Nightmare neighbours can come in many forms - here's how you deal with them, or find out first!

Property

Five signs you have a nightmare neighbour – and how to avoid them

Paul JonesAugust 7, 20250 Comment0

NIGHTMARE neighbours are one of the biggest fears for anyone moving into a new home.

From overgrown hedgerows to late-night parties and barking dogs at all hours of the day and night, problems can come in many forms and make life a misery.

But what are the issues that really get under our skin? Property website Right Move asked members of its research panel, Living Room, to share the neighbourly habits that raise the biggest red flags.

Here are the top five neighbours problems for homeowners to beware of, according to the Right Move panel:

1. The wifi borrowers
A total of 87% of people said neighbours asking for their wifi password is a no-go. It’s not just cheeky – it can slow your connection to a crawl. One minute you’re watching Bake Off, the next you’re stuck buffering.

2. The bin offenders
Overflowing bins spilling onto the street? Seven in 10 say it’s a major red flag. It’s messy, it attracts pests, and it’s just not neighbourly. In fact, 69% of people said animals causing problems is another top annoyance.

3. The parking pinchers
More than half of people (51%) said they’d be unhappy if a neighbour took their parking spot. And it doesn’t stop there – 71% are irritated by people parking outside their homes, and 70% dislike it when non-residents use their street. Parking politics are real.

4. The window watchers
Four in 10 feel uneasy when neighbours watch them leave the house. It’s nosy, it’s awkward – and 70% of us say nosy neighbours are a real issue. Curtain twitching? That’s a red flag.

5. The pop-ins
A surprise knock for a cuppa might sound quaint, but 38% say it’s a boundary-crossing move. Peace and quiet matters – and unexpected visits can throw off your home’s calm.

The worst-case scenario, of course, is a neighbour who ticks every box: wifi borrowing, bin overflowing, parking pinching, window watching, and visiting unannounced.

However, noise complaints are the most common issue (57%), followed by parking (28%), pets (26%) and overhanging greenery (24%). And six in 10 movers say avoiding neighbour disputes is a top priority – rising to 69% in the East Midlands.

In response, 59% considering a move to an area drive by at different times to check the neighbourhood out, while 43% check local community groups for disputes, with 58% open to new areas if it means better neighbours.