Bad neighbours are the bane of suburban life. Loud music that never ends, parties that spill into the street, screaming, uncontrolled drunkenness and illegal activity like prostitution can turn a quiet suburb into a warzone almost overnight. Disputes between neighbours can get ugly, land up in court or end in a street punch-up, said East Rand councillor Mary Goby, who is currently dealing with multiple complaints in his ward.
“For many homeowners, badly behaved neighbours have become more than a nuisance. They are now a trigger for declining property values, safety concerns and open conflict in communities,” she said. New Year’s Eve saw several areas turn into nightmares.
“Guest houses hosted festive events and invited strangers into neighbourhoods,” Goby said. “Streets were lined with cars. Intoxicated partygoers relieved themselves on pavements.
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Bottles were strewn everywhere. Fights broke out.” Unwitting home buyers often purchase into the dream of suburban family life at a hefty price, only to have it shattered by noisy and problematic neighbours. A Durban homeowner said what she believed was her dream home came with an unexpected test.
“Shortly after submitting an offer, my husband received an e-mail saying we had to attend a meeting with the owners to see if we qualified to live there. We were furious,” she said. The e-mail turned out to be a prank, but it was prophetic.
“We’ve certainly had our fair share of problematic neighbours,” the woman added. Chris Tyson, CEO of Tyson Properties, said buyers were increasingly forced to play detective when seeking a new home. “Sellers are supposed to disclose disputes, but the chances of that happening are slim.
A seller is hardly likely to volunteer information if they want to sell their house. That leaves buyers to do their own homework,” he said.
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