Buzz
Is your neighbor causing you trouble? Here are some strategies to subtly address the situation
Whether you own your home or are renting, maintaining a good relationship with your neighbor is ideal. However, if you find yourself living next to someone who is rude, inconsiderate, or overly nosy, there are ways to address their behavior without escalating the conflict. While we don’t advocate for petty actions, if you’re looking to give them a harmless reminder of their own behavior, read on. We’ve put together a list of subtle yet effective ways to let your neighbor know they should be more mindful of their actions.
Key Points to Consider
- Annoy your neighbor by maintaining your lawn at odd hours or installing noisy decorations like windchimes.
- Play harmless pranks, such as sending them unwanted mail or ordering surprise pizzas to their address.
- For apartment dwellers, try cooking strong-smelling dishes, like garlic-heavy meals, or slightly increasing the volume of your TV.
Methods
Creating Noise
Mow your lawn frequently and at odd hours. Mowing your lawn is a homeowner’s privilege. If you choose to mow at sunrise, even on weekends, no one can stop you—certainly not your neighbor. If they complain about the noise or suggest a more convenient time, simply explain that your schedule doesn’t allow for mowing during typical hours.
- This tactic works well because your neighbor can’t accuse you of being intentionally disruptive—it’s just part of maintaining your property.
Install multiple windchimes. While windchimes produce pleasant sounds, having several can quickly become irritating. After setting up 2 or 3 windchimes, let the wind do the rest. The constant chiming is sure to catch your neighbor’s attention.
- Be aware that some neighborhoods have restrictions on windchimes—check local regulations before installing them.
- While you might aim to annoy one neighbor, excessive noise could upset everyone nearby.
Host a lively garden party. Garden parties are enjoyable for everyone—except perhaps your neighbor. Choose a beautiful evening and invite a large group of friends for an outdoor gathering. Set up a bar, games like croquet, and plenty of seating for guests to socialize. The noise will likely bother your neighbor, but you’ll be too busy enjoying yourself to worry about petty revenge.
- Keep the noise level reasonable to avoid complaints or police involvement.
- If you want to take the high road, consider inviting your neighbor to the party. They might appreciate the gesture and treat you better in the future.
Sing loudly in your yard. Do you fancy yourself the next Aretha Franklin or Elvis? Even if you’re not a great singer, your yard is the perfect place to test your vocal skills. Belt out your favorite tunes and let your voice carry.
- For added effect, sing while doing noisy yardwork or setting up your lawnmower early in the morning.
Play music at high volume. Music has the power to bring people together, but it can also be an excellent tool for irritating your neighbors. Whether you play it on your porch, through your car speakers, or out an open window, turning up the volume or choosing repetitive, catchy pop songs can quickly get under your neighbor’s skin.
- If your neighbor requests you to lower the volume, you can ignore them, but be cautious—excessive noise might lead to a police complaint.
Allow your dog to bark freely. If your dog enjoys vocalizing, let them out late at night or early in the morning to express themselves. Since dogs aren’t subject to the same rules as humans, your neighbor is less likely to file a formal complaint, though they’ll undoubtedly be annoyed.
- If your neighbor complains, simply respond with, “Dogs bark—it’s natural!”
Install a basketball hoop and play frequently. A basketball hoop in your driveway is a fantastic way to create noise while staying active. Play as often as possible, and consider inviting friends for a lively game to amplify the effect.
- If your neighbor asks you to quiet down, you can justify it by saying, “I’m just trying to stay healthy!”
- Inviting friends for a pickup game can add to the noise and fun.
Creating Hassles
Sign them up for excessive junk mail. Flooding your neighbor’s mailbox with junk mail is a harmless yet effective prank. Whether you do it online or through local stores, ensure they can’t trace it back to you. The more irrelevant the mail, the better—like pet supplies for a neighbor without pets or fishing gear for someone who doesn’t fish.
- Random and unexpected junk mail will maximize the annoyance without revealing your involvement.
Send pizzas to your neighbor's doorstep. Call a local pizzeria and order a few large pizzas to be delivered to your neighbor’s house. They’ll be confused and irritated when the pizzas arrive. You can even place the order while you’re away from home to avoid suspicion.
- Ensure the pizza place can’t trace the order back to you or call you to confirm the delivery.
Direct solicitors to your neighbor. When solicitors come to your door, tell them your neighbor is a huge supporter of their cause and would love to contribute. Encourage them to visit your neighbor instead of wasting time with you.
- For example, say, “Jimmy next door is passionate about your cause and always talks about how much he wants to donate.”
- Be aware, though, the solicitor might mention you sent them over.
Relax in your yard in a swimsuit. If your neighbor is easily embarrassed, wear your bathing suit in your yard, even if you’re not swimming. You’re free to dress as you please on your property. Lounge on your porch, do yard work, or play basketball in your driveway while dressed casually. Your neighbor will likely feel awkward asking you to cover up, and you might even get a tan.
- If your neighbor has guests, step out front to greet them and strike up a conversation without any hint of modesty.
Irritating Your Apartment Neighbor
Steal your neighbor’s parking spot. In an apartment building with assigned parking, taking your neighbor’s spot is a surefire way to annoy them. This is especially effective if parking is limited, forcing them to park far away. While they’ll know it’s you, acting oblivious can add to their frustration. This works best if your spot has also been taken.
- If your spots are adjacent, park slightly over the line to occupy both spaces.
- Be cautious, as your neighbor might report you to the building manager or have your car towed.
- Reader Poll: We asked 129 Mytour readers if they liked to befriend their neighbors, and 74% of them said no. [Take Poll]
Practice racquetball or tennis against the shared wall. If your neighbor is constantly bothering you, unleash your inner Rafael Nadal. Grab your tennis or racquetball racket and start hitting balls against the wall you share with them.
- Time this activity for when your neighbor is definitely home, and keep it up consistently.
- If they complain to the apartment manager, stop immediately—too many complaints could lead to eviction.
Prepare strong-smelling dishes. If your neighbor is close enough to smell your cooking, whip up some intensely aromatic meals. Dishes like garlic-infused pasta or spicy curries will grab their attention, especially if you leave your windows open to let the scent waft over. Plus, you’ll enjoy a delicious meal!
- The downside is that you’ll also have to endure the strong smells. To minimize this, cook right before heading out for a few hours.
Leave your laundry in shared machines. One of the most frustrating things for apartment dwellers is finding shared washing machines occupied. Next time you do laundry, leave your clothes in the washer or dryer longer than necessary. Your neighbor will be annoyed when they find the machines unavailable after trekking to the laundry room.
- Be aware that they might move your clothes themselves, so only do this if you’re okay with that possibility.
Turn up your TV volume. Another timeless way to irritate your neighbor is by blasting your TV. Watch an old favorite movie and loudly quote the lines, or tune in late at night and laugh as loudly as possible.
- Keep in mind they might retaliate by turning up their own TV, so be ready for some noise in return.
Knock on their door at odd hours to borrow items. Try knocking early in the morning to ask for chocolate chip cookie dough or late at night to request bacon. Act as though you genuinely need these items, and don’t let on that you’re just messing with them.
- When they seem confused, respond with something like, “You don’t have any bacon? That’s surprising.”
-
If you’re planning to annoy your neighbor as payback for their behavior, remember that such actions might worsen your relationship. They could retaliate, leading to an escalating cycle of conflict.
-
Rather than resorting to pranks or irritation, try finding common ground with your neighbor. Building a better relationship could be more beneficial in the long run.
Warnings
- Annoying your neighbor might not only damage your relationship with them but also strain ties with other neighbors.
- While none of these actions are illegal, they may not be wise, particularly in an apartment setting where disruptive behavior could lead to eviction.
