You don’t need to be best friends with your neighbours, by any means, but it’d be helpful to stay on good terms with them.
Assuming you’re considerate and don’t blast music all hours of the night or leave rubbish all over the place, you should at least get along. However, if you get the feeling that the people living next door aren’t all that keen on you, here are some signs you’re probably right.
1. They avoid eye contact or small talk.
If your neighbours seem to duck away when they see you coming, it might be a sign they’re not keen on interaction. You might notice them suddenly becoming very interested in their phone or rushing to their car when you’re outside. Their deliberate avoidance could indicate they’re not comfortable around you.
2. They complain about noise… a lot.
Everyone makes noise sometimes, but if your neighbours are constantly complaining about your noise levels, it might be more than just sensitive hearing. Frequent noise complaints, especially for normal daily activities, could be a sign they’re looking for reasons to take issue with you. It’s worth considering if your noise levels are truly problematic or if there’s another underlying issue.
3. They never accept your invitations.
If you’ve tried to extend an olive branch by inviting them to gatherings or offering to share a meal, but they always decline, it could be a sign they’re not interested in friendship. While everyone has the right to politely refuse invitations, consistent rejection might indicate they’re actively avoiding a closer relationship.
4. They put up privacy fences or plants.
A sudden interest in tall fences or dense hedges along your shared property line could be a sign they’re trying to create more separation. While everyone has a right to privacy, if this change comes after you’ve moved in or had a disagreement, it might be a physical manifestation of their desire for distance.
5. They’re overly picky about property boundaries.
If your neighbours seem unusually concerned about every inch of the property line, it could indicate tension. It might come out as complaints about your plants slightly overhanging their side or insistence on precise measurements for shared fences. While property boundaries are important, excessive focus on them can signal an unfriendly attitude.
6. They report you to authorities for minor issues.
Friendly neighbours usually try to resolve minor issues directly. If yours are quick to call the council or police for small matters like your bin being out too long, it could mean they’re not interested in maintaining a cordial relationship. It’s clear that they’d rather avoid direct communication with you.
7. They’re friendly with other neighbours, but not you.
If you notice your neighbours chatting happily with other people on the street but becoming cold when you approach, it might be a sign you’re the odd one out. The stark difference in behaviour could indicate they have a specific issue with you rather than just being generally unfriendly.
8. They leave passive-aggressive notes.
Finding notes stuck to your door or car about perceived infractions is rarely a sign of neighbourly love. While sometimes notes are necessary for communication, frequent passive-aggressive messages suggest an unwillingness to speak directly and a buildup of resentment.
9. They time their comings and goings to avoid you.
If you notice your neighbours always seem to leave just before you or wait until you’re gone to come out, it could be deliberate. The careful timing might indicate they’re going out of their way to minimise contact with you.
10. They never offer neighbourly favours.
In many communities, neighbours help each other out with small favours like accepting parcels or lending a tool. If your neighbours never offer and always refuse when asked, it could mean they’re trying to keep interactions to a minimum.
11. They’re visibly annoyed by your pets or children.
While not everyone loves kids or animals, overtly negative reactions to yours could signal deeper issues. If your neighbours seem excessively irritated by normal child or pet behaviours, it might mean they have a problem with your family in general.
12. They don’t warn you about neighbourhood issues or events.
Source: Unsplash Good neighbours often share important information about local happenings, like road works or community events. If you’re consistently the last to know about these things, it could mean your neighbours are deliberately leaving you out of the loop, suggesting a lack of neighbourly goodwill.
