RESIDENTS are being reminded there is a little-known way to stop taking in a neighbour’s parcel.
As the summer holidays begin, more and more people can expect to be asked to hold packages for someone who lives nearby.
The rise of of online shopping has prompted serious debate over leaving parcels with neighbours
Yet for those who feel overburdened, there is a convenient way to prevent being asked in the first place – and it all comes down to one simple form.
There are hundreds of age-old debates when it comes to neighbours, whether it be from a personal opinion or a legal standpoint.
But the rise of of online shopping has prompted serious debate over how often it is acceptable for people to accept packages on their neighbour’s behalf.
Now with social media becoming the number one place people go to vent, the list of neighbour rows seems to be ever-growing.
In a recent case, a woman who spent thousands renovating her Victorian home was ordered to tear down her loft conversion after neighbours branded it a “monstrosity”.
In another high-profile incident, an angry homeowner revealed that his neighbour was refusing to sort out their “hideous” garden – even though it was attracting rats.
Other disputes tend to erupt around the modern issue of what time of night you should keep the noise down to how tall your garden fence can be.
The latter issue has sparked some particularly thorny arguments in recent months.
Many of these discussions do have legal answers.
However, there are some which seem to be down to personal preference and common courtesy.
That includes the slightly sensitive subject of whether you can refuse to take in a neighbour’s parcel.
Whether you’re generally not a fan of your neighbour or if you feel like their personal postman with their never-ending packages, you do have a say.
Whilst there is no legal standpoint, you do have the right to refuse to take in the item.
Some postal services do state they will find a safe space, which can be with neighbours.
However, you can still say no, and they will find another neighbour or safe space for the parcel.
If you are in a situation where your neighbour may have put your address down as a safe space without asking, you can then discuss the matter with the neighbour and ask them to change it.
However, if they refuse to do so, you then have the right to not take in the parcels and inform the postal worker so they are aware for the future.
While you may have to discuss with postal workers for some services such as Amazon, the Royal Mail does offer a neighbour opt-out scheme.
The Royal Mail’s website states: “Please fill in your details [on the form] and tell us why you’d like to opt out.
“We’ll then send you an Opt-Out sticker which you’ll need to display on or near your letterbox – somewhere clearly visible.”
You can access the “Delivery to neighbour opt out form” here.
The top five reasons neighbours squabble
One study by Compare the Market revealed the top reason British neighbour’s argue:
Broken fences – top of the board was broken fences and whose responsibility it was to fix it.
Parking: one of the leading drivers of neighbour disputes, with 54.1 per cent of people having issues with people parking in front of their house, parking bay or driveway.
Trees – complaints about a neighbour’s tree cracking your garden path was also common with nearly half of participants finding it frustrating.
Bin wars – outdoor bin etiquette continues to ignite the most furious debates between neighbours.
Nosy Neighbours – some people have their eyes and ears at the ready to have a peek causing problems for others.
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