How disputes over neighbours from hell flared in lockdown

Fitness fanatics, noisy kids and even trampolines are behind a spate of neighbours behaving badly.

Complaints in apartment buildings included neighbours dropping balls and weights.

Fitness fanatics slamming medicine balls on the floor, noisy kids disturbing neighbours trying to work, and delivery drivers blocking driveways are sparking suburban spats as Victorians spend more time at home.

Neighbours behaving badly, annoying animals and even trampolines have residents at loggerheads.

The Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria dealt with more than 21,000 disputes last financial year, and two-thirds were neighbourhood issues.

Complaints about behaviour, property and pets rose slightly in the July quarter, which included the first lockdown.

Fitness enthusiasts working out at home, especially in flats, had neighbours at their wits’ end. Noise from people running on treadmills and slamming weights and medicine balls on the floor were among complaints.

People converting their ­garages into gyms to exercise at home or conduct personal training businesses in person or via Zoom — all while blasting loud music — also caused COVID quarrels.

Music teachers conducting online classes including singing lessons from their homes also hit a sour note.

Lawyer Michael Helman, whose clients include a resident working from home who endured noisy renovations in the flat below, said “all the problems you would normally have of people being in close proximity are obviously going to be magnified”.

Apartment residents have struggled to deal with noisy neighbours during lockdown.

“In my experience in neighbourhood disputes the only way to satisfactorily resolve it is if one of the neighbours moves,” Mr Helman said.

“Neighbourhood disputes can be almost intractable.”

Essential workers including nurses doing night shift complained they could not sleep during the day because neighbours and their children were home all day.

Some people were forced to negotiate noise-free times with neighbours so they could conduct work meetings without interruptions — like children playing basketball against shared boundary walls.

“It’s been an incredibly challenging 12 months but Victorians continue to demonstrate great resolve and companionship despite the challenges of lockdown and spending more time at home,’’ a Department of Justice spokesman said.

“The focus of the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria has been to help people have that difficult conversation with their neighbour in a less confrontational way.”

Almost half of all disputes involved fences with residents seeking advice on making them higher to block out nosy neighbours working from home.

There was also a jump in queries about dealing with neighbour’s trees as people spent more time gardening.

One client complained about his neighbour’s new trampoline concerned it was unsuitable for a small backyard in a high density area.

Home shopping and ­other delivery drivers, often in noisy trucks or on motorbikes, blocking common driveways also created angst.

COVID COMPLAINTS

• Fitness enthusiasts in apartments running on treadmills and dropping weights and medicine balls

• Small businesses being conducted remotely, including a personal training business operated in a garage with loud music

• Delivery drivers blocking common driveways, often driving noisy trucks or motorbikes

• Essential workers on night shift unable to sleep during the day because of neighbours being home and children home-schooling

• Music teachers holding lessons over Zoom, including singing lessons, in a residential area

• Fence heights as neighbours spending time at home become more aware of privacy

• Neighbours’ trees due to an increase in gardening

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