Good neighbour guidance
Practical advice on living well alongside your neighbours, and how to get support from us if you ever need help
For tenants of Thanet District Council
We can’t choose our neighbours, but we can choose to be good neighbours. We want to help build communities where people feel safe and feel connected to where they live.
We also understand that issues with your neighbours can be stressful. There are a few things you can do to stop small issues from turning into big problems. Take a look at this guide to see how you can play your part in building happy communities.
But there are lots of easy things you can do.
It could be as simple as a smile or a hello when you see your neighbour in the street. Being friendly towards your neighbour can make it easier to have a conversation. It makes it easier to talk about the little issues that can have a big effect on your quality of life.
Be respectful
Try to respect your neighbours. Noise, parking, rubbish and dog fouling are some of the most common problems in any community. Being respectful could avoid most of the problems people have with their neighbours.
Speak to your neighbour
Speaking to your neighbour is usually the best thing to do. It’s better than banging and shouting, which will usually make things worse. If you don’t feel that you can do that, you could use one of our good neighbour cards. These can be downloaded online or requested by emailing myhome@thanet.gov.uk or calling 01843 577575.
If you are unable to resolve the issue with your neighbour and feel that you need further support, please visit our anti-social behaviour page for more information.
Noise can be a real nuisance to your neighbours, and you might not even know you’re doing it.
- Having a party or doing some noisy DIY? Let your neighbours know
- Ask your visitors to keep the noise down when it starts to get late
- Respect your neighbours and they will be more likely to respect you
- Avoid noisy activities like vacuuming after 9pm and before 9am
- Neighbours with young children may appreciate you being quieter earlier in the evening
- Hard flooring is not allowed in flats above the ground floor, due to noise
It’s important to keep your property clean. This can really impact your neighbours. Try to keep the outside of your home clean and tidy. Don’t let rubbish build up or the garden get overgrown. Take any bulky items to the tip or arrange for them to be collected by our bulky waste service.
If you have usable items of furniture, there are local charities that will collect them from you. Or you could advertise it on sites like Freecycle or Gumtree. If you are struggling, contact us and ask to speak to your Housing Officer.
PermalinkPets are an important part of the family. We want to support anyone that wants to have a pet in their home. As long as they provide a suitable, safe environment for them.
The biggest issue we hear about pets is dog fouling in communal areas. So if you have a dog, you can help to keep everyone safe by:
- Making sure you pick up after your dog
- Dispose of any waste responsibly
- Keep your dog on a lead in communal areas
Did you know?
You need to ask our permission to keep some pets. There is a simple form to fill out on our pets in council properties page.
We won’t usually refuse as long as the conditions for the type of pet are suitable.
Read our policy on keeping pets
PermalinkThese areas are vitally important to making sure everyone is safe in their home.
Please keep them clear of personal items like bikes, mobility scooters, buggies and boxes. It’s the best way to reduce trip hazards and make sure that anyone can get out quickly and safely in a fire. Keeping communal areas clear can help to prevent the spread of fire and smoke through your building.
PermalinkParking spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. They are for the exclusive use of residents and their visitors, council officials, and contractors conducting official council business.
If you have a caravan or motorhome, please don’t park it in our car parks.
- Don’t do major car repairs in the car park
- Clean up any mess, like oil spills
- Don’t block driveways and make sure you park in marked bays
- Don’t park in a disabled bay unless you have a blue badge. Even parking there for ten minutes can impact the life of someone who needs it
- Parking on pavements can be dangerous for someone with a wheelchair or a buggy out into the road
People often don’t realise that they or someone in their household is causing you a nuisance. Before approaching your neighbour, think about what you want to say. Have a clear and simple message in mind. Be clear about what the problem is and how it affects you.
- Stay calm and friendly, being aggressive won’t help
- Explain the problem, how you feel and how it affects you
- Listen to your neighbour and think about what they are saying. Better results can be achieved if people listen as well as talk
- Try not to interrupt them when they are talking
- Try not to shout or use bad language, even if they do
- Avoid bringing up incidents from the past
- If your neighbour is aggressive or unreasonable – leave the discussion
If you find it difficult to talk, consider using one of our Good Neighbour cards.
This doesn’t always work. If you think you are in danger or your neighbour threatens you with violence, contact the police. Then report it to your Housing Officer.
If the police are involved, always ask for a crime number. This is important if we need to carry out further investigation.
PermalinkOur tenants’ and leaseholders’ views and opinions help us continually improve our landlord services and neighbourhoods.
There are lots of ways you can get get involved:
- Come along to one of our housing events
- Take part in a survey
- Join your local Neighbourhood Inspection
- Join a resident group
You can read all about it on our Get Involved page.
PermalinkSome residents start their own groups. This could be to organise litter picks, do some gardening or share ideas about how to improve their neighbourhood.
PermalinkWe want all residents to feel at home. If you need support or guidance, please speak to your Housing Officer, who will be happy to help.
Contact us by emailing myhome@thanet.gov.uk or calling 01843 577575.
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