Neighbours

Whether you are in your home or the surrounding area, you should ensure that you and your visitors do not disturb your neighbours. If you do not respect the rights of your neighbours you maybe evicted from your home.

Here are some things you can do to help get on well with your neighbours:

Keep the noise down
Keep noise to a minimum particuarly late at night and early in the morning. This includes music, construction, airconditioners and vacuum cleaners. EPA Victoria provides a list of the different types of noises and the times that they are prohibited.

Look after your children and visitors
Your kids have a right to play, but make sure they don’t trespass onto other people's property, or make too much noise.

Respect other people's privacy
It’s great to have a friendly chat with your neighbours, but remember, most people like their privacy.

Keep your place looking nice
If you live on an estate or in a block of units, we’ll look after shared areas, like stairways or lawns. You can help to keep things clean and tidy by putting your rubbish in the bin.

Having a problem with a neighbour

If you are having a problem with a neighbour, the best thing to do is just talk with them. Maybe there’s a compromise that will make you both happy.

If talking doesn’t work, you can contact your local council or the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria.

If the problem you’re having is serious, such as being harassed, you should call the police straight away.

It’s a good idea to keep a record of anti-social behaviour.  Write down what happened, and the time that it happened.  This could later be used as evidence, if we need to take legal action against a neighbour who is causing problems for other people.

Neighbours who are public housing tenants

If the neighbour you’re having trouble with is a public housing tenant, contact your local housing office to talk about the problem. We have a legal responsibility to make sure you have peace and quiet at home.

Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria

The Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria helps people sort out their problems.

The two sides meet together with two independent mediators. They discuss the issues, think about solutions and decide on an outcome that everyone agrees with.

It’s a free service, dealing with a wide range of issues including problems with fences, trees, animals, noise, children and other neighbourhood disputes. It’s very successful in helping neighbours sort out their problems.

You can contact the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria on 9603 8370 or 1800 658 528 (free call).