimidating. If you're shy or completely against conflict, there are alternate ways of getting a neighbor's attention. Try something indirect. Leave a note in their mailbox. Be overly obvious about doing things the right way. For example, if your neighbors are parking cars in their front yard, make a big deal of standing in your own yard and yelling at your teenager to stay off the grass when parking. It might take awhile, but they'll get the hint!
• Do not approach your neighbors if you are still angry. You'll only raise the heat on both sides if you confront your neighbors before cooling down.