Bad neighbors come in all shapes and sizes and cause trouble in a myriad of ways.
When dealing with bad neighbors, you mustn’t allow them to bully you or disrupt your peace.
The nuisance of a neighbor can come in the form of disorganization, dirty habits, loud parties, incessant fights, illegal activities, etc.
Do you also know that living with a careless and dirty neighbor is toxic? How do you handle this kind of issue? Read on to know…
1. Set boundaries
Whether they have expressed their nastiness from the onset or not, set boundaries. Don’t get too familiar and playful with them. Let them know what you can’t tolerate when you begin to see that they are going beyond their boundaries.
Don’t be gentle or let things slide. When you are lenient, they would likely take you for granted and this will amplify their nasty behavior.
2. Talk to the non-offending neighbors
If they share the same concerns, it gives you justifications for your issues- and also supports you when you decide to confront troublesome people or go to your landlord. Your neighbors might also have suggestions for solving the problem or approaching the troublesome tenant.
3. Be a good example
If you are going to tell a neighbor to stop an act, make sure you are not doing the same. For instance, if you want to tell the dirty neighbor above not to leave the toilet unflushed, ensure you are also not leaving the toilet dirty.
Bad neighbors tend to hold onto the mistakes of others to justify their actions. Don’t give them any chance.
4. Try to talk things out first
Let’s assume that they are oblivious of their actions. Probably, they didn’t realize that what they are doing is wrong, you can take a step to iron out things, highlight the wrong things and proffer practical suggestions on what they could do to get better and be less of a nuisance.
5. Call them to order
If talking out doesn’t work, then stop playing nice and call them to order. Be prepared to have a big altercation with them but if that’s the only way you can find a solution, then, be expressive as much as you can.
6. Report to the agent in charge or the landlord
Living with a neighbor that appears to be a nuisance, you have to stop playing nice at some point, and calling the landlord or agent may be your next option. The landlord may not want to hear your worries out and your hands may be tied.
But if issues are extreme enough, the landlord ought to step in. In defense of your actions, saying you tried to talk to your neighbor before pestering the owner shows you are not just overreacting.
