Be the Change
Sometimes, it is easy to become irritated by our neighbors without taking a step back and giving our own behavior a closer look. Before you start accusing your neighbors of being a nuisance, make sure that you do not contribute to it yourself. Is your noise level annoyingly loud? Are your pets being a pest? Do you keep your property nice and tidy? Do you respect the property of your neighbors? By answering such questions honestly, you can ensure that you are a decently good neighbor first.
Get to Know Your Neighbor
It may appear irrational, but one of the best ways to address a bad neighbor situation is to approach them directly. Do your utmost best to open a line of warm and positive communication with your neighbor by learning more about them. Introduce yourself, say hello when you see one another, and try to make your first interactions friendly and positive. While not all neighbors will respond in the same way, at least you have done your part to establish a relationship. If it is possible, try to gently bring up the problem behaviors in a gracious, non-argumentative approach. There is no guarantee that this will stop the irritating behavior, but certainly, it will greatly help your neighbor to understand that what they are doing is causing problems for others.
The Golden Rule
If your bad neighbor is always annoyingly complaining about things, perhaps the best thing you can do is to listen with empathy. While some neighbors may become antagonistic or quarrelsome, if you bring up your issues, others may turn around and begin to accuse you of doing things they don’t like. It can be tough not to become defensive, but it is much more productive to stay amicable and sympathetic than to “win” the fight. If you do what you can to address your neighbor’s complaints, they may be more likely to do precisely the same for you.
Document Everything
Being friendly does not mean letting your neighbors get away with their irritating behavior. As you work with your neighbor, it is good to document what is going on with photos, videos, or other means available for you. A video or photo of the obnoxious behavior will clearly provide far better evidence if you need to inform your other neighbors, the owner’s association, landlord, attorney, or even the local authorities. As much as possible, also keep a record of relevant dates, times, and conversations. Save all phone and text messages and emails, if any. There’s a good shot you may never need the video and photos you’ve taken, but it’s important to have everything ready just in case.
Contact the Authorities
If you’ve tried everything else, but your neighbor’s behaviors go on, it may actually be time to take this problem to the local authorities. This is especially true if your neighbor threatens you, damages the property, or tries to harm you or someone in your household. Certain behaviors can be addressed through the city’s code enforcement department, health department, owner’s association, or animal control. Though, should you detect any illegal activity or things escalate into violence, call the police.
Of course, one of the best ways to get away from a bad neighbor is to move to a new Madison Heights rental home. Real Property Management Advantage has the perfect home for you if you’re looking to move. Check out our rental listings or contact us online.