Neighborhoods around the country are full of neighbors. Some of those neighbors are amazing. Others are almost non-existent because you barely see them. Then there are those neighbors who won’t get the neighbor-of-the-year award anytime soon. You know the neighbors we are talking about. The terrible neighbors who party all night, make too much noise, and even throw garbage onto your property.
It would be nice if you could simply ignore these neighbors. Yet, over time, their actions could become even more annoying. There are a few things you can do before packing up your stuff and moving to a new neighborhood. So, what actions can you take when dealing with terrible neighbors?
Communicate
Yes, we know, the last thing you want to do is talk to a neighbor who has been bothering you for who knows how long. But communication is often the fastest and simplest way to resolve an issue. Maybe your neighbor doesn’t realize you have little kids who can’t sleep through their parties. Your neighbor may not be able to hear well and they don’t realize how loud they really are.
There are tons of different scenarios we could give you. So, talk to your neighbor and see what their response is to your concerns.
If talking to your neighbor doesn’t solve anything, you will need to consider another action.
Contact Your Homeowners’ Association
Not everyone has a homeowners’ association to back them up in scenarios with terrible neighbors. If you do, you will want to contact them to address the problem at hand. All homeowners’ associations have rules and guidelines in place. Many of those guidelines include how to solve numerous types of disputes between neighbors.
Your homeowners’ association may have guidelines on quiet times. There may also be guidelines about throwing items onto other people’s property or encroaching on a property line.
By simply talking to the association, you will make them aware of the situation. They can then intervene and talk to your neighbor to fix the issue. Yes, you may have other issues afterward because your neighbor will know it was you who turned them in. However, they agreed to the rules of the homeowners’ association when they purchased their home.
Call the Police
There may be a time when you have no choice but to call the police to resolve an issue with your neighbor. This should be a last-resort option if nothing else works. Although, it should always be your first option if your neighbor is making you feel unsafe.
Consider Your Zoning Laws
Depending on the issue you have with your neighbor, your local zoning laws may resolve the problem. This is especially helpful if your neighbor damaged your property. You can take them to small claims court if you can prove they violated local law.
The local zoning laws can also be helpful for resolving boundary disputes and other issues neighbors have.
There are so many different scenarios including terrible neighbors. We could be here all day if we were to type them all out for you to read. Just do not think that you are alone when it comes to dealing with terrible neighbors. They are everywhere. You didn’t just get unlucky.
So, if you are dealing with a terrible neighbor, try the ideas above. Hopefully, a little conversation with your neighbor will smooth things over. And if nothing from the above works, contact our office. We can schedule a consultation to see how we can help you with your neighbor.