Housing services:

Neighbour Harassment

Nuisance and harassment is behaviour that prevents you, or your neighbours, from living peacefully in your home.

Nuisance is behaviour that annoys one or more households.

Harassment is unacceptable behaviour that is directed at a particular person or household.  It can be violence, or threats of violence, that may be verbal or physical.  It includes attacks on people and property, and can include:

• Damage to property
• Physical assault
• Abusive graffiti
• Unwanted or unwelcome sexual comments, and
• Abusive language directed at someone because of his or her race, religion or sex, or for any other reason.

Remember, you will not only be breaking your tenancy agreement but you could also be breaking the law if you cause a nuisance or harass someone.  If that is the case, you may be prosecuted by the police.

You must make sure that you do not cause damage or become a nuisance to your neighbours (e.g. excessive noise levels)

In particular this means;

• NO DRUGS
• NO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
• NO VIOLENCE OR THREATS OF VIOLENCE
• NO LATE NIGHT PARTIES, LOUD MUSIC ETC.

If you are the subject of a complaint from your neighbours, the matter will be fully investigated, and if proven, immediate action will be taken to institute legal proceedings.  This could result in you and your family being evicted from your home.

What can I do to avoid disturbing my neighbours?

• Treat your neighbours as you would like to be treated
• If you know that there will be some noise in your home, for example, if you are having a party, let your neighbours know beforehand, or why not invite them to the party
• Do not carry out noisy work on your home or car late at night or early in the morning
• Do keep the volume of your television and music systems at a reasonable level at all times, and not so loud that people outside your home can hear them
• If you have a dog, you should keep it under control and not let it bark continuously
• If your house or car alarm goes off, deal with it as quickly as possible
• Do not sound car horns or rev your car engine, especially late at night
• Co-operate with your neighbours over parking arrangements or if they ask you to reduce the noise
• Keep your garden tidy and free from rubbish
  • Ask children and visitors to try not to disturb the neighbours

Please Remember 

• You are responsible for the behaviour of your children, anyone else who lives in your home and any visitors.
• Noise and vibrations travel easily through walls, floors, and doors, especially in flats.
• In the first year of your tenancy, we will visit you on occasion to check that you are being a good neighbour and help you if you have any difficulties. But don’t wait for the visits if you have any problems.

What can I do if I experience neighbour problems?

It is always best to try to sort out disputes between yourselves.  Ask whoever is causing the problem to stop.  They might not be aware that they are causing a problem.  Allow time for the situation to improve.

If you cannot solve the problem, you can explain what has happened to us and we will try to help.  However, you must realise that if we are to act effectively we will usually have to involve you and that it may not be possible for your complaint to be kept anonymous.

You should contact the police if you think anything criminal has happened.

My neighbour is harassing me, what should I do?

We will not tolerate any form of harassment.  We take all cases of nuisance and harassment seriously and will thoroughly investigate all reports.  Action will be taken against any tenants found to be responsible for harassment and this could result in them losing their tenancies.  All cases will be dealt with swiftly and sensitively.  

Isle of Man Crime Stoppers  - Call anonymously with information about crime:
Telephone: 0800 555 111

Police Headquarters: 
Telephone: (01624) 631212

Housing Manager, Onchan District Commissioners:
Telephone: (01624) 675564

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