Taking Offence: 44 per cent of Brits report neighbours for garden noise disturbances

• 61 per cent of Brits have garden-related issues with neighbours with a quarter relating to boundary disputes
• Almost half (49 per cent) are annoyed by neighbours’ garden habits at least once a week
• Over half of neighbours have been successful in tackling their neighbours irritating behaviour

4^th April 2023 – Noise is the biggest issue Brits have with their neighbours’, with nearly half (44 per cent) complaining about the amount of noise they make in the garden, according to new research from Churchill Home Insurance¹. The top causes of noise complaints are pet-related (such as dogs barking), playing loud music and drilling.

When it comes to their neighbours’ garden habits, 61 per cent of Brits have problems with their behaviour. Those in London have the most issues; there are an estimated nine million people² living in London and 80 per cent of those admit to having garden gripes. Only 52 per cent of those in Wales are irritated by neighbourly behaviour – the lowest of any area. People in the West Midlands are the most likely to speak directly to their neighbours about their annoying habits (31 per cent), while people in Yorkshire and Humberside are the least likely (16 per cent). Londoners are the most likely to report disturbances to their local council (18 per cent).

Almost half (49 per cent) of those with garden gripes are annoyed at least once a week. To try to resolve these issues, more than one in four (26 per cent) approached their neighbour directly to talk about it, 11 per cent reported the disturbance to their local council, and six per cent were forced to call the police. Of those who decided to act, 52 per cent were successful in reducing the irritating behaviour, leaving 48 per cent with unresolved complaints. As a result of fallouts between neighbours, more than half (51 per cent) think local councils and the police should more strictly enforce rules and regulations around gardens.

Having noisy neighbours is a common issue across the UK. London received the most noise complaints in the UK, recording nearly 152,000 complaints last year and accounting for a third (34 per cent) of the total.

The research also shows that nearly a quarter (24 per cent) have had a boundary dispute with a neighbour. Despite this, only 54 boundary dispute cases have appeared before the Land Registration Division of the First Tier Tribunal in the past five years³, suggesting most neighbours tend to settle disagreements before going to a tribunal.

Other frustrations cited by those surveyed include leaving rubbish in their garden (11 per cent), lighting bonfires (9 per cent), and leaving food out that attracts rodents or pests (8 per cent). Neighbours participating in naturism or sunbathing with too few clothes on is also an issue for two per cent of people.

Table one: Biggest Garden Gripes with Neighbours

Complaint	Proportion
Making too much noise in the garden	44 per cent
Boundary disputes	24 per cent
Smoking in the garden	11 per cent
Leaving rubbish in their garden	11 per cent
Lighting bonfires	9 per cent

Source: Churchill Home Insurance

Sarah Khan, Head of Churchill Home Insurance, said: “Unfortunately, high numbers of us end up falling out with our neighbours because of their noisy habits, something that has become even more heightened given the increased numbers of us who now work from home.  We recommend that people try to speak to their neighbours first to find a solution to these problems, saving time, money, and relationships, but we know this is not always possible. If individuals are not able to come to an amicable resolution with their neighbour, our Churchill Home Insurance Policy offers added Family Legal Protection, which gives access to a 24-hour legal advice helpline and covers up to £100,000 of legal costs⁴.”

Separate Churchill research found there were nearly 450,000 noise complaints made to councils in the financial year 2021/22⁵. This equates to 1,229 every day, or one every 70 seconds.

Table two: Regions that have the most garden gripes with neighbours

Region	Proportion with garden gripes
London	80%
West Midlands	63%
South East	61%
North West	58%
East Midlands	58%
East of England	57%
North East	57%
South West	57%
Yorkshire and Humberside	56%
Northern Ireland	55%
Scotland	55%
Wales	52%

Source: Churchill Home Insurance

Tips for dealing with neighbourhood disputes⁶

• Try to solve the problem informally by having a reasonable conversation with your neighbour

• If your neighbour rents their property, try and speak to the landlord or managing agent
• If raising the issue informally doesn’t work, consider a mediation service (often supplied by your local council)
• If the complaint involves a statutory nuisance, like a build-up of rubbish, consider making an official complaint to the local council
• Only contact the police if the neighbour is breaking the law
• You can take legal action through the courts, but this should be considered a last resort