Although you might only be living in your new rented property for this academic year, the area is the permanent home of many of your neighbours. They live, work, and go to school nearby, and their schedules may be very different to yours. You should always be mindful of this when organising gatherings, or when leaving and entering the property at night or early in the morning.
While living at the property, consider how you would feel if you were disrupted by antisocial behaviour. Imagine trying to get a good night’s sleep before an important exam but being disturbed by noise, or heading to a lecture in a rush but finding bins blocking the pavement and litter in the street. You can avoid creating these scenarios by respecting other people and the area you live in.
Luckily, it’s easy to maintain a good relationship with your neighbours by following some simple guidelines.
You can be a good neighbour by:
- reducing noise early in the morning or late at night;
- parking in designated areas not obstructing driveways;
- tidying the area around your property and picking up litter;
- ensuring bins do not block pavements or accessways;
- removing excess rubbish from the front of the property when moving out;
- informing your neighbours about possible noise disruption in advance.
Many neighbours will be understanding if you tell them beforehand about events or gatherings and allow them to share any concerns. If any issues do arise, try to be polite and friendly when resolving them.
If you cannot solve a problem informally, seek support early. If you need to, contact the Community Wardens Team for assistance.