Are you having trouble with your neighbours? Do you have to deal with loud music, anti-social behaviour, barking dogs or dumped rubbish?
If so, you could be one of the 18 million Brits that have got a nuisance neighbour.
New research has found that half of those with a nuisance neighbour have become stressed or depressed as a result, while one quarter want to move away.
One in five no longer sleep well at night and the same number again no longer feel safe in their own home.
Ian Williams, spokesperson for Ocean Finance, said: “Good neighbours really can be good friends and are a vital part of a vibrant community. But most Brits will recognise at least one of these less welcome neighbours too – and sadly for some people a problem neighbour can make their lives a misery.”
Here are 10 common annoying neighbour traits:
Your neighbour appears like magic every time you leave the house waiting to strike up a conversation as you try to sneak unnoticed from your car to front door.
Overt bin thieves – Neighbours who claim your black bin, despite your house number quite clearly being stamped on the front in big colourful stickers.
Don’t remember eating the contents of that Domino’s pizza box? Of course you don’t, and that’s because you didn’t. Your neighbour not-so-discretely plonked it there.
Cat poo in your garden? Dog waste outside your gate? Or do you just run the gauntlet of the snarling dog every time you leave the house?
Monopolisers – That family next door who has six cars, four residents and never stick to the unwritten code of parking in-front of your own house.
The neighbours who force you to have your password set to an unmemorable code to stop them getting in: gHbu87%”kH90(bxX32”$^6gH.
The chap next door who must think you don’t own a TV, and so cranks his volume up right to the top to share EastEnders’ storyline with you every night.
Who doesn’t want to see their neighbour’s half eaten, soggy takeaway splattered all over the pavement? Surprisingly, most of us!
The curtain twitchers, gossip instigators and MI5 interrogators.
Not content with a couple of rusting cars on the drive, these neighbours accessorise with half a motorbike, an old fridge and a mattress.
The neighbours who give you a live, close-up and unfiltered Jeremy Kyle show every day.
My name is Emily Johnson and I work for FlameTV, a television production company currently working on a documentary about neighbourly disputes. Our documentary acts as a platform for people to tell their story in a non-biased manner. If you have a nuisance neighbour or know of somebody that does who may be interested in sharing their story through our documentary programme then please get in touch.
I would like to assure you that any initial conversation would of course be strictly confidential and does in no way oblige you to take part.
My direct telephone number is: 0207 5987 347.
Alternatively you can email me at: emilyj@flametv.co.uk
I look forward to hearing from you,
Emily Johnson | Researcher