Being a good neighbour

When parking near your home it is important you and your neighbours remember: 

• No-one has the right to park in front of their home on a public road. 

• You should not park across a dropped kerb or driveway. You should leave enough space either side of the driveway to allow a car to get in or out. 

• If possible, avoid parking opposite a driveway as it may obstruct access. 

• Do not park or allow your visitors to park anywhere that is not permitted and may cause a problem for other people.  For example, on a pathway or blocking areas that should be kept clear for bin lorries or emergency vehicles. 

• If you live on a scheme with allocated parking, you shouldn’t park or allow your visitors to park in someone else’s bay even for a short period. 

• You must only carry out reasonable minor repairs to your own vehicles in the parking areas of a car park.  You must not use paint spraying equipment, hoists, welding equipment or power tools. 

• Disabled parking places are for blue badge holders only.  If a member of your household is registered disabled or have any other vulnerabilities, contact Sanctuary for further advice if they are experiencing problems with parking. 

While it is natural for pets such as dogs to make noise from time to time, this can be frustrating if it is happening often. 

If you have a caged bird that likes to squawk or sing, we recommend making sure it is kept where it won’t disturb neighbours, particularly at night. 

Everyone has the right to use communal areas and to help make sure these areas safe and clean. 

Please make sure your children and guests are considerate of your neighbours and their property. 

Make sure you do not block the hallways or stairwells with any rubbish or bikes. 

Only smoke in permitted areas and dispose of cigarette ends responsibly. 

Loud Music 

When listening to music, we recommend making sure that the volume is kept at a reasonable level. 

If you play an instrument, practice where and when it will have the least impact on your neighbours. 

Be mindful of open windows, and when appropriate, use headphones. 

We will only consider loud music to be antisocial behaviour if it lasts for continuous periods of over 30 minutes a day for at least 5 days a week, or it occurs during the night between 11pm and 7am. 

General Household or Living Noise 

From babies crying, people talking and walking in their homes, closing doors and windows, vacuuming and using white goods, everyone can expect some noise from the people who live around them. 

To reduce noise and minimise disturbances, review the following tips and share them with your neighbours. 

Household appliances 

• Do the vacuuming at a reasonable time. 

• Avoid overloading your washing machine and use it at a time it will least disturb your neighbours. 

• Avoid banging pans and cupboard doors in the kitchen and don’t use blenders on surfaces attached to party walls. 

Garden noise 

• Try and carry out noisy activities like mowing your lawn in the middle of the day 

• If a child’s toy or game is extremely noisy, try and find quieter alternatives. 

• Barbeques, trampolines and padding pools are not permitted in communal areas. 

• If you have a party in your home or garden, tell your neighbours, avoid loud music outside and if anyone complains, please turn it down 

Entering and leaving your home 

• Avoid slamming car, front doors or communal entrance doors, particularly late at night or early morning. 

• If you are expecting a visitor, ask them to knock rather than sound a car horn. 

DIY 

• Wherever possible, let your neighbours know that you are undertaking noisy work and do it at reasonable times of the day. 

• Carry out the noisiest tasks in the middle of the day. If you must start early, do the quieter jobs first 

By law, internal communal areas, stairwells lifts and hallways, of blocks of flats must be smoke free.  However, customers are legally allowed to smoke cigarettes inside their homes, gardens and in the communal gardens. 

Customers are also allowed to cook the food of their choice in their home. 

• Be considerate when smoking in external areas by not smoking directly outside the building entrance or in front of or under your neighbours’ windows. 

• When smoking in your home, ventilate by opening windows. 

• Do not litter and ensure cigarette butts are disposed of safely. 

• Clean up as soon as possible after cooking to remove any lingering smells as well as food mess and grease. 

• Let fresh air circulate in your home by opening the windows. 

• Put food waste in a bin with a closed lid as soon as possible and empty it regularly. 

Play is a part of every child’s life and is vital for their enjoyment as well as for their health well-being and development. 

Although some behaviour can be annoying, children playing in their gardens, external communal areas, or in the street, this is not antisocial behaviour. We encourage you to be tolerant of children playing. 

This is unless they are causing damage, engaging in a dangerous activity which could cause a nuisance to other neighbours or are a danger to themselves. 

Typically, this type of conflict involves a disagreement between neighbours. It can include dirty looks or staring, personal dislikes, children falling out with each other, personal relationship breakdowns and positioning bins ahead of collection. 

It is important to remember that we don’t always know what’s going on in someone’s personal life or what maybe impacting them, but it’s important we treat our neighbours fairly and with respect.