Being a good neighbour

You've now been at uni for a few weeks. You may have made a number of friends and got to know your housemates. You may have opted to live in a shared student house for your first year or be returning as a second or final year student. 

This is a reminder that if you are out and about in the evenings, are having friends round or are just planning a night in, please consider your neighbours. For some, this may be the first time you have had your own neighbours, and it will benefit everyone if you can take some simple steps to establish a good relationship with them. The main cause of friction between students and their neighbours is a difference in lifestyle and tolerance for noise levels.

Tips

• When travelling back home late at night, please keep the noise down and do not stand outside in the street talking into the early hours of the morning – sound travels more easily at night and you may not realise the impact of the noise you are making as you travel through the city.
• If you are getting a taxi back home, do not slam the taxi or front doors, as noise such as this can be very disruptive to your neighbours in the middle of the night.
• If you are getting ready to go out or have friends round for the evening, keep music at a moderate level and position any noise-making equipment away from walls adjacent to your neighbour’s house.
• If you are planning a party, go round and speak to your neighbours beforehand and let them know what time you are planning to finish.
• Finally, if you are approached by your neighbours to keep the noise down, respond positively and make every effort to resolve the problem so everyone can enjoy being part of the community.

If you would like advice on how to build a good relationship with your neighbours or are having difficulties with your housemates and would like to speak to someone in the Student Neighbour Liaison Service, which is part of Student Housing, then please call 023 92843214 or email student-neighbourliaison@port.ac.uk.