Bad Neighbors – What To Do To Repair Relations With Them
It doesn’t matter whether you live in a charming and peaceful neighborhood or in a hectic part of town; there’s always a risk that you won’t get along with your neighbor very well. Nuisances such as loud music, the neighbor’s dogs relieving themselves in front of your house, or the neighbor’s car parked in your space might seem unimportant and trivial; however, on a daily basis they’re real atrocities. Everyone has the right to have a peaceful living environment and if it’s violated by the people living next door, you have to speak up and confront the problem. Here are some tips that should help you to settle disputes with your neighbors.
Communicate With Your Neighbors
You can’t avoid neighbor disputes if you don’t communicate with them. Maintaining a good relationship with your neighbor doesn’t mean that you have to
spend all your free time with them, but it’s the best way to prevent conflicts. First of all, you have to know your neighbors so that you can trust and understand them. Conflicts tend to arise much more between strangers and just an occasional chit-chat with your neighbor will significantly decrease the probability of a dispute. This might not be possible in all cases, but even if you don’t talk to your neighbor at all and you’re unable to get along with her or him, you have to bring up the issue. It’s possible that your neighbor isn’t aware of bothering you, so try to approach him in a calm and constructive way rather than being accusatory. Bringing in a possible solution favorable to both sides is a good way to deal with neighbor problems. Don’t forget to show willingness to compromise. Furthermore, if you’re planning an activity that might be disturbing to your neighbors, let them always know in advance.
Are You The Only One Who Has Problems?
If discussing the issue with your neighbor doesn’t solve anything, try to find out if anybody else has the same problem with her. It’s possible that you’re not the only one whose life is affected by the nuisance. More people approaching the troublemaker with the same concern might have more influence on her. If you’re part of a condo or community association, try to discuss your issues with them and resolve the dispute more easily and cheaply.
Mediation
If you and your neighbor aren’t able to resolve the dispute, you might want to get help from a mediation service. An impartial professional trained in dealing with issues such as yours can help you and your ne
ighbor understand each other’s opinions and find a solution. A mediator usually speaks to everyone involved and arranges a meeting between you and your neighbor. The meetings usually don’t last longer than a day and 80 per cent of mediations are settled before going to court with another 5 per cent resolved shortly afterward. The mediator communicates with both parties and sets ground rules for the discussion, makes sure that the views of both sides are heard, and suggests a way to move forward. If both parties are able to agree, they sign a mediation contract, which is not legally binding but which people tend to follow since it’s an arrangement they’ve worked out and signed.
Court
Taking your dispute to court is the last resort after you’ve tried all other means of solving the problem. Be prepared to provide evidence of damages and that you might not speak to your neighbor again. The cost of your lawsuit depends on your province and the size of your claim. If it’s between $5,000 and $25,000, your case will be heard in a small claims court, which means that you must represent yourself without a lawyer. If your claim is higher than $25,000, your case will be heard in Superior Court and you’ll have a lawyer available. It means that if you lose, you’ll have to pay your neighbor’s legal expenses as well as your own, plus the damages you’re required to pay.
