Nearly two thirds of Swiss annoyed by their neighbours

64% of those surveyed in a recently published study, say they are bothered by their neighbours. Some are driven to take legal action while others pack up and leave.

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Noise was the most widespread complaint. 28% complained of this. Loud conversations, noisy children, banging, loud music and parties were the most frequent noise problems.

Other sources of conflict included hostility (16%), inconsiderate smoking – on balconies and in communal areas (14%), and communal laundry conflict (13%).

For 32%, annoyance led to conflict. 12% said they argued with their neighbours several times a year.

The chance of conflict declined with age. 36% of those 55 and under reported conflict, compared to only 28% among those over 55.

Ways of dealing with annoying neighbours varied. 27% did nothing, remaining quietly annoyed, 31% politely asked their neighbours to stop, 14% eventually complained to the landlord, 7% tapped on the wall, 6% resorted to earplugs or headphones, and 15% involved the courts.

A report in the newspaper GHI in Geneva, explains how some landlords now include no smoking clauses in rental agreements, essentially avoiding renting to smokers and having to deal with disputes between tenants.

One commenter on a news website has a novel way of dealing with shouty neighbours. He waits for noisy arguments to get personal. Then, the next time he runs into his neighbours, he asks whether they managed to resolve that specific issue.

In the end, for one in six involved in a neighbourly dispute, nothing they try works, and they eventually pack their bags.

The survey, conducted by innofact on behalf of comparis.ch, questioned 1,029 people across Switzerland in September 2017.

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