In an ideal world, we would all get on with our neighbours and form a relationship of solidarity looking out for one another, and there are many people around the world who have such a situation. Unfortunately, however not all of us live in an ideal world and there are some people who have neighbours who cause them a great amount of frustration and some who even feel harassed by their neighbours. These situations can escalate quickly and sometimes we even see the involvement of criminal defense lawyers and charges being brought about. Before things get that far however, there are some ways in which you can remedy the problem.

Talk about it

If you don’t feel threatened physically by your neighbour then the first step should always be to try and talk to your neighbour and reason with them. In many cases, a conversation can clear the air and the escalation of such a situation is often down to a complete lack of communication. When you speak to your neighbour, try to catch them at a good time, stay calm and simply describe what they do that makes you feel harassed. This may not always work but it is worth a try.  

Seek out mediation

Mediation is a semi-legal route which will see a professional ‘peacekeeper’ come out and help you to resolve the problem. This is significantly cheaper and far less adversarial than taking things to court, and it is a preferred option for many who find themselves in this situation. Unlike heading to court, the mediation process is completely private and confidential, another aspect of this which people prefer. Your neighbour will have to agree to the mediation and if you can get them to do that then you will have taken a very positive first step.

Involve the landlord if renting

If you are renting then you may be able to call on the landlord for support, depending on the reasoning behind the way your neighbour makes you feel. For example, if your neighbour is introducing pests because of the way they live or if they are causing excess noise, the landlord will have to step in and take action as this will be in breach of housing regulations. Equally a housing association may be able to help with issues like these.

Go Legal

Unfortunately, sometimes things just cannot be resolved amicably and that is when you will need to press charges against your neighbour. It should be stressed that this should be the final straw, because after the case is over they are likely to still be your neighbour, and you will have to live with what has gone on. Always try and resolve the issue on your own first but know that you will be able to trust in the legal system if you are not able to.

There are solutions here so you just need to be patient and ensure that you document everything.