Neighbor Disputes Disputes with your neighbors can be common, and it is easy to understand why people care about them so much. Having a conflict with a neighbor can make people feel uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe in their own home. Conflicts with neighbors can happen when we have different ideas about our home and what the neighborhood means to us. For example, you may have bought your home because you want a peaceful place to live in, but your neighbor wants a workshop or a place to party. Disputes also sometimes happen when people have to share space with their neighbors. For example, disagreements can occur over changes to fences or trees, or over the use of driveways or other shared areas. No matter how good your neighborhood is, problems can arise quite suddenly. If disputes are not dealt with, they can get worse and worse. However, these challenges can be overcome if every one is sincerely willing to try, and if people feel that it is safe to agree and disagree with each other. Disputes can often be overcome when people can focus on the problem and not the person and work together to find solutions that everyone can live with. Here are some suggestions for preventing and managing neighborhood disputes: Get to know your neighbor. Discuss with your neighbor before you do anything that may affect them. Take your neighbor’s concerns seriously, even if they seem like small things to you. When people feel understood, it is easier to work through a problem. Don’t believe that the other person knows there is a problem. Often they don’t. Sometimes it is a simple misunderstanding. Discuss your methods with friends or family. They may have some useful ideas. Remember to focus on the problem, not the person. Work on what you can change, not what you can’t. It is important to have a problem-solving attitude when there is a dispute with a neighbor.