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Halifax: Majority of disputes ''concern noisy neighbours'' - 12/05/2006

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About two-thirds of neighbourly disputes concern noise complaints, reveals a survey by Halifax Estate Agents.

In addition, the survey said that men engaged in disputes over noise and parking more than women.

Colin Kemp, managing director of Halifax Estate Agency, said: "Clearly, excessive noise is something we are just not prepared to tolerate from our neighbours."

The findings could cause concern for both homebuyers and sellers.

Sellers are required to list disputes with neighbours on a property information form, which is seen by the buyer's solicitor and may also be shown to the buyer themselves.

There have been reports of such disputes affecting property prices, with some homes being sold for thousands under their asking price.

The Guardian describes one such case where a drawn out dispute over land between two houses allegedly led to one of the properties being sold for £30,000 less than the owners' asking price.

Mr Kemp says: "In order to make life more enjoyable for everybody, we would recommend having some consideration for our neighbours in the first place.

"If an issue should arise, try to talk about it calmly wherever possible. Otherwise, it could spiral into an unpleasant situation for everybody involved."

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