How to address noise and neighbour disputes | Tenant news

Problems with neighbours can really affect someone’s peace of mind, but the good news is that most people want to be good neighbours and many problems can be resolved with a chat if tackled early on.

Have a chat

One Habinteg tenant – who we’ll call Sarah - had been living in her flat for two months when her neighbour started playing music loudly at night, making it difficult for her to sleep.

Sarah decided to speak with her neighbour: “I knocked on their door and said, ‘Hi, I just wanted to let you know that your music has been a bit loud the last few nights, and it’s making it hard for me to fall asleep. I need to be up at 6.30am for work. Do you mind turning it down a bit, please?’”

Sarah’s neighbour apologised and explained that they didn’t realise the music was so loud as they have a hearing impairment. They promised to be more mindful in future. In this case, a simple conversation solved the problem.

Often, people don’t realise the impact their actions are having, and a friendly reminder may be all someone needs. While it might feel a bit awkward at first, but a calm chat can go a long way.

No improvement?

If talking doesn’t resolve the situation, there are still options. You can report the problem to your Neighbourhood Co-ordinator - they can guide you through the next steps and help mediate the situation if necessary.

It’s also helpful to keep a record of the disturbances, like Sarah did. She used this diary sheet to record when the music was loud, which made it easier to explain the problem.

Report ASB

If a neighbour’s behaviour continues to cause a problem after you’ve spoken to them you can let us know by filling out our online ASB form. Please include your full name and address, and contact number, so that we can identify you.

If you witness a criminal act, you should call the police. If you don’t want a member of staff or the police to call at your house, phone and arrange a different, private meeting place.

If you're uncomfortable reporting a crime or incident to Habinteg or the police, you can speak to a third party like your local council or Citizens Advice. They’ll help you with a report, and provide advice and support.

We’re here to support you if you're experiencing anti-social behaviour and we’ll work with you to help resolve the situation as early as possible. To find out how we can help, check out our ASB guide and Reasonable Behaviour policy at www.habinteg.org.uk/asb. You can also speak to our Customer Services Team at Habinteg Direct if you need any more information about how we handle ASB. Call 0300 365 3100 or email direct@habinteg.org.uk.

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