Top 9 reasons why Brits argue with next-door neighbours revealed

Arguments with a neighbour are bound to flare up whether you’ve just moved in or shared a street for many years.

From laughable to severe – the reasons are endless but one survey has compiled the nine most common amongst Brits.

Price comparison website Compare the Market has revealed that neighbours are most likely to row over things like smelly cooking, lost footballs thrown over the fence and parking issues.

The study of 1009 people also revealed that nearly 60 per cent of people had an argument with their neighbour over a broken fence and whether it was the neighbour’s responsibility to fix it.

Here, we list the top nine reasons why Brits argue with their neighbours…

9. Nosy neighbours 

Coming in at the bottom of the list, is nosy neighbours that seem to have no concept of boundaries.

Whether its a visiting guest or raised voices, some neighbours have their eyes and ears at the ready to have a peek.

In fact one woman in the western Colombian area of Risaralda got her head stuck in the metal bars of a door last Saturday as she tried to spy on the home next door.  

The intrusive neighbour spent five hours with her head shoved through the iron bars before firefighters arrived at the neighbourhood of La Virginia and freed her. 

A fireman couldn’t stop himself from smiling as he held on to a rag that was positioned between the side of the nosy woman’s face and a bar to try and free her. Another man is also seen looking on and laughing. 

8. Strong odours 

We’ve probably all had to deal with a moany neighbour at some point in our lives.

Perhaps the scent of a barbecue crackling in the summer heat or even a sumptuous family dinner has been the source of a complaint.

Though it need not launch into a fully fledged war, with Pollution Issues suggesting you try a ‘personal approach’ if you’re on the receiving end.

Coming in at the bottom of the list with 47 per cent is nosy neighbours that seem to have no concept of boundaries (stock image)

‘Unless you fear an aggressive reaction, popping round and raising the problem in a friendly manner often sorts things out. 

‘If you don’t seem to be getting anywhere with this approach, then make a note of the date and time of your conversation and follow it up with a polite formal letter’. 

7. Lost items over the fence 

This offence appeals to both toddlers and adults alike. 

In a state of overexcitement, it’s easy for your little one to chuck their toy a little too far, or for you to kick a football way past the goal and over the neighbour’s fence. 

The insurance expert also lists things like frisbees as items most likely to be strewn over the divide. 

Remember to keep it polite, and ask for the item back at both you and your neighbour’s convenience.

6.  Improper use of bins 

Outdoor bin etiquette continues to ignite the most furious debates between neighbours.

It’s well known that improper and incorrect use of bins can lead to other issues, such as rodents, lingering odours and a damaging aesthetic for all on the street.

A survey by Churchill Home Insurance in 2018 revealed that more than one in five families had fallen out with neighbours over bins or rubbish collection in the past year.

The survey of 2000 people found that 23 per cent of rows are caused by waste simply being left out for others to pick up, while 22 per cent start off with a neighbour putting the wrong kind of waste in another’s recycling.

5. A neighbour’s tree 

Next up on the list of resident disputes is complaints about a neighbour’s tree cracking your garden path.  

Nearly half of all people consulted in the poll found this the most frustrating when it came to neighbour relations.

To tackle this, Anna McEntee, from the home insurance team at Compare the Market says: ‘While disputes regarding noise or parking might have an easy solution, disagreements involving damages could be slightly trickier to resolve.

‘Damage to your property can be very costly, so ensure you have an adequate level of home insurance to ensure you are as protected as possible. 

‘Some home insurance policies also offer legal cover as an optional extra, which is good to have should the dispute end in having to pay for solicitors’ fees or court proceedings’.

4. Obstructing property 

Ranking at fourth from the top of the list, is an argument over a neighbour obstructing or impeding on property parameters.

No matter where you live, many fail to escape this issue, as just last year, a couple on ‘Millionaire’s Row’ accused their neighbour of blocking access to their orchard.

Guy Ker and his partner Rue Swabey were ‘blinkered, obsessive, and unreasonable’ in pursuing the row since 2016, a court ruled – and were ordered to pay £50,000 in costs. 

Parking is one of the leading drivers of neighbour disputes, with 54.1 per cent of people having issues with people parking in front of their house, parking bay or driveway (stock image)

The dispute was sparked when the couple claimed their neighbour Catrin Weston had ‘persistently’ blocked the track leading to their orchard on Pound Hill, Oxfordshire.

They alleged that Ms Weston had ‘placed bins’, parked vehicles and ‘authorised contractors’ to park skips, vans and a cement mixer over the track on the road, where this year house prices averaged £1.1million. 

3. Damaged ceilings and walls 

Compare the Market reveals that ceiling and walls damaged by a leak coming from a neighbour’s property can really gets people’s blood boiling.

Repairing damage due to a fault in your own home is troublesome enough, and hence can be the more frustrating when it’s coming from another property.

It’s best to approach the situation as calmly as possible, and ‘try and resolve the problem between yourselves’ advises Citizens Advice.

‘If you find that difficult, a local mediator may be able to help’.

2. Parking

Parking is one of the leading drivers of neighbour disputes, with 54.1 per cent of people having issues with people parking in front of their house, parking bay or driveway.

The controversial topic causes some to seethe at the mere thought.

In March, a video captured the moment a pensioner attacked her neighbour in a petty row over parking.

Eunice Day, 81, was caught on video storming over to Suzanne Webb’s house before reaching over her potted geranium plant to assault her.

A court heard that Day had upset her new neighbours soon after moving into her rented bungalow by leaving her Audi on a patch of grass next to it. 

In the same month, one woman revealed how she got revenge on her neighbour who kept leaving aggressive notes on her car during a three-year parking row.

The anonymous woman, believed to be from the US said their neighbour – who she gave the fake name Patrick – demanded that they stop using their bay as the angle of their car affected his ability to park.

According to Problem Neighbours, a considerable number of conflicts between neighbours arise over parked cars.

In addition, due to some residents being made to pay exorbitant parking permit costs, they believe they have the right to park in front of their homes and forbid others to do so.

1. Broken fence 

At the top of the scoreboard of neighbourhood pettiness comes a row with a neighbour over a broken fence and it being their responsibility to fix it. 

The disputes can quickly transform to something more severe, such as one factory worker who tore down his neighbour’s fence and smashed it into pieces following a 12-year boundary dispute.

Mark Donnison, 40, pulled down two fence panels which separated his home in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, from his neighbour James Reck’s. 

In a furious outburst on May 29, Donnison broke the panels into pieces and stamped on them before attacking Mr Reck, who was filming the incident on his mobile phone. The bitter dispute ended with Donnison being ordered to pay £700 in fines.

If you find yourself in a similar situation like a whopping 58.9 per cent of those in the survey, Anna advises that keeping a record is best practice.

‘Make sure you keep records of any communication with neighbours and take photos of any issues. This could help you further down the line if you do find yourself having to make a claim.

‘If you’re unsure of the best course of action, government websites and Citizens Advice are good places to find information on your legal rights, and contacting your local council could be an option if you need additional support to resolve the issue’.