Sometimes, through no fault of your own, the relationship with your neighbours can turn sour, and things can escalate rather quickly. Whether it’s a dispute over a fence, a parking row, or you’re attached to your neighbours who refuse to turn down their telly, there are numerous situations that can spark tensions and lead to some form of « harassment ».
However, just because it’s your neighbour doesn’t mean you have to endure in silence, as lawyer @crimdlawyer on TikTok shared when he was asked a pertinent question. A social media user queried: « How do you deal with harassment from a neighbour? I have been polite up until now, but it’s getting to the point again where it’s every day. »
He clarified that « harassment by a neighbour is dealt with in the exact same way as anybody else ».
The lawyer stated: « It doesn’t have to be in a domestic setting. If there’s a course of conduct on two or more occasions of harassment against somebody else, it can be reported to the police.
« And a lot of cases of neighbour disputes are reported to the police, where people are keeping logs, or have set up CCTV cameras and say that they’re being harassed by their neighbour, so it doesn’t have to be in a domestic setting. »
The lawyer explained you could be harassed by someone at work or person who walks past you daily, but it « all comes down to that course of conduct, which the police look at ».
He then explained if it was you « getting arrested » you’d need to provide evidence of « contact back » and « issues between the parties ».
Should you find yourself embroiled in a dispute with your neighbour, he suggests attempting to resolve matters before they escalate into « harassment ».
He concluded the video by stating that neighbour harassment is « dealt with in the exact same way as you would anyone else ».
The Met Police reveal that the most common neighbour disputes arise over:
- Noise, such as loud music and barking dogs
- Parking
- Property boundaries
- Overgrowing trees and hedges
- Children playing in the street
Officers « encourage you to raise your concerns with one another and find amicable solutions as early as possible » to prevent escalation.
They stated: « If you can’t resolve a dispute with a neighbour, it can really wear you down. This can have a serious effect on your quality of life, especially if it leads to you feeling threatened, isolated or scared in your own home or community. If this is the case, we would strongly advise you to take action. »
However, should discussions prove fruitless or potentially worsen the situation, police outline several steps you can pursue.
Should you reside in rented accommodation or social housing, your landlord or housing association might offer assistance.
Yet if the issue concerns noise disturbances, such as raucous parties or barking dogs, please contact your local council, as this falls outside police jurisdiction.
Should disagreements centre on boundary walls, fences, trees, or hedges, contact Citizens Advice for complimentary information and support. In certain instances, it may be beneficial to seek advice from a solicitor.
You can also refer to the government’s guidance on the Party Wall etc Act 1996.
For further information on how to report a civil dispute, utilise the police’s online civil dispute reporting service.
However, if you feel victimised or intimidated by your neighbours, and you’ve been threatened, verbally abused, or personally targeted, it is crucial you report the incident to the police.
