Skip to content
Who's Right?

Arguments: neighbors

You didn’t choose your neighbors, but you run into them every day. The usual sources of conflict are well known: footsteps or music, the power drill on Sunday morning, the parking spot, the hedge growing over the fence, the barbecue smoke, the lost package. You go from a polite “hi” to a note in the mailbox in no time.

Vote one story at a time

8 stories

These arguments turn into misunderstandings fast because everyone feels at home, and they’re right. One person hears a racket, the other is just living their evening. Often, people never talk to each other directly: they sigh, they bang on the ceiling, they complain to the rest of the building. Every silence then becomes proof of bad faith.

To vote fairly, read both sides keeping in mind they come from the same person. Tell apart the substance, the actual nuisance, from the way it was handled: the anonymous note, the slammed door, the comment made in front of everyone. A neighbor can be genuinely loud, and the other far too quick to get angry. One last important point: your vote is a common-sense opinion. It doesn’t say what the law, the lease or the HOA rules actually require.

FAQ

How do I talk to a noisy neighbor without starting a war?

Go see them in person, at a calm moment, instead of banging on the ceiling. Lots of people don’t realize they can be heard. Describe the noise and when it happens, without accusing, and look for a solution together.

Is a note in the mailbox a good or bad idea?

A note can help if the neighbor is hard to catch. Stay polite, sign it and offer to talk in person. An anonymous or curt note is often taken as an attack.

How do we stay on good terms after an argument?

A simple hello the next day shows the argument is over. Thanking your neighbor when they’ve made an effort goes a long way. Small neighborly gestures make the next conversation much easier.

Other categories