Being a good neighbour in a block of flats

In a building of flats, your neighbours hear your footsteps, smell your cooking and share your lift. Small courtesies build goodwill you will be glad of when you need a favour, or when a problem needs sorting.

Everyday courtesies

• Say hello in the lift and corridor, and introduce yourself to the people next door in your first week. A name makes everything easier later.
• Keep shared corridors, stairwells and landings clear of shoes, bikes, bags and rubbish.
• Use the building's bin and recycling system properly and never leave bags outside your door.
• Hold the main door only for people you know live there, and never prop open entrance or fire doors.
• Park only in your own space, and keep shared areas such as the gym, pool or laundry room as you would want to find them.

Noise travels further than you think

• Footsteps, furniture dragging and doors slamming carry through floors. Rugs, felt pads on chair legs and soft-closing habits help.
• Keep music, gaming and calls at a level that does not carry into the corridor, especially late at night.
• Citizens Advice notes that ordinary day-to-day living, such as a crying baby or cooking smells, is not treated as anti-social behaviour, while making a lot of noise can be. Aim to live normally but considerately.
• Before a gathering, tell neighbours in advance, give a finish time and a number to message, and keep to it.

If a neighbour is bothering you

• Citizens Advice suggests talking to your neighbour first if you feel safe, explaining how the behaviour affects you and what would help, and looking for a compromise.
• A friendly script: 'Hi, I'm in 304 below you. I don't think you realise, but late at night we can hear a lot of footsteps and music. Could you keep it down after 11pm on weeknights?'
• Keep records: Citizens Advice suggests logging each incident with the date, time, what happened and how it affected you.
• If talking does not work, Citizens Advice says you can use a mediator (in the UK, ask your council first), or go to your neighbour's landlord or the council.
• For violence, threats or other crimes, contact the police. In the UAE, the emergency number for the police is 999 (u.ae).

In the UAE: building management and your landlord

• In UAE apartment buildings, start with a polite conversation, then report ongoing problems to building management or your landlord in writing, with dates and times.
• A 2021 Gulf News legal Q&A about a Dubai tenant troubled by noise suggested sending a formal email to the landlord, and noted that if an amicable settlement fails, the tenant can file a case with the rental dispute settlement centre.
• The same lawyer warned not to record any third party's face or voice without their consent. In the UAE, be very careful about filming or recording neighbours, and never post such content online.
• Keep your tone respectful in all messages, including the building's group chat; what you write can be shared or screenshotted.

Being the neighbour people are glad to have

• Offer small help: taking in a parcel, sharing a building notice, checking on an elderly neighbour during a power cut.
• Respond well if someone raises a complaint with you: thank them for telling you, apologise for the impact, and say what you will change.
• Share festive food with neighbours at Eid or other celebrations if you know them. It is a lovely GCC tradition that travels well.
• Keep your neighbours' privacy: do not share details about who lives where, or when people are away, online.