Deal With Your Neighbour's Unsightly Property

Dealing with a neighbour’s unsightly property can be a frustrating experience. There are many considerations that should be made and you certainly want to be intentional about your actions and careful in your approach.

Steps

Approaching Your Neighbour

1. Have a face-to-face conversation. Sometimes people are simply unaware of the fact that a problem exists, so do not assume that your neighbour is thinking about the problem. If it is settled in your mind that something should be done, you should schedule a face-to-face meeting to communicate your concerns. There is a possibility that your neighbour will promptly resolve the problem after hearing what you have to say.
   • Before scheduling a face-to-face meeting, you need to assess whether or not the situation is safe. Not everyone is neighbourly and sometimes having a face-to-face conversation is not prudent. It could even be dangerous. It is particularly unwise to just show up on a person’s property uninvited. You may decide to handle the situation with anonymity to avoid physical harm or any type of retaliation.
   • If you decide to move forward with a meeting, be prepared to say exactly what the problem is and provide a reasonable date by which you think the issue should be resolved. Here are a couple of examples: "I have always appreciated you as a neighbor, but I am concerned about the current condition of your property," and "I think 30 days is a reasonable amount of time to resolve the problem. What do you think?"
   • There is an old saying that “good fences make good neighbours.” If you would prefer to avoid interacting with your neighbour about this situation and future matters, consider putting up a fence that blocks your view of your neighbour’s property. Not having to look at your neighbours unsightly property could resolve the problem from your perspective and keep the peace altogether.
   • If the neighbours are renters, contact the homeowner directly. You can find the homeowner’s information through the county assessor’s office.
2. Discuss the financial impact. If you are trying to sell your home then it is perfectly fine to communicate urgency, while also communicating that the problem may affect the value of your home. You may want to remind your neighbour that this matter also affects the value of their property, which can be a financial incentive for them to solve the problem.
   • Consider telling them that you want prospective buyers to know that they are good neighbours and then offer assistance to expedite the resolution so that it does not affect the sale of your property (this could mean actually helping to clean up the litter).
3. Prevent a confrontation. When communicating with someone regarding a difficult subject, it is important to be polite to avoid escalating the situation. It is possible to address a sensitive topic without being confrontational or hostile. A gentle approach is generally best.
   • Prepare yourself for a counterattack and reconcile in your mind that you will remain diplomatic and calm if your neighbour becomes angry.
   • If the situation escalates, walk away and plan to discuss the matter at a later date.
   • Being cordial prior to a problem arising will sometimes go a long way towards resolving conflict down the road. A kind “hello” over the years can make a big difference.
4. Avoid inflammatory language. Do not use language that is accusatory or disrespectful. For instance, words such as “nasty” or “disgusting” are offensive and can quickly escalate the matter.
   • Refrain from threatening your neighbour. Most people do not respond kindly to threats and it is best to remain respectful.
5. Respond instead of react. Before engaging in any conversations, make a decision to respond calmly during your communications with your neighbour. Reacting without thinking about the consequences could create a far worse outcome than is necessary.

Documenting What Happens

1. Take notes. Keep track of the events that have occurred by writing down brief notes, including dates, times, and the individuals involved
2. Take pictures. Discreetly take pictures of the unsightly property. Being subtle may prevent an argument or altercation with your neighbor. It is very important that you do not trespass on your neighbour's property during any attempt to document the situation.
3. Video record occurrences. If there is a particularly egregious event, you can record that event for clear evidence of what has occurred.
   • Whether taking pictures or filming video, you may find it beneficial to subtly use your smartphone since it is usually readily available. Be sure that all photos and videos are date stamped.
4. List other neighbours. Keep track of other neighbours who may have expressed the same or similar concerns. While it is not a good idea to gossip and create drama by involving other neighbours unnecessarily, it is a good idea to list the names of those who may be able to support your claims.
5. Write letters. If you meet face-to-face, follow up by writing a non-aggressive letter to confirm and reiterate what you discussed. You can send subsequent letters as necessary.
   • If you plan to follow-up on your conversation in writing, you may consider telling your neighbour to expect a confirmation letter in the mail so that they are not caught off guard upon receipt of the letter.
   • Be sure that all letters are dated and copied for your records. You may consider sending the letters via certified mail to confirm receipt.

Evaluating the Situation

1. Clarify your concerns. When dealing with a neighbour’s unsightly property, it is important to put things into perspective before having any conversations or making any decisions. Always keep in mind the importance of maintaining positive relationships with your neighbours, when it is within your control. While you can certainly address problems, you do not want to do anything that would unnecessarily create a hostile environment or further diminish the enjoyment of your property.
   • Think about whether or not this is a recent problem that may be soon resolved or if this has been a long-standing issue. The situation may be the result of a health problem that your neighbour is experiencing and they may be unable to do anything about it at this time. This is particularly important when you have elderly neighbours with limited mobility.
2. Decide if your concerns are fair. Not everyone has the same standards for cleanliness or the same design aesthetic. What may be unsightly to you may be perfectly acceptable to others. Carefully consider whether or not your concerns are truly warranted and weigh the risks and benefits of addressing the issue. You may decide that your neighbour’s property is good enough for you to let the situation go without pursing it any further in order to keep the peace.
3. Do your research. Get clarity on the actual issues and gain an understanding of ordinances and zoning codes so that you can speak intelligently about the problem. Perhaps your neighbour’s property is creating a safety hazard or a sanitation violation. A quick Google search will get you started
   • It may be worth your time to research affordable services that will help your neighbour with cleaning up their property. While you should not be expected to pay for the services, your due diligence in providing a useful resource may be well received.
4. Review the problem with your spouse or a friend. Sometimes talking through the situation with someone else will help you to decide whether or not you want to move forward with a course of action. It could be beneficial to have a calm conversation with a reasonable person to make sure that you are not overreacting. Once you move forward you cannot undo your actions.

Getting Assistance from Authorities

1. Contact the homeowner’s association. In some communities there is a homeowner’s association that can serve as a mediator to resolve problems between neighbours. If you have already spoken to your neighbour and the problem is not resolved, consider contacting the homeowner’s association to share your concerns and provide the details that you have gathered.
   • If you decide to handle the situation with anonymity, contact the homeowner's association before speaking with your neighbor and ask to remain anonymous.
2. Identify local or municipal authorities. There are authorities designated to assist neighbours with dispute resolution. While problematic, your situation is far from unique and many homeowners have experienced the same issue. Local or municipal authorities may assist you with finding a quicker resolution. Start by contacting city hall.
   • You will need to read the local regulations to ascertain the procedures more clearly in your jurisdiction. In addition to the homeowner’s association and municipalities, you may also find assistance and direction through the fire department or police department, depending on the nature of the problem.
3. Find a mediator. If you do not have a homeowner’s association and the problem is escalating, consider contacting a mediation service to assist you with resolving the problem without involving attorneys. A mediator is a neutral third-party who can assist with establishing communication until a resolution is found.
4. Follow-up until the situation is resolved. Recognize that this is a problem that could take some time and effort to completely resolve. Before you start, realize that engaging with your neighbour regarding this issue may result in a long-standing feud that lasts for years. Be prepared to engage in the process and mend the relationship, if necessary.
   • Some homeowners have found this type of issue to be so disruptive, that they chose instead to sale their home (when they were not otherwise planning to do so) and move on with their lives. While this may be a last ditch solution, it may be something worthy of your consideration depending on the complexity of the situation and your ability and willingness to relocate.
5. Consider litigation. You probably do not want to contact an attorney until you have made a sincere effort to resolve the issue. However, there are some instances when the situation is so contentious that you simply have to seek legal assistance.

Tips

• If your neighbour rents their property, they may have terms in their lease that require them to maintain a reasonable level of tidiness. Contact their landlord and discuss the situation with them. In the UK, you can find out who owns a property from the Land Registry, for a small fee. In the US, you can find out who owns a property from your county assessor’s office (many counties are now searchable online for free).
• One way of staying anonymous is to make your report through the office of your City Councilman or Alderman. They can pass along the complaint and keep your name out of the situation.
• In many cities in the US, there are laws in place to assist homeowners with handling this matter. You can file an anonymous report with the police department, which may receive attention if there are other filed reports.
• In most municipalities there is a maximum number of pets that a homeowner can have. Consider going to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or to the local television station if there is a particularly inhumane situation involving animals.
• In the UK, the relevant local authority contact will be Environmental Health and Safety. You will probably receive a visit from a representative who can issue the proper notices.
• If you approach your neighbour and the response is negative, you lose the ability to file an anonymous report. If another neighbour files a report, you could receive the blame. If you have the sort of neighbour who needs the local authorities to enforce a clean yard, this may not be someone you want to upset. Sometimes to keep peace with a neighbour, you simply need the power of anonymity.
• If the local authority officer cannot resolve the problem informally, they may decide to issue your neighbour a notice to clean up the litter. If your neighbour refuses to comply with this then they might face prosecution and/or a fine, depending on the jurisdiction.
• If you live in an apartment consider using frosted contact film inside your windows. This way you still receive sunlight but are spared the unsightly views.

Warnings

• It is often better to have a good relationship with your neighbour than to force them to maintain their property to your liking. A conflict with your neighbour could create far reaching problems. It is always best to foster an environment where you look out for each other and keep the peace whenever possible.
• There is a difference between neighbours who are "anti-social" and neighbours who are "unsociable." Anti-social neighbours could pose a danger to you if provoked. If possible, assess the temperament of your neighbour before you make their property an issue with them. If you think your neighbour might be dangerous, work with local authorities to keep yourself and your neighbourhood safe.

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• Be a Good Neighbour
• Deal With Nosy Neighbors
• Deal With a Noisy Neighbour
• Deal With Impossible People
• Be a Good Roommate

Sources and Citations

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• Be a Good Neighbour
• Deal With Bad Neighbours
• Keep Your Neighborhood Clean
• Set up a Home Owners Association