Neighbourhood concerns

We want our neighbourhoods to be safe, welcoming places where everyone feels comfortable in their home.

Living close to other people means that differences in lifestyles, routines and expectations can sometimes lead to disagreements or concerns. In many cases, these issues can be resolved quickly through a friendly and respectful conversation between neighbours.

Where you feel safe and comfortable to do so, we encourage you to speak with your neighbour first. Often, they may not be aware that their actions are affecting others.

Four residents are stood next to a garden shed smiling, displaying community

Three men are holding up DIY 'slow down' signs

What is Good Neighbourhood Management?

Examples of GNM issues include:

Untidy gardens or overgrown vegetation.
Rubbish, recycling or waste storage concerns.
Parking disputes.
Boundary or fence disagreements.
One-off noise incidents.
Everyday household noise, such as children playing, doors closing or household appliances being used.
Neighbour disagreements.
Occasional pet noise.
Estate or communal area maintenance concerns.

These issues can affect your enjoyment of your home, but they would not normally be considered anti-social behaviour. We will work with customers to find practical and proportionate solutions where appropriate.

What happens when you report a concern?

When a Neighbourhood concern is reported, we’ll assess the information provided to understand the nature of the issue and determine the most appropriate response.

Good Neighbourhood Management (GNM) matters are often concerns about how homes, gardens and shared spaces are used or maintained, rather than anti-social behaviour.

When you report a Good Neighbourhood Management concern, we will consider the type of concern. We will also consider:

How often is it happening?

Is it a one off incident, or i it occasional, weekly, several times per week, or daily?

Is it intentional?

Is it everyday living noise, accidental, lifestyle differences, deliberate targeting, malicious or retaliatory?

What's the impact?

Is it a minor inconvenience, annoyance, distress, sleep disturbance, fear or intimidation, or are you unable to enjoy your home?

What happens then?

We’ll look at the information you’ve provided and decide if any tenancy, estate management or property-related action is needed.

We may contact you to learn more about the issue, understand what steps you've already taken and discuss what outcome you're hoping for. If it's safe and appropriate, we may suggest speaking with your neighbour first, as many everyday issues can be resolved through a respectful conversation.

Depending on the situation, we may:

Offer advice or guidance.
Provide useful templates or agreements.
Speak with other customers involved.
Inspect shared areas.
Work with other teams.
Agree next steps with you.

We'll always respond in a way that is appropriate to the issue and focus on finding a practical solution.

Some reports may not need formal action from us, especially if they relate to normal household living, different lifestyles or a one-off incident. If this is the case, we'll explain why and offer advice where we can.

If your report suggests anti-social behaviour, a safeguarding concern, a crime or an immediate risk to someone's safety, we may deal with it differently and advise you to contact the Police or another appropriate organisation. If someone is in immediate danger or a crime is happening now, call 999.