12 Ways to Nurture a Happy Neighbourhood
Good neighbour relations improve the quality of life for all, so take time to invest in the people living around you and the space you share
Not necessarily a close friend, but not a stranger either, a neighbour is a unique individual. He or she lives in close proximity, perhaps sharing boundaries and fences, and can positively or negatively affect your enjoyment of your home. So it’s important to foster good relations with your neighbours, not just for your benefit, but for the overall atmosphere and happiness of the area.
When neighbour relations are good, they can be a lifeline, as, unlike friends and family, neighbours live right by you. This makes them uniquely placed to offer practical support (from holding your key to taking in your packages), a fast response in a crisis, and genuine friendship, too. Take care of your neighbours, and it’s likely they will take care of you.
When neighbour relations are good, they can be a lifeline, as, unlike friends and family, neighbours live right by you. This makes them uniquely placed to offer practical support (from holding your key to taking in your packages), a fast response in a crisis, and genuine friendship, too. Take care of your neighbours, and it’s likely they will take care of you.
Think about how neighbours see your home
It’s all too easy to forget about your home’s exterior once you’re inside, but your neighbours will look out at it on a daily basis. Keep your front garden tidy and free of litter, and trim any hedges or shrubs that might encroach on next door’s space.
Don’t let a footpath or pavement become obstructed by your wheelie bin or recycling boxes and park your car thoughtfully, too.
It’s all too easy to forget about your home’s exterior once you’re inside, but your neighbours will look out at it on a daily basis. Keep your front garden tidy and free of litter, and trim any hedges or shrubs that might encroach on next door’s space.
Don’t let a footpath or pavement become obstructed by your wheelie bin or recycling boxes and park your car thoughtfully, too.
Use your outside space considerately
In built-up areas, keep voices and music down when hanging out in the garden or on the terrace. Check in with your neighbour before holding a party or barbecue outside. In larger gardens, don’t mow or use machinery at unsociable hours, but do share a glut of fruit or veg or abundant fresh flowers with them.
In built-up areas, keep voices and music down when hanging out in the garden or on the terrace. Check in with your neighbour before holding a party or barbecue outside. In larger gardens, don’t mow or use machinery at unsociable hours, but do share a glut of fruit or veg or abundant fresh flowers with them.
Show respect
While it’s wonderful to be friends with your neighbours, it’s also crucial to respect their privacy. No one wants the contents of their recycling bin discussed or their comings and goings commented on! It’s great to look out for one another, but when that tips into gossip or nosiness, things can become toxic.
Always keep lines of communication open, whatever your relationship with your neighbours, and try to ensure any issues or disputes stay amicable and are dealt with face-to-face before taking anything further.
While it’s wonderful to be friends with your neighbours, it’s also crucial to respect their privacy. No one wants the contents of their recycling bin discussed or their comings and goings commented on! It’s great to look out for one another, but when that tips into gossip or nosiness, things can become toxic.
Always keep lines of communication open, whatever your relationship with your neighbours, and try to ensure any issues or disputes stay amicable and are dealt with face-to-face before taking anything further.
Start a club
Why not launch a local club to foster strong neighbourly relations? Start a book group, art club, cinema club or walking group. You could even try setting up a tool or equipment share system, so neighbours can borrow shears or a wallpaper stripper or you can find someone nearby with a ladder!
Why not launch a local club to foster strong neighbourly relations? Start a book group, art club, cinema club or walking group. You could even try setting up a tool or equipment share system, so neighbours can borrow shears or a wallpaper stripper or you can find someone nearby with a ladder!
Check in with an elderly neighbour
Give an older neighbour your phone number and let him or her know they can call if they need help. If they’re vulnerable, it’s a good idea to get the number of their closest family member, so you can reach them in an emergency. Pop in now and then, help with odd jobs or offer to pick up shopping.
Give an older neighbour your phone number and let him or her know they can call if they need help. If they’re vulnerable, it’s a good idea to get the number of their closest family member, so you can reach them in an emergency. Pop in now and then, help with odd jobs or offer to pick up shopping.
Aim for good pet relations, too
Make sure a dog prone to barking in outside spaces isn’t let out late at night or too early in the morning. Don’t let your dog “go” in your neighbour’s outside space, either. Offer to walk a neighbour’s dog or feed a cat or fish while they’re away.
Make sure a dog prone to barking in outside spaces isn’t let out late at night or too early in the morning. Don’t let your dog “go” in your neighbour’s outside space, either. Offer to walk a neighbour’s dog or feed a cat or fish while they’re away.
Inform neighbours of any renovation plans
Discuss plans that may affect your neighbours and keep building work within legal hours. Ensure your builders don’t block access to the street, leave litter or play loud music. Keep neighbours informed of progress and the finish date.
You could perhaps give them a gift at the end of the build to thank them for their patience, or invite them in to enjoy a glass of wine and see the completed work once it’s all done.
Discuss plans that may affect your neighbours and keep building work within legal hours. Ensure your builders don’t block access to the street, leave litter or play loud music. Keep neighbours informed of progress and the finish date.
You could perhaps give them a gift at the end of the build to thank them for their patience, or invite them in to enjoy a glass of wine and see the completed work once it’s all done.
Hire neighbourhood kids for jobs
Local teenagers might be delighted to earn a few extra pounds working at your home, so ask them before looking further afield. Babysitting, garden labouring, watering the garden while you’re away, car washing and dog walking are all tasks they might be happy to take on.
This is not an opportunity to get hard work done for nothing, though – be sure to pay the going rate!
Make sure you read this before buying new plants
Local teenagers might be delighted to earn a few extra pounds working at your home, so ask them before looking further afield. Babysitting, garden labouring, watering the garden while you’re away, car washing and dog walking are all tasks they might be happy to take on.
This is not an opportunity to get hard work done for nothing, though – be sure to pay the going rate!
Make sure you read this before buying new plants
Organise a neighbourhood event or project
Hold a street party (most local councils will give permission to close a road for this kind of event), or a picnic in someone’s garden or at the local park. Put together a neighbourhood cookbook or organise a street-wide second-hand sale or litter pick.
Hold a street party (most local councils will give permission to close a road for this kind of event), or a picnic in someone’s garden or at the local park. Put together a neighbourhood cookbook or organise a street-wide second-hand sale or litter pick.
Be security conscious
Swap keys with a trusted neighbour and ask them to check the house over and collect junk mail while you’re away. Make sure your burglar alarms are serviced and not likely to go off at random. Take in packages for neighbours, so they’re not left on their doorstep.
Swap keys with a trusted neighbour and ask them to check the house over and collect junk mail while you’re away. Make sure your burglar alarms are serviced and not likely to go off at random. Take in packages for neighbours, so they’re not left on their doorstep.
Acknowledge life’s highs and lows
Good neighbours don’t hide behind their hedges when bad luck visits someone living nearby. Bake a cake or a meal for a neighbour who is ill or recently bereaved, or offer to mow their grass or walk their dog.
Celebrate happy events, too. If there’s a new baby in your neighbourhood, take a small gift round, loan baby kit that you no longer need or just be ready with a kindly ear.
TELL US…
Do you have any tips or advice for fostering a happy neighbourhood? Please share them in the Comments below.
Good neighbours don’t hide behind their hedges when bad luck visits someone living nearby. Bake a cake or a meal for a neighbour who is ill or recently bereaved, or offer to mow their grass or walk their dog.
Celebrate happy events, too. If there’s a new baby in your neighbourhood, take a small gift round, loan baby kit that you no longer need or just be ready with a kindly ear.
TELL US…
Do you have any tips or advice for fostering a happy neighbourhood? Please share them in the Comments below.
Whether your neighbour is someone new to the area or one of those people you never do more than just wave at, try inviting them in for a relaxed, informal get-together over coffee, tea and cake. Help new neighbours with any settling-in issues and make it clear you’re happy to help long-standing residents, too.
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