Imagine that it's a lazy Sunday
afternoon, and you decide to take a well-deserved nap. You curl
up on the couch, sink into the pillows, and lay awash in
tranquil relaxation. Just as your eyelids become heavy with
sleep, your ears are inundated with the obnoxious sounds of your
neighbour's amateur punk band practicing in their garage. The
clanging of the hi-hat and the shrieks of the singer shake your
walls and destroy any chance you had of getting some Zs.
You think about the good old days
when your former neighbours were friendly and considerate, and
never played electric guitar. You wonder what karmic error you
made to deserve such rotten neighbours this time around.
How do you define a rotten
neighbour? A rotten neighbour is somebody who interferes with
your enjoyment of your own home. They play music loudly, curse,
or laugh obnoxiously at all hours of the day or night. They
drive by in their car with the bass turned to supersonic levels
and scare the pants off your pets. They essentially make it
impossible for you to enjoy quiet time in your house or yard.
Bad neighbours also have a
penchant for leaving trash or discarded vehicles on their
property. This not only creates an eyesore in the neighbourhood,
but can also reduce your property value simply by association.
They may even have a dog-one
that barks or howls at everything, and treats your backyard as
their personal commode.
So what can you do to maintain
sanity and reclaim your indoor and outdoor spaces as your own?
If you haven't talked with your
neighbor about what's bothering you, now's the time to do it. It
may be nerve wracking to approach people with negative feedback,
but it's entirely possible that they don't know how their
behaviour is affecting others.
When you go over, approach them
in the spirit of mutual respect. Air your grievances one at a
time, and try your best to be diplomatic. Accusations and blame
will only alienate your neighbour further. Ask them to make the
changes you'd like to see happen, and offer to make changes of
your own. Your neighbour will likely try to defend themselves by
listing off your flaws, so be open to hearing their criticism as
well.
If you demonstrate that you're
willing to compromise, then you stand a good chance of being
able to work together and come to a mutually agreeable
situation.
If your neighbours react poorly
to your requests, it's important that you record the details of
the meeting. Write down when you saw them, what grievances you
brought up, and how they reacted. From this moment on, if there
are any further disturbances, write them down.
Having a record of the dates
and times of each incident can help your case if you end up
having to go to court. Even if court's the last thing on your
mind right now, it's a good idea to document things. It only
takes a moment, and can really help if your relationship turns
sour.
If your neighbours continue
being loud or disruptive, it may be necessary to call the
police. This will be seen by your neighbour as a very drastic
step, but it's a matter of protecting yourself and your
property. After all, there's not much point in owning a home if
you can't enjoy it.
Having the police called in
will hopefully get your neighbours to realize how serious you
are in getting your issues resolved. They may decide to correct
their behavior to avoid further hassles, or they may turn the
heat up even higher. If that's the case, writing everything down
and reporting all incidents to the police is what you need to
do.
If you think your neighbour is
just as frustrated as you are with the situation, you can
suggest seeing a mediator. A mediator is an objective third
party who can help you come up with a plan so that both of you
can live happily in your homes.
If mediation leads nowhere,
then court may be inevitable. This is the costliest option-both
in terms of money and time. Try to avoid this step if at all
possible by keeping a level head.
