The Art of Being Neighborly Neighbor Etiquette

A matter such as etiquette in the internet age may seem as antiquated and esoteric a matter as ancient equestrian fashion, yet in today’s fast-paced world where more interactions take place than ever, perhaps politeness isn’t so irrelevant after all.

Dirty Laundry

A shared laundry facility is an oasis for interacting in an apartment complex. As such, it is important to exercise etiquette to facilitate a more pleasant living situation for everyone. One commonly encountered problem relates to space. Remove laundered clothes from machines as soon as possible to alleviate laundry room congestion. If all the machines are occupied when you arrive, there comes a temptation to remove clothes from a machine to use it. Before resorting to that, however, wait 15 or 30 minutes to see if the owner returns to remove their clothes. If you’re under a time crunch and have allowed ample time for the owner to return, it may be okay to remove clothing from a machine but only if a basket or bag is available, sitting on top of the machine for example.

Noise Pollution

Be it late-night band practice or a vocal pet, chronic neighborly is one of the most difficult problems to navigate for the renter. Even though renters are not permanent residents, it is still uncomfortable to touch on a sensitive subject such as noise pollution. The best course of action for just about any small dispute is, of course, to talk with the offending party. Ask your neighbor to end practice by a certain hour of the evening and try to work out a schedule.

Pet Peeves

Everyone loves a puppy! Except perhaps those neighbors whose lawns are used as puppy potties, that is. If you have a neighbor allowing their pet to run wild, first discuss the matter with your neighbor. Some problems, such as a very young dog in training, can’t really be helped. Lawn pottying, however, is not one of those issues. If a polite discussion does not resolve the matter, renters should consider consulting their condominium board or landlord in regard to the matter.

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