Be The Best Neighbour in Your Neighbourhood

Being on bad terms with your neighbours can make your life frustrating, day after day. On the other hand, taking time to establish good terms with them has numerous benefits.

For example you may have heard complaints about noisy neighbours in the past, but how many of us are guilty of the same?

If you have lived in an apartment, dorm room or terraced house, chances are we have "disturbed" our neighbours at some point in time. So what can you do to be a good neighbour?

Why not start by abiding to a few simple house rules like not talking on the stairwell, taking your shoes off at the door, setting your washing machine to start in the morning before going to work, and shutting your front door quietly if it is early in the morning or late at night.

Noisy Footsteps

Have you ever put your heels on and wandered around before going out? If you have wooden floors, chances are your downstairs neighbours will have heard when you got home late at night and didn't take off your shoes at the door? You probably woke them up with your trampling about.

Slamming Doors

In apartments, especially new buildings, the walls are thin enough that you can hear every time a front door closes. If you slam your door at 6am on your way to work, you may have awoken your next door neighbour who only has to get up at 7am.

Noisy Conversation

Your shouting match can certainly be heard next door, but even ordinary conversation can travel a great distance especially in communal areas like stairwells or a shared garden. Get back late at night, and your voice is carried even further.

Washing Machines / Vacuum Cleaners

You may have a busy lifestyle but is 3am the best time to start washing your clothes? Washing machines are notoriously loud and the spin cycle can go on for hours. The same rule applies for vacuum cleaners.

Music

If you put your music on loud enough to be heard in the next room, chances are your neighbours can hear it too. Be aware that although you like it, they may not be so happy as they are trying to read or go to sleep.

Last but not least it pays to be in good terms with your neighbours. The community will be a friendlier, safer, and nicer place to live in. To be a considerate neighbour, start by observing a few house rules.

Put yourself in your neighbour's position and you will know what's the best thing to do by them.