- 1 in 10 (10%) UK homeowners or renters have disagreements with their neighbours at least once a month
- Noisy children, late night parties, loud music and overgrown plants top the list for the most common summertime tensions
- 1 in 6 (17%) homeowners or renters claim their neighbour has caused damage to their property, averaging £247 worth of damages
- More than 1 in 5 (21%) would consider going to the police or local council if tensions got too extreme
- Matthew Harwood, home insurance expert at Confused.com, offers tips to help Brits navigate tricky situations and keep neighbourly relations positive
With warmer weather comes greater risk of a breakdown in neighbourly relations, new research finds.
That’s as 34% of disputes reported between neighbours occur during the summer months - higher than any other time of year.
That’s according to new research from Confused.com home insurance, which found that 1 in 10 (10%) UK homeowners or renters have disagreements with their neighbours at least once a month.
Summertime brings more opportunities for people to spend time outdoors, visit friends and family, or spruce up their garden. However, it also brings an increased risk of disagreements between neighbours as people make the most of the good weather.
But what is causing the most heat between neighbours during the summer months? Noisy children, late night parties, loud music and overgrown gardens are l among the top causes of disagreement between neighbours during this period.
That's as most people who've reported these disputes say they happened mostly between June and August.
| Dispute topic | % of disagreements during summer months |
|---|---|
|
Noise from children
|
72%
|
|
Late night parties / socialising
|
64%
|
|
Loud music
|
57%
|
|
Overgrown plants / trees
|
57%
|
|
Garden renovations
|
57%
|
|
Drug use
|
55%
|
|
General untidiness
|
55%
|
While frustrations are common between neighbours, in some cases, the disputes are far more extreme. That’s as 1 in 6 (17%) claim their neighbour has caused damage to their property or garden in the past. And the reported damage averages at £247.
Although, just over half (55%) asked their neighbour to contribute to the cost to fix the damages, of which almost 2 in 5 (39%) agreed to cover the full amount. However, to make tensions worse, just under half (45%) agreed to only pay some of the costs, while 1 in 6 (16%) refused to pay at all.
When it comes to disputes, most neighbours take a diplomatic approach to resolve matters, with 3 in 5 (61%) speaking directly with their neighbour. Just under 1 in 5 (19%), however, will opt for a non-confrontational approach, by putting a note through the door. Some may also take a more extreme approach, with 18% calling the local council to report their neighbour, and 14% calling the police.
And it seems many people are weary of their relationship with their neighbours. While 7 in 10 (71%) say they have a good relationship with their neighbours, around 1 in 4 (24%) consider it to be average. And just under 1 in 5 (19%) generally keep their distance from their neighbours.
Given so many people have had bad experiences with their neighbours in the past, people are generally considerate of their actions. Almost 2 in 5 (38%) say they are conscious about how their actions affect their neighbours. Many will also give them a heads up of anything that might cause upsets. That’s as almost a third (30%) will always make their neighbours aware of social gatherings and 29% will give a heads up of any outdoor DIY or renovations.
And many are also happy to lend a helping hand to their neighbours when it’s needed. That’s as more than 3 in 5 (62%) will help each other by taking in parcels or post, 2 in 5 (40%) will collect their bins. Just over a quarter (28%) would even borrow or lend items from neighbours too, or give or receive lifts (26%).
While many people are happy to help their neighbours, disputes can cause an uncomfortable rift. And living so close together and seeing each other regularly can become an awkward exchange if things turn sour. Matthew Harwood, home insurance expert at Confused.com offers tips on how to approach disputes with neighbours.
“With neighbours living in such close proximity, it’s hard to avoid a bit of tension or dispute here and there. But approaching it in the right way is key to ensuring you’re not damaging relationships even further, and keeping your neighbourhood a nice place to live.
“If an issue arises, try approaching your neighbour directly to talk it out. Doing this over the fence or on your doorstep means you remain in your own space, with distance between you — and you can walk away if things escalate. But a friendly word should stop it getting too far.
"If you're experiencing persistent anti-social behaviour, such as loud music or parties until the early hours, then reporting to the local council or police will ensure their behaviour is being monitored and potentially acted upon — but always use this as a last resort if your own efforts aren't getting anywhere.
“And if your neighbours' actions cause any damage to your property, then they may be liable for any costs to fix or replace things. Again, a friendly word to explain the issue and ask for support in rectifying things could be more beneficial than a more aggressive approach, such as posting on social media or calling the police.
“If the cost of the damage is substantial, they might be able to claim on their home insurance, but you would need to provide evidence that they are at fault. Equally, you can claim on your own insurance for any damages, and explain that your neighbour is at fault. Your insurer might then be able to help you recover the costs from them depending on the cause of the issue. We’ve outlined everything you need to know about claiming for neighbour damage, and where insurance can help you recover costs.”
-ENDS-
Unless otherwise stated, research carried out by One Poll on behalf of Confused.com of 2,000 UK homeowners and renters between 6 and 8 July 2026.
Media information
Confused.com press office
About Confused.com
Launched in 2002, Confused.com was the UK’s first digital marketplace for car insurance and is one of the leading brands in the sector, generating over one million quotes per month. It has expanded its range of comparison products over the years to include home insurance, van insurance, motorcycle insurance, and car finance comparison, as well as a number of tools designed to save consumers money.
Confused.com is not an insurance company or lender. It provides an objective and unbiased service. By using cutting-edge technology, it has developed a series of intelligent web-based solutions that evaluate a number of risk factors to help customers with their decision-making, subsequently finding them great deals on a wide-range of insurance products, financial services, utilities and more. Confused.com’s service is based on the most up-to-date information provided by UK suppliers and industry regulators. Confused.com is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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