4 Ways to Deal With Nasty Neighbors

By Alicia Geigel on February 8, 2018

Dealing with any personal problem can be tough, but when your problem literally lives right next to you, that’s a whole new burden to take on. For some reason, neighborly conflicts can get really ugly, and when escalated, can even result in being disputed in court. Some of the conflicts can be petty and others can prove to be way more serious. Sometimes riffs in neighborly relationships arise merely over differences in personality, while others can be caused by a lack of communication or violation of the other neighbor’s personal space.

Though your experience may not be like the one Seth Rogan experiences in both “Neighbors” and “Neighbors 2″ (for those of you who haven’t seen the movies, he has some really bad neighbors), it doesn’t mean that the situation will be any less easy to deal with. Your home is supposed to be an environment where you can feel safe, comfortable and relaxed; not burdened or inconvenienced by neighborhood drama.

As much as we would like to let go of our calm and civilized selves and let our nasty neighbor get a piece of our mind, the better option is to be the bigger person and take the high road, because ultimately, you do live next to them and they probably aren’t planning on moving anytime soon. Are you currently living next to a nasty neighbor that is your worst nightmare? Is this person interfering with how you enjoy your home and day-to-day life? Have you reached the point of no return? Check out my four tips on how to ease your stresses when dealing with a bad neighbor below!

house, houses, neighbor, neighborhood

Image via Pixabay

1. Start with Communication: One of the biggest problems in any relationship with someone is a lack of communication. Words can easily get misinterpreted, simple issues get blown out of proportion, etc. when there isn’t the right communication. In addition to this, letting problems fester and build without conveying your emotions can lead to them getting worse over time. Contact your neighbor and ask them to talk. If you are able to set up a time to meet, be civil and communicate your issue/s with your neighbor. Amy Eley of Today notes, “Don’t accuse; let them know how the problem bothers you and suggest ways to solve it together.” If you are able to do this, you will be able to have a productive conversation that can squash the conflict that was troubling you!

2. Confide in Other Neighbors: This goes hand in hand with communicating your problems, except it’s not directly with the person whom you have it. For some reason, having a problem becomes a lot easier to deal with when you know that other people are experiencing the same thing. If your neighbor seems to be causing a problem that could affect other neighbors, reach out to others and see if they are experiencing the same issue. They may or may not, but regardless if this is the case, they could help you deal with it and perhaps talk to the nasty neighbor themselves.

hands, cups, friends, talk, table

Image via Pixabay

3. Document Any Problems: Sometimes talking it out and seeking help from other neighbors doesn’t produce an immediate resolution which can leave you with fewer options of how to handle the situation. Keeping track of the issue can help in multiple ways according to Brandon Ballenger of Reader’s Digest, “First, it helps you evaluate the seriousness of the problem: Looking at it on paper, you may realize it’s not as big a deal or you might see a solution. Second, you have info to back you up when you explain the situation to your neighbor. And finally, if push comes to shove, good record-keeping can show authorities you’re serious and organized, not emotional and whiny.”

4. Seek Out Help Online: Sometimes dealing with problems face-to-face can be difficult, and in an age of technology, there is a growing desire for people to be apart of a larger, supportive online community to help with their problems. Places like Reddit or Tumblr can be great to get a wide variety of tips and personal experiences, but if you are looking for a more refined and relatable way to solve your neighborly quarrels, there are specific sites that cater to this. Neighbors From Hell is a free forum where people share their experiences and help others with their own problems. According to Ballenger, the site is “free to view and is full of common issues and good advice, but registering will cost $50 if you want to ask about a unique problem.”

Dealing with a bad neighbor is not easy or for the faint of heart. It can take a lot of patience and tongue-biting to get through the issue you are dealing with, however, if you seek the right help and handle yourself with dignity, you should be able to resolve it to the best of your ability! As always, good luck!

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