Introduce yourself

Introduce yourself to your neighbours, you can do this by going round and knocking on the door or by putting a card through their letterbox, letting them know who you are and that you want to get along.

As well as being good manners, they’ll be able to give you useful information about the area, such as collection days for rubbish. It’ll also give you an idea as to what their particular priorities are – helpful for keeping on the right side of them. If you build a good relationship with your neighbours, they may keep an eye on your property for you, hold your spare keys or help out in an emergency.

Be respectful with noise

Be aware that your neighbours are likely to have a different lifestyle to you – maybe working shifts, getting up early in the morning or taking care of young children. Try to keep stereos/TVs away from adjacent walls and try to keep noise down when coming home late at night. In residential areas, there’s a general expectation that there will not be excessive noise at any time and that there will not be noise at all after about 11pm on weekdays.

If you're having a problem with noise then please reach out to the relevant local authority to report it:

Waste and recycling

Local residents are likely to have strong feelings about how their neighbourhood looks and they will want their house, and houses and gardens around them, to stay in a state of good repair.

Make sure you know when your rubbish collection day is and don’t leave rubbish out in the street or front garden or where the bin could cause an obstruction. You'll usually need to put your bin out by the curb one day each week, and remember to bring it back in once it's been emptied.

Rubbish collection days and information on recycling:

Fireworks

Please be considerate of your neighbours when letting off fireworks, and where possible give them forewarning. It is important that you buy appropriate fireworks, please do not buy industrial-grade or heavy-duty fireworks.

Please make sure you follow the correct safety procedures, and do not let them off on the street or in public areas unless you have permission to do so.

Hosting parties

If you’re planning a party, let your neighbours know in advance and tell them what time it will end. Friday or Saturday nights are more acceptable than mid-week, and, unless your neighbours are very relaxed, weekly parties may not be welcomed.

It is important to note that depending on your residence there might be a legal limit on the number of attendees for safety purposes. In general, for larger parties, it is recommended that you move a party to a local venue. Some venues may even allow free booking if you're bringing in a large number of people- why not phone and ask!

Parking

Make sure you're considerate to others when parking your car on the street. If there is only on-street parking available, be aware that you have to share the space with others and you may not be able to park outside your house all of the time. Make sure that you park sensibly avoiding blocking your neighbours in or causing them problems getting out of their drive.

Get involved

It’s your community whilst you’re living there, so why not get involved? Support the area by using local shops, cafes and takeaways. You could also take advantage of opportunities to get involved in the local community through voluntary work. Find out more about the huge number of opportunities available through Warwick Volunteers.

Problems with your neighbours?

If you do experience problems with neighbours, it’s always best to try and talk to them first to resolve any differences amicably. However, if you need some support, contact the SU Advice Centre on 024 765 72784, or their online contact form.