How well do you know your neighbours? Perhaps not as well as your grandparents would have known theirs. In the past people tended not to move house as often as they do now and people generally stayed in the town or city where they grew up. As a result most families knew their neighbours very well. Today however it’s a different picture. Families are busier – often with both partners working full-time and people move house on average eight times in their lifetime. As a result, it’s often difficult to form long-lasting results with our neighbours.
Everybody Needs Good Neighbours
Having a good relationship with your neighbours makes it easier to deal with issues if they arise and can help avoid the difficulties that some people experience with ‘problem neighbours’.
Getting to know your neighbours doesn’t have to be hard work. If you’ve recently moved into a new property, simply knock on your neighbour’s door and introduce yourself. Meanwhile, if new people have moved in next door, give them chance to unpack and then pop round. They will be very happy if you can share information with them – for example, by letting them know which days the rubbish is collected.
When it comes to maintaining a good relationship with your neighbours, communication is key. Warn your neighbours if anything out of the ordinary is coming up. Neighbours are usually tolerant of the occasional party or building work, provided they have been forewarned.
If you want to improve the wellbeing of your neighbourhood, you could consider setting up a neighbourhood watch scheme. You can find out more at: www.ourwatch.org.uk
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