6 Annoying Habits Your Neighbors Want You to Stop Doing, According to Redditors

Unless you’re one of the lucky ones, you’ve probably had an experience or two with some bad neighbors—or, at the very least, some neighbors who have annoyed you. You may have even been the annoying neighbor yourself without realizing it. That’s because what constitutes a “good neighbor” is subjective, and people’s expectations of their neighbors can depend on the overall culture of the neighborhood, whether you live in a standalone home or a multi-family home, whether you’re part of an HOA, etc. However, there are some common themes that come up when people complain about their neighbors that you can use as a good basis for what not to do as a neighbor.

We scoured Reddit to gather some common complaints about neighbors and compiled a list of the ones that came up most often. So, if you want to stay in good graces with your neighbors, here are the mistakes you should avoid.

Trespassing

This may seem like an obvious no-no, but you might be surprised at how often people experience this. Maybe you cut through your neighbor’s yard as a shortcut or you walk onto their property to get a better view of something—even if it seems innocent to you, you should never invade your neighbors’ space unless you have explicit permission or an invitation to do so.

Maybe you even think you’re doing your neighbor a favor, like by bringing their newspaper to their door or by mowing their lawn after you’ve mowed your own. However, your neighbor may perceive things very differently, so it’s always important to ask consent before you do anything on your neighbor’s property.

Letting Your Dogs Bark Non-Stop

Another extremely common neighbor complaint is annoying dogs. While your dog may be the love of your life, its incessant barking could be the reason your neighbors can’t sleep and maybe even the reason they always seem to be in a bad mood when you see them. Many dog owners will understand that it’s not always easy to get your dog to quiet down, but that grace will quickly wear off if you don’t put in any effort to train your dog and minimize the barking.

Many Redditors also complained generally about their neighbors neglecting their pets. Aside from leaving a dog to bark, people also complain about neighbors who let their pets run free, sometimes making a mess in others’ yards. So, if you want your neighbor to like you (and your pet), try to be a more present and mindful pet parent.

Creating Excessive Noise

Unsurprisingly, noise is also a common complaint. You don’t need to be quiet as a mouse in your own home, but try to be mindful of how much noise you’re making—and when. Some Redditors specifically complained about neighbors doing loud chores at really odd hours, like an apartment dweller who complained about a neighbor constantly vacuuming in the wee hours of the night, and a homeowner dealing with a neighbor across the street who loved to mow their lawn at night. So, just try to avoid creating excessive noise during the times that most people are sleeping.

And, if you’re going to throw a loud party that goes late into the evening, maybe give your neighbors a heads up first.

Pointing Blaring Lights or Intrusive Cameras Their Way

What you may call a safety measure, your neighbors may call an invasion of privacy or a supreme annoyance. Some Redditors complained about neighbors who have bright lights outside that cause disruption in their home. While you may need certain outdoor lights for visibility and safety, try to keep the lumens to a respectful, not obnoxious, level.

On a similar note, you may have cameras up around your property to provide you some peace of mind and a feeling of security. However, if those cameras are pointing directly into your neighbors’ homes, they may be feeling a bit surveilled. So, it’s a good idea to talk to your neighbors and make sure they’re aware of and comfortable with any cameras you have outside your home. Just as you have a right to provide security around your home, they also have a right to privacy inside theirs.

Leaving Eyesores in Front of Your Home

The way a neighborhood looks is often one of the factors people consider when picking a home, so it’s common for people to get upset when they feel like their neighbors’ curb appeal is not so appealing. While your front yard is, yes, yours, it’s also your neighbor’s view from their home. Many Redditors wrote that they didn’t appreciate neighbors letting trash pile up outside their home, leaving junk or unsightly projects in the driveway for long periods of time, leaving lots of miscellaneous objects scattered in their yard, or allowing grass, bushes, or hedges to get excessively overgrown. It’s also against the law in some places to let your grass grow too long, so keeping on top of lawn maintenance not only keeps you from annoying your neighbors, but it can also help you avoid a fine.

General Entitlement and Lack of Consideration

Overall, many Redditors complained about neighbors acting entitled and lacking consideration for others in the neighborhood. As far as entitlement goes, that could look like a neighbor who just moved in and doesn’t abide by the common rules of the neighborhood or even a neighbor who’s lived in an area for a long time and uses that seniority as a pass to tell everyone what to do. A lack of consideration could look like any of the annoying habits listed above, but also like many smaller, daily habits you may not even think about. If you want to make sure you stay on good terms with your neighbors, one of the best ways to do that is to talk to them and keep up a good, friendly cadence of communication while also respecting their boundaries and privacy.