How To Make Your Neighbors Move: 27 Brilliant Ideas
After years of dealing with terrible neighbors, I can assure you that pleasant, considerate neighbors are a true blessing. So, if you’re wondering how to get your neighbors to move, I’m here to share my hard-earned wisdom and experience with unbearable neighbors!
Loud arguments, blasting music, late-night engine revving, turning the neighborhood against you…
These are just some of the issues I’ve faced while working from home. My husband, ever the optimist, believes any problem can be solved through dialogue.
I gave it a shot (and regret it to this day). When your neighbors refuse to cooperate or communicate, you’re left with two choices:
1. You can move.
2. You can get your neighbors to move.
I mulled over these options and realized: Why should my friendly neighbors and I be the ones to leave because of one or two troublemakers?
It’s only logical that the disruptive neighbors should be the ones to go, right?
And that’s exactly what I did. ? It took some time, but eventually, it worked! I got my annoying and noisy neighbors to move, and now I’m living a peaceful and happy life.
Since I believe in paying it forward, today I’ll share all my tips and tricks on how to get your neighbors to move (because you deserve a peaceful life too)!
How To Get Your Neighbors To Move
From simple tactics to more extreme measures, this list is your ultimate guide. Here’s how you can do it:
1. Become the nosiest neighbor ever (and I mean ever)
The best way to encourage your neighbors to move is to make them feel unwelcome.
Become extremely nosy whenever possible. I guarantee your neighbors will be climbing the walls once you start asking countless personal questions or talking incessantly about yourself.
Make sure to pick the most boring topics imaginable so they’ll beg for mercy. Discuss awkward subjects like your constipation issues, and so on. ?
Better yet, bring up these topics while they’re enjoying a meal. Wait for them to return home from work and bombard them with questions.
(Dealing with irritating people is an art form.)
When cooking, frequently ask to borrow ingredients so you can snoop around their house.
This is a great chance to find out if they’re involved in any illegal activities, giving you a legal advantage to get them to move.
2. Make noise your ally
If your problem neighbors live next door, above, below, or nearby, then noise is your friend!
No one can tolerate continuous loud noise, especially at inconvenient times. Here are some noisy ideas to get your neighbors to move without much effort:
• Use a noisy lawn mower at 7 am. (WARNING: When I did this repeatedly, my neighbor retaliated by egging my house).
• Run your washing machine at inconvenient times and open all your windows (e.g., when they have guests over).
• Install noisy wind chimes (I’m sure your neighbor will “adore them”).
• Use loud gardening tools like hedge trimmers or a chainsaw for yard work (preferably in the morning).
• THREE WORDS: Throw a party.
• Loud music + karaoke = unbeatable combo.
• A dog that barks non-stop will definitely annoy every neighbor.
• Play basketball outside and make sure to be as loud as possible.
• Get a drum set for your little one (or yourself) to play at inconvenient times.
• Every time you leave with your car, make sure to rev the engine.
3. Master the art of being an annoying neighbor
Maybe the solution to getting your neighbors to move is simple: Become an annoying neighbor yourself.
Channel your inner child and recall those days when you drove your parents and others crazy with pranks and misbehavior.
Master the art of being an annoying neighbor to the point where your problem neighbor reconsiders staying. Perhaps I should’ve said, “mastering the art of dealing with toxic people.” Here’s how you can do it:
• Let your dogs use your neighbor’s yard as a toilet. Yes, I’m talking about poop that they’ll have to clean up (let’s hope they don’t call animal control, LOL).
• Wear your bathing suit and relax in your front yard when your neighbor has guests over.
• Install fake security cameras on your property (so you can falsely accuse them of trespassing).
• Even better: Point the fake security cameras at your neighbor’s house.
• If you live in an apartment building with assigned parking, take your bad neighbor’s spot.
• Ring your neighbor’s doorbell repeatedly and then hide. (I recommend doing this multiple times).
• Cover their tree with toilet paper and hope it rains soon.
4. Drive them nuts with inconveniences
If your bad neighbors aren’t bothering to follow rules or guidelines, feel free to drive them crazy with inconveniences.
The first time you do it, they might think it’s a mistake, but eventually, they’ll connect the dots.
These pranks should put your problem neighbors into passive-aggressive mode and ultimately make them move:
•
**Borrow their newspaper to clip coupons, then hand it back.**
• Dispose of your food scraps in their yard to attract local wildlife.
• Sign them up for promotional mail from various stores like groceries and pet shops.
• Classic prank: Call and pretend you’re selling something, being as persuasive as you can.
• Better yet: **List their number in ads, inviting calls from those interested in buying animals they’re supposedly selling.** A friend did this to my uncle, and he still laughs about it.
• Order a pizza you’d never eat yourself and have it delivered to their doorstep.
5. Lodge a complaint with the landlord or HOA
A clever move is to report troublesome neighbors to their landlord.
Most landlords won’t tolerate problematic tenants as they don’t want to be held accountable for their actions. However, some individuals might not care about others’ concerns.
Be frank with their landlord about the disturbances. **Detail the noise and disruptions, and express that you can’t bear it anymore. Suggest that their moving out is the best solution.**
If that doesn’t work, file a complaint with the HOA. Almost every suburban neighborhood has one, so it’s worth a shot.
6. Or involve the police
If speaking to the landlord and HOA doesn’t help, call the police, especially if you believe your neighbors are engaged in illegal activities.
Sometimes, involving law enforcement is the push needed to make your neighbors move. **Gather evidence by recording their poor behavior and presenting it to the police.**
Once the law supports you, your troublesome neighbors will have a hard time staying. Additionally, **call the police during their disruptive activities to build a solid case.**
This will show the police the seriousness of the situation, and if all goes well, they might ask your neighbors to move soon.
7. Rally other neighbors
Finding ways to encourage your neighbors to move is easier when other neighbors back you up. **Join forces and draft a petition to submit an official complaint to the police.**
A single complaint might not be taken seriously, but a united neighborhood carries more weight. When everyone stands together, there’s a better chance of success.
My cousin faced a similar situation. Her neighbor’s child was incredibly aggressive, bullying other kids without reason. This included my cousin’s child.
Now, every incident leads to a knock on the neighbor’s door, with a clear message that they won’t tolerate the behavior any longer.
I’m curious how this will end. The whole family seems problematic, so moving out might be the only solution.
In the end, unity is key when dealing with neighborhood issues.
Check out: 11 Signs Your Neighbors Don’t Like You (+How To Handle It)
17 More Ideas On How To Encourage Your Neighbors To Move
Looking for more ways to encourage your neighbors to move? Here are some creative ideas to bother them (and hopefully make your life easier):
1. Claim you saw a ghost in their house or garden. For added effect, have other neighbors confirm the sighting.
2. Walk and stomp loudly in the early morning and evening (great for neighbors living below you).
3. Set up a telescope near your window and let them catch you peeking into their home.
4. Write “MOVE” on a large piece of paper and place it in a window facing their house. If questioned, blame it on children in your family.
5. Create a trail of sugar leading to their yard, as close to the front porch as possible.
6. Pick flowers from their garden to make a bouquet.
7. Drain the water from their pool while they’re away.
8. Place eerie pictures and messages in the windows of your home facing theirs.
9. Start a racket with tennis balls.
10. Invite all neighbors to a yard party, except them.
11. Pretend to be concerned about property line issues and bring it up daily.
12. Ignore them completely and ask others to do the same. Sometimes, giving someone the cold shoulder is necessary.
13. And more!
**Act like you’re offended by their behind-your-back talks (even if it’s not true).
14. Post a subtle complaint on social media about bad neighbors, ensuring they can’t miss the hint. (Include some details they’ll recognize.)
15. Belt out songs loudly and poorly multiple times a day.
16. Order some strange, inexpensive items from Amazon and have them delivered to their doorstep. They’re not worth spending much on.
17. Do your gardening in a bathing suit.
18. Cook a pig on a spit outside while your neighbor’s windows are open or they’re hanging laundry. They’ll love the strong aroma!
19. Direct solicitors to your neighbor’s door. Mention their intense interest in supporting various causes.
20. Inform them about suspicious characters lurking around their house. (Hopefully, they won’t alert the police, haha.)
Any Other Ways To Deal With Bad Neighbors?
Well… Communication usually solves most bad neighbor issues. Talk openly about the things that bother you. **Instead of blaming, explain how their actions affect you. This approach is always better.
If that fails, try asking someone from their family to step in discreetly (without mentioning your name).
If communication works, you won’t need to worry about making them move.
But if not, you might have to resort to becoming a bothersome neighbor yourself to persuade them to move.
It won’t be easy, but in the long run, it’s totally worth it (if successful, of course).
Things To AVOID When Trying To Make Your Neighbors Move
If making your neighbors move doesn’t pan out, feeling frustrated is normal.
However, remember some things you should never do, no matter how desperate you are:
1. Avoid physical force.
2. Don’t spike their food or drinks with drugs.
3. Don’t send threatening messages.
4. (More warnings might be added later.)
The last thing you need is trouble with the law because of desperate actions. Remember, force isn’t the solution.
Instead, be inventive daily and gently nudge them towards moving. Handling troublesome neighbors effectively requires a patient approach.
Good Luck!
Remember, learning and using tactics to make your neighbors move takes time, so be patient.
Your neighbors might initially ignore your disturbances, but persistent disruption will get their attention.
In some ways, you’re giving them a dose of their own medicine. If talking to them fails, this is a valid strategy for dealing with troublesome people.
When they become annoyed, sleep-deprived, and frustrated, they’ll understand what it’s like to have bad neighbors.
If they sense your determination to make them move, they’ll likely do so eventually. **Determination always wins, so stay dedicated to removing any toxic presence.** Don’t let anyone steal your peace!
P.S. If any of these tactics backfire, you’re responsible for the consequences. Be bold, but also wise! ?
