One month after the housing market saw its highest number of first time buyers in seven years, one in three Brits reported they have had more issues with neighbours than normal this year.
When quizzed, 34% admitted that the neighbours they have the most disputes with are first time buyers.
The research, conducted by garden and conservatory furniture etailer www.alfresia.co.uk, found that 26% felt that this was down to their inexperience in dealing with neighbourhood politics, 18% said they believed it was because they were less clued up on laws surrounding property ownership and 21% felt they underestimated the value of good relationships between neighbours.
Britons around the country were also surveyed on what they felt first time buyers could be doing to ensure good relations from the outset.
Respondents rated making an effort to introduce themselves, registering in a local neighbourhood watch scheme and keeping their garden and property in good condition as the top three things new home owners can do to keep other homeowners in the area on side.
Not being too invasive or nosey and being patient about noise pollution from small children and pets followed in the top five.
Meanwhile, spilling over property boundaries, having construction work done and blocking driveways and/or parking spaces were rated the top three most annoying neighbour behaviours, while nuisance pets and having unsightly properties and/or gardens followed closely behind.
The study also revealed that two thirds of us ‘rarely’ speak to our immediate neighbours – and one in four only ever speak to them when there is a problem.
Craig Corbett, Product Director at Alfresia, said: “It’s a shame that so many people are having problems with neighbours, but navigating the political minefield of neighbourhood relations can be tough – especially if you’ve been living in flats for a number of years, where social rules tend to be more lax and there is very little, if any, neighbourly interaction.
“It would be great to see more people chatting amicably (rather than arguing!) over the garden fence. Hopefully this research will act as a bit of a guide as to the things first time buyers –and indeed other homeowners– can be doing to ensure there is good feeling in their new neighbourhoods from the very outset.”
Alfresia sells a wide range of garden and conservatory furniture to enable families to enjoy their gardens via its website .