Should You Move Because of Bad Neighbors? 5 Next-Door Solutions

Unless you live in a secluded house, far away from everything and everyone, you’re sure to have neighbors. You may like some of them – may even be good friends with a selected few. Others, however, may be regularly getting on your nerves – to the point that you may start considering moving because of bad neighbors.

Whether problem neighbors have recently moved in the adjacent house or apartment or you’ve just moved to a new home and found yourself surrounded by annoying neighbors, your living situation may become quite miserable because of the people next door. It may seem that moving out is the only solution.

Moving house every time you have a problem with a neighbor, however, doesn’t make sense – many bad neighbors aren’t really so bad and most disagreements can be resolved through discussion and negotiation. Some mediation may help, too. You need to try everything possible to solve the problem civilly and resort to moving only if nothing else works.

So, what can you do if your neighbors happen to be inconsiderate, disagreeable, or troublesome? Should you ignore them, avoid them, or try to reason with them? Should you contact the local authorities and take legal measures? Or should you move because of bad neighbors?

Read on to find out how to deal with bad neighbors and when it would be better to move in order to get away from the obnoxious people next door.

What makes a bad neighbor?

A bad neighbor is anyone who lives close to you and makes you uncomfortable in any way.

There are different types of bad neighbors – from slightly annoying to absolutely unbearable and even downright dangerous. Depending on the type of trouble they cause, you may be able to ignore them or you may need to resort to drastic measures – such as calling the police, going to court, or even moving house.

Therefore, to find the answer to the question “Should I move because of my neighbors?”, you need to consider exactly how bad your annoying neighbors are and what you can do about it.

So, let’s have a look at the different types of bad neighbors and examine possible courses of action.

Dealing with intrusive neighbors

Meddlesome neighbors are the most common type of annoying neighbors. They feel entitled to impose themselves on others in any way they like:

• Some believe that the world revolves around them – they think that everyone is interested in them and their opinions, ideas, and problems. Such neighbors will tell you their biography each time you meet, will vent out their issues to you, and will constantly bother you with all kinds of things you don’t care about;
• Some are bossy and authoritative – they think they know better than everyone else and others owe them deference. Such neighbors will offer up unsolicited advice and try to order you around;
• Some are too needy – they always seek help from others and demand exclusive attention. Such neighbors will ask you for favors all the time and never reciprocate;
• Some are too inquisitive – they want to know everything about everyone and itch to spread the information around. Gossipy neighbors have nothing better to do than snoop around in other people’s business and stir up local dramas. Such people will pry into your personal life and spread rumors about you and your family.

Intrusive neighbors can easily get on your nerves and cause you a lot of frustration. Yet, they’re not too big of a problem – you can simply ignore them.

So, should you move because of nosy neighbors?

As annoying as nosy neighbors may be, moving because of them is definitely not worth it. The best way to deal with gossips and busybodies is to:

• Keep them at a distance – actively avoid them whenever possible and quickly excuse yourself when you do encounter them;
• Not pay any attention to them – do not get involved and do not preoccupy yourself with what they have to say;
• Be careful not to disclose any personal information when talking to them.

Dealing with noisy neighbors

Noise is one of the biggest issues among neighbors – noisy neighbors can make it impossible to sleep at night, hamper your productivity and concentration, and disrupt your lifestyle.

Noise from neighboring houses or apartments may have different sources:

• Parties – An occasional party for a special event is not a problem, but regular loud parties definitely are. If your neighbors are throwing wild parties every second day and keep dancing, singing, drinking, laughing, shouting, and blasting the music until well after midnight, your life will turn into a nightmare;
• Musical instruments – If your neighbor practices the piano (or the violin, or the drums, etc.) every day, the sound may drive you crazy. And if the teenage neighbor kids have a rock band and use a nearby garage as a music studio, the racket may be truly maddening;
• Fighting – From parents of unruly children yelling all day long to couples getting into screaming matches at all hours and siblings fighting over everything and anything, shouting, screaming, and/or crying neighbors are certain to disrupt your peace;
• Misbehaved kids and pets – Whether your neighbor’s kids are constantly making a racket or their pets just wouldn’t stop barking, meowing, or squawking, you may not be able to stand it.

Whatever the case, noisy neighbors are extremely annoying and cannot be ignored – you need to find a way to resolve the problem.

Should you move because of noisy neighbors, then?

Moving because of noisy neighbors is not a rare occurrence, but you should not be quick to pack up and go. Try talking to your noisy neighbors first – it’s possible that they haven’t even realized they’ve been troubling you and telling them so may solve the problem without further complications.

Explain the situation calmly and be polite – if your neighbors are reasonable people, the bothersome noise will either stop completely or lessen considerably. If not, you’ll have to take more serious measures – give your noisy neighbors a warning and in case that doesn’t work either, make a peace disturbance call to the local law enforcement.

If, however, nothing helps and the awful noise continues, you may have no choice but to move out.

Dealing with inconsiderate neighbors

Inconsiderate neighbors – negligent, irresponsible, trespassing, and/or rude people who don’t care about others’ feelings, needs, and rights – can cause you a lot of trouble.

Inconsiderate dog owners

Such people don’t care if their dogs are barking at all hours of the day and night, relieving themselves on other people’s lawns, or scaring the neighboring kids. They’re unwilling to restrain their pets and/or clean up after them and confronting them about it rarely accomplishes anything.

When dealing with irresponsible pet owners, you may end up having to contact the local animal control agency for help.

Trespassing neighbors

Conflicts over property lines between neighboring houses are quite common:

• Your neighbor’s fence may be crossing over into your property;
• The branches of a tree in your neighbor’s yard may extend over your property (and block your view or overhang your garden, not to mention the risk of a large branch falling into your property and causing serious damage);
• Your neighbor may be raking the leaves from their yard into your yard, etc.

In such cases, you should address the issue with your neighbor immediately, clearly define the boundaries of your property, and refer to the pertinent laws and regulations to make the people next door understand what they don’t have the right to do and what your rights are.

If a polite conversation doesn’t have any effect, you can turn to your homeowner’s association for assistance or go to court.

Irresponsible neighbors

If your neighbors cause some kind of damage to your property – directly or indirectly – they’re legally responsible for that damage and are required to cover the repair or restoration costs.

Whether the neighbors’ cat has entered your home and broken an expensive vase; or their kids have broken your window while playing with a ball in the yard; or their contractor has destroyed your garden during their renovation project; or their pipes have burst and caused water damage to your home; etc., your neighbors are responsible for the damage and have to pay for the repairs or replacements.

In case an irresponsible neighbor refuses to pay, you can take legal action against them.

Negligent neighbors

The people next door may not take proper care of their yard, may not mow their lawn regularly, or may leave trash on their property – such negligence may not only damage the neighborhood’s aesthetics, but also lead to sanitary problems or even affect the resale value of the homes in the area.

If your home is being devalued because of negligent neighbors – and they refuse to do anything about it – it may be best to sell the property as soon as possible and move to another neighborhood.

Dealing with dangerous neighbors

Dealing with nuisance neighbors may be difficult, but it’s not dangerous. Sometimes, however, a neighbor may be a danger to you or to someone else – the person next door may be involved in illegal activities or may be a psycho whose behavior might pose a threat to your health or to your property.

In such cases – and especially if have evidence of criminal activity – you must notify the authorities. If your suspicions and fears are based only on subtle clues, however, you may not have grounds to call the police. Either way, if you don’t feel safe in your neighborhood, you may want to move away as fast as possible.

Bad neighbors can range from nuisance to nightmare – they may be unfriendly or over-friendly, nosy or noisy, inconsiderate or irresponsible, obnoxious or mean, rude or confrontational, bullies or criminals. Moving because of neighbors, however, no matter how difficult they may be, is rarely worth it. You need to try to find a different solution.

Must-read: How to befriend your neighbors after moving

What to do about bad neighbors

When dealing with bad neighbors, you should start with a friendly approach and gradually proceed to harsher measures if your diplomatic efforts fail. 

Talk with your neighbors

Conflicts are best resolved through negotiations, not wars. So, whatever issues you may have with your neighbors, your first step should be to approach them peacefully and explain the problem in a calm and rational manner. As already mentioned before, the person next door may have no idea they’re causing you trouble and a simple conversation may solve the issue. Besides, a candid discussion can help clear up misunderstandings and prevent problems from escalating.

Just be sure to stay polite and not to accuse your neighbor right from the start – your goal isn’t to start a fight, but to explain your concern and see if you can achieve understanding.

Sometimes, a polite chat is all that is needed to reach an agreement and work out a solution that satisfies everyone.

Unfortunately, a friendly approach will not always work – your neighbor may get confrontational and refuse to acknowledge the problem or to do anything about it. In such a case, do not argue, but give your neighbor a warning that you will resort to more serious measures if the nuisance continues.

Seek support

If a polite conversation doesn’t do the trick, you should seek support from other neighbors, your landlord (if you’re renting), or your homeowner’s association (if your community has one).

In case you’re not the only one in the neighborhood (or in the apartment building) who is unhappy about a neighbor’s behavior, talk to the others and confront the offender together – people tend to be more ashamed and more respectful when admonished by many, so this may solve the problem. 

If you’re a tenant and a neighbor is bothering you, your landlord will likely be able to help – it is in their interest to find a mutually beneficial solution, so they will certainly agree to mediate. In some more extreme cases, the landlord may even threaten the nuisance maker with eviction if they continue to disturb the peace of the other tenants.

If your community has a homeowner’s association, you can involve it when having a dispute with a neighbor. HOAs have clear guidelines and policies for almost everything, including noise, pets, and fences, so the association can step in and help resolve the problem in your favor.

Refer to the letter of the law

If your annoying neighbor is violating some regional laws and regulations, inform them about the local noise and disturbance ordinances that apply to the situation at hand – they might take the cue and the problem may cease to exist.

If the warning has no effect, you can take your nuisance neighbor to court. It is a good idea to write a petition together with other neighbors who share your opinion – be sure to state a very specific grievance and desired outcome and to provide all the evidence you have of your bad neighbor’s disruptive behavior.

Involve the authorities

In case all the above methods fail, you have little choice but to contact the authorities. Explain the issue and your attempts to solve it and leave things to the officials.

If your bad neighbor seems to be a threat to you or to the community, you should call the police without delay.

Move out

Moving out because of neighbors may seem like an extreme option, but in some cases, it’s the best solution.

If you’ve tried to solve the issues with your neighbors in different ways but nothing helped – or if a bad neighbor is not only annoying but also dangerous – you have nothing to wait for. Your safety and your health are more important than anything else – the stress caused by dealing with bad neighbors can have serious effects on your health and the risk of living close to psychos or criminally involved people should not be underestimated.

You should find a nice house or apartment in a safe, peaceful neighborhood and move away from dangerous folks and difficult neighbors who cannot be reasoned with. Find good movers to help you relocate as quickly and smoothly as possible and say goodbye to the Neighbors from Hell.