With thousands of communities coming together in 2012 for sporting and royalty themed parties, a new survey has revealed that the UK is becoming a more neighbourly nation.
The annual HSBC Neighbours Survey, published ahead of Neighbourhood Watch Week (16th-24th June), reveals that we are having more interactions with the people we live near.
Compared to last year’s survey, Brits are more likely to have been inside their neighbours’ home (56 per cent v 42 per cent), lent them something (43 per cent v 28 per cent) or fed their pets when on holiday (29 per cent v 16 per cent).
Other popular neighbourly interactions on the increase include having barbecues (14 per cent) and looking after spare keys (21 per cent).
Regional variations in neighbourly relations remain. Those living in North East England are most likely to know their neighbours ‘very well’ (27 per cent), compared to just 10 per cent in London.
The upturn in neighbourliness is not confined to people who own their home, with renters also now more likely to get to know people living near-by.
41 per cent of people who rent have been inside their neighbours’ home (up 13 per cent) and 32 per cent have borrowed something from their neighbour (up 16 per cent).
Despite the apparent improvement in neighbourly relations, some of the most common causes of aggravation just won’t go away. Almost of a fifth (19 per cent) of those surveyed complained about neighbours stealing parking spaces and 12 per cent have had to put up with loud music.
Peter Dockar, head of mortgages at HSBC, said: “It was great to see communities across the nation coming together to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, and no doubt many more parties are planned to mark the Olympics. Getting to know your neighbours can create a real sense of community spirit and it’s great to have someone to call on when you need them most.”
