Five garden rules to help avoid conflict with your neighbours this summer
As temperatures finally rise, much of the UK is spending more and time in their gardens… and coming into close contact with their neighbours.
Research reveals that as many as 18 million people (a third of the UK’s population) have had disputes with their neighbours. And half of them were left feeling stressed or depressed as a result.
So how can you about falling out with your neighbours? Terry Fisher at We Buy Any Home reveals five summer garden rules to help keep the peace.
1) Keep your garden tidy if your neighbour is selling
Approximately 1 million homes are set to go on sale in 2023, with summer being the busiest time for the housing market. When buyers purchase a property, they are not just buying into a property, but a lifestyle. Part of this lifestyle is the company that their new home keeps.
So if you see that your neighbour’s property is for sale, make a conscious effort to keep outdoor areas clean and tidy, especially if they are particularly overlooked.
2) Choose your mowing times thoughtfully
The beginning of the summer often ignites motivation to complete garden chores. Top of the chore list is often mowing the lawn. Mowing the lawn is a noisy task and is likely to disturb the neighbours. Ensure that you mow the lawn at a reasonable time. If its during the week and you know that your neighbours work from home, try and mow at lunchtime. At the weekends, avoid early mornings.
3) Think about where you place a trampoline
A trampoline in a garden with children has becomes the norm. When building a trampoline, be mindful that there is potential for your neighbours’ privacy to be invaded, as children can peer over fences when they reach a certain height. Attempt to place the trampoline away from neighbouring boundary lines where they are unlikely to see or hear it.
4) Be careful when jet washing
Jet washing the outside of your property ready for the summer months is a great way to spruce up the garden, however, do so with caution.
Jet washing is likely to cause dirt and stones to spray around the garden at a rapid rate, potentially causing damage to neighbouring properties by scratching surfaces or even chipping and breaking windows.
This can be costly as it’s likely to impact the value of their property. Be careful of the pressure you use when jet washing and how close you stand to the areas that you are cleaning. This will help to avoid causing any damage.
5) Check before painting fencing
Before you paint, or even stain a fence, you must be certain that you own the fence, even if its directly facing your garden. If you don’t own the fence, you must ask your neighbours permission. Painting a fence that isn’t yours may seem harmless, but it may cause major conflict, especially if the owner goes on to sell the property.
