So you just moved into a new area and the last thing you want to do is fall out with the new neighbours. What are the best things you can do to avoid problems down the line, and keep the locals sweet?

Introduce yourself to New Neighbours

When you’re the newbie, the neighbours are all likely to be curious about you, and the best way to reassure them that you’re going to be a good neighbour to them is to introduce yourself.

Make a point of smiling and saying ‘hello’ when you see people around, so they will be able to tell that you’re friendly and approachable. It also means that if they need to speak to you about something they are more likely to feel able to broach it face to face and not go behind your back to landlords, local councils or similar. Making an effort to get to know people will help you integrate and also make the neighbours more likely to look out for you, too.

Join the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme

If there’s a Homewatch Scheme or Neighbourhood Watch Scheme in the area, take advantage of this opportunity to get to know people and reassure them that you’re a good neighbour. Showing an interest in what’s happening locally marks you out as someone who cares about the neighbourhood and is less likely to cause problems. You can also gain the trust of your new neighbours by belonging to a scheme like this, designed to help neighbours look out for each other.

Keep the Children Under Control

If you have children, you know they can be a nuisance, so you don’t want them to annoy your neighbours and cause friction. Keep an eye on them so that you know where they are, who they are with and what they are up to – and if you realise that they are disturbing your neighbours, being noisy or messy, nip it in the bud. Make it clear to the neighbours that you do care about what your children get up to, that they can come to you with any concerns, and that you’re prepared to take action if necessary.

Clean up After the Dog

Don’t let your pets become a pain. Clear up any dog mess and try to keep cats under control, although it can be hard to stop them ‘marking their territory.’ So you're not know as a someone with Problem Pets, keep your animals under control and if they become noisy don’t just let them bark or howl, attend to them.

If you have neighbours who are scared of animals, try to respect this and keep noisy, excitable dogs away from them.

Keeping up Appearances

You don’t want to be the person who everyone complains about, and it’s your responsibility to keep the gardens and outside of your property looking reasonably tidy, even if you don’t have the time to keep it spotless. Try to keep grass and weeds under control and outside maintenance under control, as this type of thing often causes arguments and bad between neighbours.

Don't leave smelly bin bags or rubbish lying around in communal areas, gardens or on the street, they’ll attract rats and cause obstruction as well as being quite unhygienic.

Parking Etiquette

Don't block the access to your neighbour’s property with cars and vehicles, or even the kids’ bikes and toys. Don’t use other peoples’ communal parking spaces unless you have absolutely no choice, as this can create bad feeling and lead to Parking Disputes. Be aware of blocking access to driveways and garages whenever you or your visitors park outside the house. If you’re not sure, ask!

Keep the Noise Down

If you are planning a party, or having people over late, it’s a good idea to let your neighbours know in advance, especially if celebrations are likely to carry on into the early hours. You might even ask them to join you, and then they really can’t complain! If they ask you to turn the noise down, be reasonable. Of course, they have to be reasonable too, and if they are making a fuss at 10:30pm, you might have every right to say that you’ll turn it down but that party’s NOT over yet.

It’s all about being reasonable and considerate. Think about what would annoy you, and if you’re about to do it yourself – don’t!