Neighbours

You have the time and abilities to help your neighbours; in return they can provide support to you. However, disputes with neighbours do happen. This page has advice on relationships with neighbours.

Older people have the time and skills to provide community leadership and problem solving, such as advocating with the council for community improvements.

Seniors are often at home when younger people are at work, so they can keep an eye on possible criminal activity in neighbourhoods. Consider joining or setting up a Neighbourhood Support Group (also known as Neighbourhood Watch).

Resolving disputes

Most neighbourly disputes can be resolved amicably but there are some cases where you may need help. Older people may feel victims of a power imbalance with younger or more numerous neighbours.

Your local Age Concern can provide advice and support and may advocate on your behalf.

Problems between neighbours typically revolve around noise, trees, animals, fencing and boundary disputes, trespass and nuisance, use of buildings, and intimidating or abusive people.

Your local council has by-laws covering many of these issues. Services include noise control officers, removing rubbish or forcing landowners to do rubbish removal, environmental health inspectors, animal control, and Resource Management Act enforcement. Contact your council's help-line.

Keep a record of your complaints – record the day, time and nature of the problem, who you contacted and their response. Any criminal behaviour (such as property damage, violence or threats of violence) needs to be reported to the Police.

You could take your dispute to a Disputes Tribunal. It costs very little and there are no lawyers involved. Contact the local District Court for details. Use court action as a last resort.

Housing New Zealand

If you need to make a complaint about someone living in a Housing New Zealand property:

• call Housing New Zealand on 0800 801 601

• contact your local Housing New Zealand neighbourhood unit

• write a letter, addressed to the Housing Services Manager.

Illustration

Mary Tilly [right] and Evelyn Hodge are thought to be Britain's longest continuous neighbours (2008). Mary Tilley, 94, moved into her home in Cambridge in 1935. She was joined a year later by 72-year-old Evelyn Hodge – then a newborn baby – who moved in with her parents. Photo: MASONS

Resources

> VISIT Consumer on neighbourhood disputes

> VISIT  Citizens Advice Bureau Or call 0800 FOR CAB (0800 367 222)

> VISIT Neighbourhood Support (Neighborhood Watch)

> VISIT Legal Services Agency - Law Access