Moving house, moving home - nosiy neighbours, what to do

Neighbours - Are they your best friends or nothing but a nuisance?

You've found your perfect house. It's got a large garden with a garage, the perfect size bedroom, a lounge with traditional features... two bathrooms and all the local amenities on your doorstep. You've really fallen on your feet this time. And then you meet the neighbours.

If you really think you're living next to the neighbours from hell what are the first steps to try and change things?

Before you act, think reasonably. Children playing in the summer time and people mowing their lawn are acceptable practices when living in a community.

A nuisance would be being woken in the early hours by a neighbours stereo, loud shouting in the street or parties running into the early hours.

In fact, Spicerhaart reveals the effect nightmare neighbours have on property prices through a survey of its own estate agents and here are the results...

Unruly kids can be one of the biggest turnoffs for house buyers. A house can have an average price decrease of £ 19,392.

Drunken students (although they usually move within one year) can lead to an average price decrease of £16,160.

A house can loose up to 9% because of loud music.

Where a single dog normally has no impact, two or more larger dogs will undoubtedly lower the price of a property by about 8%.

So, once you feel confident enough...

1. Talk to a neighbour.

Make sure you approach them calmly - anger isn't going to get anyone anywhere. Sometimes the offending neighbour may not realize how much noise they are making. Take note of the date you spoke with them and keep a diary of each time you speak with them.

2. Speak with other neighbours.

Do your neighbours feel the same way as you? If other people in the street file complaints against the noisy neighbour this may help the situation. It also makes you feel that you are not alone.

3. Notify the neighbour in writing if the problem persists.

Send the offending neighbour a copy of the local noise ordinance and in a reasonable fashion, ask that the noise be reduced.

4. What happens if the neighbour won't listen?

If the neighbour won't recognise there is a problem and after you have reinforced this in a verbal and written way then you can call the police.