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During the holiday season, disputes between neighbours can easily arise. Whether it’s a vehicle obstructing your driveway, loud music vibrating through shared walls, or an illuminated inflatable Santa disrupting your sleep at night, these issues are common. Sometimes, people may not even be aware that their festive decorations or celebrations are causing discomfort to those around them. Such seasonal frictions are frequent, but there are sensible and lawful means to address them.
One common concern involves Christmas lights. While there is no legal requirement dictating when these lights should be switched off, excessive artificial lighting can qualify as a statutory nuisance if it interferes with residents’ enjoyment of their homes or threatens their health. Denise Nurse, a lawyer, suggests that giving neighbours a heads-up or using timers to turn off lights during late hours can prevent conflicts. Bright, flashing, or blue-toned lights tend to be particularly disruptive, as highlighted by sleep expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, who points out that these types of light affect melatonin production and disturb natural sleep patterns. If conversations don’t lead to a resolution, local councils have a duty to investigate complaints and may issue abatement notices that carry fines if ignored.
Noise is another frequent source of tension during festive times. Even if parties or celebrations are infrequent, informing neighbours in advance about potential noise disturbances is advisable. Jon, a resident of east London, shares that he always notifies his neighbours before hosting gatherings, adding that they usually lower the volume by around 11 or midnight, and sometimes invite neighbours to join in. If noise continues to be a problem despite polite requests to reduce it, people can report excessive noise to their local council under the Environmental Protection Act. Parking can also cause neighbourly issues during the holidays. Doug from Windsor recounts frustration at neighbours and their visitors frequently blocking his driveway or path. Although public roads remain open, Nurse clarifies that parking on someone else’s driveway constitutes trespassing. Posting signs and involving the local council might be necessary to resolve persistent problems.
Discarding Christmas trees improperly is another problem highlighted by Nurse. Throwing a tree into a public area or over a fence is considered fly-tipping, an illegal act that may lead to fines. While not every council offers a Christmas tree recycling scheme, most do provide options via drop-off points or collections. Resources such as the Recycle Now website can help residents locate local schemes based on their postcode. Additionally, some charities arrange tree collections for donations, and garden centres often mulch old trees. Apart from trees, festive periods typically increase household waste by about a third, which sometimes results in overflowing bins. Nurse advises neighbours to communicate openly to manage such waste issues effectively.
If addressing these problems through discussion doesn’t work or if issues persist beyond the holiday period, further assistance is available. Denise Nurse recommends reaching out to Citizens Advice for support. Mediation services exist within each nation to help neighbours resolve conflicts amicably, and local councils can assist in locating mediators, even for those who are not tenants of council housing. Citizens Advice also stresses the importance of documenting incidents thoroughly, including details of what occurred, duration, and impact. When reporting problems, mentioning the efforts made to resolve them, and asking about expected responses and procedures for escalation, can be beneficial steps toward restoring neighbourly harmony
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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