What makes a good neighbour?

We can choose our friends, but usually we cannot choose our neighbours. However, in the interest of a happy home life, we have to get along with them as well as possible. How easy this is depending on the attitude of both parties.

One of the most important qualities in a neighbour is consideration for others. People should not do things which will disturb their neighbours unnecessarily. For example, television sets need not be used at full volume and loud pop music should not be played very late at night. Similarly, people should make sure that their pets do not dig up plants in their neighbours’ gardens or foul their lawns. By avoiding things that are likely to upset your neighbours, you can earn yourself a friendly relationship with them.

Another quality that makes for good neighbourliness is tolerance. Although neighbours should do all they can to avoid disturbing others, there are times when some level of disturbance is unavoidable. Tolerance has to be shown at such times if neighbours are to get along with each other.

People’s teenage children do occasionally have noisy parties and, provided the neighbours have been forewarned, the level of noise is not excessive and the party does not go on too late, neighbours should not complain and certainly should not fall out over it. Similarly, some tolerance is required if a neighbour has a child who screams all night, a circumstance that the neighbour appears not to be able to prevent or control. Also, tolerance is badly needed if a neighbour decides to start learning a musical instrument. While the playing may soon improve, the initial practice could be extremely annoying.

Neighbours, then, should be both considerate and tolerant. It should be a case of live and let live.

Neighbours should also be helpful to each other. If a person is elderly, housebound, ill or just in need of someone to share a problem, their neighbours should be there for them. It is all very well to have supportive friends, but friends might live miles away. Neighbours are on the spot. They can help with shopping, do some babysitting, fetch medicine from the chemist’s and so on.

There is one other important quality good neighbours show, and that is respect for each other’s privacy. No one likes intrusive or inquisitive neighbours. Neighbours who give each other space get on better. Everyone can then live together in peace.