A good neighbour: what are they like? Part 1

When planning to buy a flat in a block, we are excited above all by the prospect of our own living space. The question of the neighbours we will be living next to fades into the background. Most of us assume that we and our neighbours will probably not get in each other's way. We also tend to see ourselves as good neighbours. But is that really so? Before you move into your newly bought property, find out what qualities a good neighbour should have.

Social ties are loosening these days. We are no longer as close to our neighbours as we were 20 or 30 years ago. People are becoming distrustful of one another and want to be self-sufficient at all costs. Is that the right direction? After all, a good neighbour who feeds your cat when you go away, or lends you a cup of sugar, is a real treasure. So perhaps it is worth opening up a little and getting to know our neighbours better? Moving into a new flat is a great opportunity to do so.

Courtesy is the foundation

Good relations with neighbours begin with courtesy. A simple “good morning” every day, holding the stairwell door open, helping an elderly lady carry her shopping upstairs – these are small gestures that cost us nothing, yet can set a pleasant mood for the whole day. It is therefore worth making courtesy towards your neighbours the foundation of your relationship with them. Then, when needed, it will be much easier to ask them for help and to receive it.

Respect quiet hours at night

Quiet hours apply from 22:00 to 6:00, and these are hours that we should observe without exception. It is also worth following the unwritten rules and not starting noisy renovation work at exactly 6:00, or waking the neighbours by playing music at full volume. That way you can be sure that everyone will quickly come to hate you.

Everyone has renovated their flat at some point, of course, but it is worth planning the work so that it disturbs our neighbours as little as possible. Putting up a notice about the renovation and how long it will last on the noticeboard is a nice gesture. It is also a good idea to take on the noisiest jobs in the middle of the day, when most people are at work.

Show understanding

If we want our neighbour to turn a blind eye now and then to louder conversations coming from our flat because we have decided to throw a birthday party, or to calmly allow us to carry out a renovation, then we ourselves must show understanding towards them. So do not call the police straight away when you hear louder music after 22:00. If it happens once in a while and is not too bothersome, perhaps it is worth letting the matter go. The situation is similar with a family with a small child. If a baby cries for half the night, it is not worth adding your own grievances about the noise on top of that. The parents are probably already doing all they can, and our intervention can only make the situation worse.

Let us treat our neighbours as human beings and show them understanding; then the chances grow that they will be understanding towards us too.

You can read more about the qualities of a good neighbour in the next article.