Dealing with neighbours

If you have a problem with a neighbour then the best thing to do is:

• Tell your neighbour how you feel.  If you can't talk without shouting, write a note.
• Don't involve the rest of the street.  It will make the problem worse.
• Keep talking if you can.  If you let the argument dsevelop into a feud, it scould go on for years and ruin your lives (wars have been fought over such things).
• Try to reach a compromise  -be prepared to see their point of view
• Avoid going to court.  Consider mediation to work things through together.  Your council may have a scheme that will cover the cost.

    Be ready to make the first compromise.  It's much more important to live in peace and harmony than to always park your car in the vest spot on the road!

Our Neighbours? We don't even know their names

• URBAN MALAYSIANS are becoming an unneighbourly nation with many of us no longer knowing anything about those living next door.
• A quarter of the population do not know the names of their neighbours, while more than three quarters do not know what they do for a living.
• And 3.5million people have never even seen the person who lives next door.  The results will add to fears that communicaty life has broken down, with many people isolated from those that lie closest by.
• More than 20 percent have had an argument with a neighbour in the past five years, while 3 percent felt threatened by them.
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• 'People move homes more frequently than they used to so we've less time to get to know the people who live nearby. 
• The growth of social media has left us more likely to stay at home and less inclined to go out and socialise. 
• Knowing your neighbours can improve security and quality of life.'
• Despite the bleak figures, almost a fifth would like to have a better relationship with the people who live next door.