What is new neighbour etiquette?
Posted by MissKLO@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 34 comments
I haven’t moved house in 20 years, and I’m finally leaving my little flat, to go live in a posher part of town in a little 3 bed semi…
When I moved into my flat I was like 20 and also a bit of a party girl.. So I mostly got to know my neighbours at the time by them asking me to keep the noise down, although over the last 20 years we’ve all become firm friends.
I’d like to make a better impression in the new house, and I’m worried we’ll already be getting off on a negative foot as I’m have a wall knocked through before I move in, and my husband and myself will be in laying flooring and decorating and boarding the attic for the next few weeks before we move our lives in.
I get the keys Monday, and I’m wondering if there’s anything I can do to get the neighbours to like me among all this disturbance, I also have a dog. 😬 If I was moving in next door to you, how could I make a good impression and put my best foot forward?
Iforgotmypassword126@reddit
Knock on when you get your keys, explain you’re going to have some work done upfront and say you’ll try t keep noise to a minimum, and give them your number to contact you. Take something edible like chocolates or biscuits and a bottle of wine if your judgement says it’s okay.
MissKLO@reddit (OP)
Looking at them on google street view (i’m nosy) they are campervan and motorbike people… maybe some beers and biscuits?
srm79@reddit
Camper van and motorbike people are generally very sociable - definitely introduce yourself, let them know a few jobs need doing before you move in and give them your number in case anything goes wrong - and invite them for a few beers/glass of wine with some pizza once you're in and settled
MissKLO@reddit (OP)
Ooo yes! Our first purchase is going to be a pizza oven! I’ve wanted one for years
srm79@reddit
They'll be absolutely landed with that! Top neighbour award goes to the pizza house! 🤣
Guilty-Movie-3727@reddit
Taking edibles to introduce yourself to your neighbours is a bold move. Very Cali boho, I like it.
MissKLO@reddit (OP)
Tbf, we are very cali boho people 😂
Guilty-Movie-3727@reddit
Well, I am sure your neighbours will love you!
Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit
At least everyone will be chilled to fk.
underwater-sunlight@reddit
Give the neighbours an advance warning, asking them to please let you know if it is too loud at any point ir if they have any particular days or times where less noise would be beneficial.
Most people are reasonable, even if it occasionally ends up being unreasonable noise at an unreasonable time and its likely that your neighbours have, and will need to make a bit of noise themselves.
We moved our kitchen to incorporate an annexe for the in-laws. After the first fix electrics and plumbing was done, the plasterer had a day to skim the walls and we had 2 days to tile and grout the kitchen floor. I had to use a grinder sporadically up until around 10pm. Made sure it was as quiet as possible and as far away from people as possible and offered my apologies in advance. They appreciated it was unavoidable (had to do it after work) I imagine it would have been different if we just cracked on without talking to them
HauntingTheVoid@reddit
My new neighbours just completed their renovations, I can tell you everything they did that made me hate them.
1. Started on Christmas Eve (easy to avoid for you)
Told us it was only one day emergency works (they finished at the beginning of April)
Told us they were levelling the floors, proceeded to level floors, knock in walls, replace pipes etc
4. Worked 7 days a week until we filed a noise complaint
Did all their work with the power saw and angle grinder at 8am every day directly above our bedrooms, we asked them to do it later or in a different location they agreed and the next day were right back at it
When asked again if they could change location for the power tools as we'd had twenty new cracks open up over the weekend they agreed and carried on as before
Hammered a nail through the kitchen ceiling
Asked if they wanted me to contact the landlord over a leaking sewage pipe they agreed waited until it was done then replaced the pipe
Asked for permission to put a ladder up outside our window to access their window spent all day out there installing new pipework
Told us every month they were nearly done for three months
They've been ok since they moved in but I don't like them, don't trust them and it's going to take a long time before I do
Few_Regret9608@reddit
Next doors and across only in my opinion = direct knock on the door. Other neighbours later as you accidentality meet them (wave/nod initially and smile, approach only if eye contact last more than 2 seconds).
Hi my name is MissKLO my husband name is MisterKLO , we have just moved in to number 666. << Follow the small talk doctrine >> neighbourhood good, how is life, something to watch out for, I have a dog >> we will be decorating and doing small works but we will try to do it as quick as possible and wont be doing any loud work between 8pm and 7am (or whatever).
IntrepidMaybe8579@reddit
Just knock and introduce yourself freindly maybe hand out things with your number on it and say they can call you if they need anything or if ur being too loud (assuming your not on an estate in east london)
CrackingToast47@reddit
Send them invites to a housewarming party. Introduce yourselves and the dog, and apologise in advance for the noise
TomLondra@reddit
"laying flooring"-- oh dear.....if this is noisy flooring you will be a problem for the people below you.....
feesh_face@reddit
I’d be more worried about there being people living below a 3 bed semi…
Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit
Mole people are people too.
MissKLO@reddit (OP)
No no, I’m laying laminate in the new house, so there won’t be anyone below me
Original_Document748@reddit
They said theyve bought a house...in the post...so they won't have anyone below them
sakmentoloki@reddit
Just go say hi and explain that thr house wasn't in the best place and thus needs work. Apologies for the noise while you get it fixed up... If they don't like it they can eat a bag of ass
Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit
Pop round, introduce yourself, let them know that you're going to be doing a little work but it will be done by xxx and really hope not to disturb them. Let them know to pop over for a cuppa any time, offer to share your number with them if they need you for anything.
The offer of the cupper shows willingness to be friendly, but many may not take you up. But I genuinely do hang with my neighbours sometimes, we've done a group dinner before and wine sometimes.
CommunicationDry9294@reddit
Have a barbecue and invite the neighbors. It's a cool way to get them all together in relaxed setting.
undercovergloss@reddit
I would warn them the timing you are set to do work and if they have kids etc so timing can be adapted to ensure they can live comfortably in their home
Key is to keep them on side- be polite and accommodating. If you just done work and their first impression of you is to come round to tell you to pack the noise in- it’s not a good first impression. So meet and chat to them first
windy_on_the_hill@reddit
Have a start and end time each day. E.g. no loud work before 8:00am or after 8:00pm.
Speak to your neighbours and let them know, with apologies.
WDW1997@reddit
I moved into a new home in August last year, and I just made an effort to speak to the neighbours. I didn't specifically go round to their house, but when I spotted them out in the garden or something, I went out to introduce myself, said if they're ever needing anything to let me know etc. Spoke about our lives, my plans for the house and garden etc. They're all very lovely, and we've all become quite close neighbours, I speak to them all the time now, they get my daughter birthday/Christmas gifts.
So I'd say just start with a friendly conversation, and then another, and then another. Don't just introduce yourself and then rarely speak to them :)
MissKLO@reddit (OP)
I’m hoping to make friends… I’ve loved living at my flat with with all my neighbours, do you think I should pre warn them about the work being done?
WDW1997@reddit
I'd mention that you're getting work done, at least it shows that you're considering them. You can never expect people to not get work done, or not do things, but it's at least showing politeness to warn them, and obviously make sure it happens in sociable hours and I'm sure you'll be fine!
Ralphisinthehouse@reddit
Personally, I would pop round and say hi, we're your new neighbours, nice to meet you. We're moving in tomorrow, and we're gonna be doing some work that's gonna make a bit of noise for the first week or two. If you have kids, let us know what time they go to bed so we can work around that, but we can't avoid the work overall.
The trick is to be friendly, but don't open the door for them to start telling you when and when you can't do the work. You know, if you start asking a question about when it would be best for them, you start getting into a dialogue that they have control of, and then it gives them a reason to complain if you don't follow that.
So just keep it matter-of-fact. And remember, however nice you are about it, be ready for them just to be jerks about it. Some people are. Nothing you can do about that.
Queen-Ynci@reddit
Personally I woud mention it to warn them. Even if it isn't loud enough to cause them issues hopefully it sets the tone of you being a nice, considerate neighbour.
sy_core@reddit
Honesty tell your builders when they can do noisy works, 10-2 of whatever you can arrange with them. Trust me your neighbours will like you a billion times more if you can arrange something like this. Tell them to take off weekends, again, neighbours will be very grateful. Is it a terrace house, either way when they take that wall down it will sound like bombs going off.
Terraced housing, We had a neighbour 2 doors down putting in underfloor heating, it took them a month or breaking concrete. We can hear everything through our walls, bloody old terraces.
Solid_Bodybuilder_89@reddit
Apologise in advance. Ask them if they have any children and if so, what time they go to bed, so that you can ensure you wont be making noise after that time.
You could also ask them their work hours, so that you only make noise, whilst they are at work.
Zealousideal_Run_575@reddit
Play loud music to supress the construction (or destruction of the wall). They come to complain. You be your 20 year old self again. You get to know your neighbours. All 3 done in 1 solution.
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MissKLO@reddit (OP)
20 year old me is never too far from the surface 😂😂
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