Neighbourly nightmares: One in three Brits face next-door disputes

How to help out hoarders
  • New research from Rightmove reveals that over a third of Brits (36%) admit to having had an argument with their neighbour
  • Top annoyances are noisy neighbours (78%), parking spot poachers (71%) and curtain twitchers (70%)
  • Neighbour behaviours deemed the biggest red flags are asking for your Wi-Fi password (87%) and letting bins overflow (71%)

 

New research from Rightmove, the UK’s largest property platform, reveals that over a third of Brits have experienced a next-door drama, with 36% admitting to having had an argument with their neighbour.

The top annoyances include noisy nightmares (78%), parking spot poachers (71%) and curtain twitchers (70%).

Neighbour behaviours deemed the biggest red flags are asking for your Wi-Fi password (87%) and letting their bins overflow (71%).

Age and regional differences also paint a vivid picture of community dynamics. Young adults aged 18-34 are particularly sensitive to noisy (82%) and nosy neighbours (73%).

The older generation (55+) are most likely to have next-door disagreements (39%), and those living in the South East are the most hot-headed when it comes to next-door disputes (42%).

Avoiding neighbourhood disagreements is a top priority for six in ten Brits (60%) when it comes to moving home, especially for those living in the East Midlands (69%).

Prospective buyers are taking extra steps to dodge potential problems, including driving by the property at different times of the day to check for issues (59%), expanding their area search (58%), and checking local community groups online for any disputes (43%).

Colleen Babcock, property expert at Rightmove, adds, “Neighbourly disputes are an inevitable part of community life, but our research highlights just how significantly these everyday annoyances can influence people’s decisions when moving home.

“It’s fascinating to see the lengths Brits will go to avoid these issues, from driving by potential homes at various times of the day to scanning local community groups for any signs of potential problems.

“With the largest choice of homes on Rightmove, we believe everyone can find a home that ticks all their boxes and doesn’t raise any neighbourhood red flags.”

Rightmove

UK Property news updates shared directly from Rightmove PLC - the country's leading property portal.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

Why Your Charger is the Silent Hero of Remote Work Culture

Telecommuting has transformed the concept of productivity. Whether it is the replacement of conference rooms with video calls or the cloud-based apps managing group work, the digital transformation has had an impact on virtually all areas of our work-life. Yet, as we curl around and argue the need for a faster Wi-Fi connection, ergonomic office…
Read More
Breaking News

Latest HMRC UK property transactions report

Headline statistics Headline statistics from the latest transactions data include: the provisional seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK residential transactions in July 2025 is 95,580, 4% higher than July 2024 and 1% higher than June 2025 the provisional non-seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK residential transactions in July 2025 is 101,070,…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

New property taxes could be last nail in the coffin for housing investment

A new property tax could prove to be the final “nail in the coffin” for property as an investment, warns Rathbones, one of the UK’s leading wealth managers. According to reports, the Treasury is examining options for property taxes ahead of the Budget – including a levy on homes sold for more than £500,000, the…
Read More
Breaking News

Industry reacts as Landlords to be hit with N.I tax

The Government is considering a major change to the way landlords are taxed, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves weighing up plans to apply National Insurance (NI) contributions to rental income as part of her upcoming Autumn Budget. Currently, rental income is subject to income tax but not NI. However, by expanding NI to cover this additional…
Read More
Overseas Property

Brits Are Flocking to Australia in 2025 

The end of summer is always a busy time for international moves, and 2025 is no exception. So far this year, the number of people planning to move abroad has risen by 11% compared to the first half of 2024, according to Compare My Move.  What’s changed is where Brits are choosing to go. Australia…
Read More
Breaking News

UK reports rising property market momentum

eXp UK reports rising property market momentum as sellers return and more sales are agreed The latest internal data from eXp UK has revealed that housing market momentum is continuing to build, with more homes coming to market and a greater number of sales being agreed. eXp UK analysis is based on the firm’s own…
Read More