Neighbourhoods are different places than they were 20 years ago.<\/strong><\/p>\n Who remembers spending hours after school and on weekends, playing with other kids from your street? When having neighbours over for dinner was the norm, rather than a rarity?<\/p>\n Nowadays, however, many people have barely a passing word for the people they share a fence or a wall with, despite the fact that they live and sleep mere metres away.<\/p>\n And nowhere is that indifference more prevalent than in rental properties, with tenants and their neighbours less likely to get to know each other, as both parties know the bond could be short-term.<\/p>\n But here\u2019s why making the effort to befriend your neighbours while you\u2019re renting could be a very good idea.<\/p>\n There are many benefits in creating a friendly and supportive community where you live \u2013 even if you rent.<\/span> Picture: Getty<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re a new renter, or a homeowner who\u2019s been in the same house for 30 years \u2013 no one likes having their TV and jewellery pinched.<\/p>\n And those break-ins are far less likely to happen if your neighbours know you, and are prepared to do something if they see anything suspicious, according to Neighbourhood Watch Victoria CEO Bambi Gordon.<\/p>\n \u201cCertainly renting can bring its own challenges, in that we presume there\u2019s a higher turnover of neighbours, and you can also find much of that is in vertical communities (apartments), where there\u2019s very little happening visually to be able to tell, \u2018Is that person who\u2019s walking down the corridor actually someone who lives here or not?’\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe do know that if we recognise our neighbours we tend to feel a greater level of safety and less of a fear of crime, because we look outside and recognise the people around us.\u201d<\/p>\n Break-ins are far less likely to happen if your neighbours are watching your home when you\u2019re away. Picture: Getty<\/p>\n<\/div>\n We get it: you\u2019re young, you\u2019re renting and you want to have a few people round on a Friday or Saturday night.<\/p>\n That\u2019s all well and good, and many neighbours will have no issue with a bit of music and a few loud voices as bedtime approaches.<\/p>\n But some undoubtedly will, so taking the time to introduce yourself and get to know them when you move in could be the difference between being able to enjoy your party to its conclusion, having a stand-up row at the front door, or worse \u2013 someone calling the police.<\/p>\n Why not kill two birds with one stone? Go around, meet the neighbours and do the courteous thing by informing them that yes, you\u2019re going to be having a small party, but that you\u2019ll try to keep the noise down.<\/p>\n They might not still be so relaxed if you\u2019re still going at 3am, but Gordon says it might earn you a bit of slack.<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully (as a neighbour) I\u2019m going to be a lot more willing to accept that I\u2019m a lot older, you\u2019re having a young party, and that\u2019s OK, I used to do that when I was a kid, too,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n One perk to having friendly neighbours is they\u2019ll hopefully be more tolerant with your house parties. Picture: Getty<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It\u2019s the oldest trick in the book: you go on holidays for a fortnight and your neighbours keep up appearances by collecting your mail and putting the bins out on bin night.<\/p>\n Gordon says making a bit of extra effort when you move in can go a long way if you decide to pack your bags for a week or two.<\/p>\n \u201cReaching out to form a relationship \u2013 and it doesn\u2019t have to be really heavy, it doesn\u2019t have to be a great friendship \u2013 just to know that the neighbour is going on holidays and I can put their bin out for them, just to make it look like they\u2019re still at home,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s basic stuff, it\u2019s simple stuff, but it\u2019s the stuff that works.\u201d<\/p>\n Watch: Home security<\/a> tips<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Gordon says social disconnection is a real issue for many people, and particularly for young families that move away from the city and into housing<\/a> estates when they need to rent a more affordable larger home.<\/p>\n The easiest way to start to build that sense of belonging is to get to know the people who live closest to you.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got lots of young families moving into new estates who recognise that, \u2018OK, major life change, no longer living in the inner city, no longer going out to restaurants every night, family on the way, I\u2019m in an area where I know nobody, I have to make a point of reaching out to form a community\u2019,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you meet people face to face and get to know them, you are going to be safer, you\u2019re going to prevent crime and you\u2019re going to build relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n <\/p><\/div>\n Realestate au <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"friends](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/images\/2000x1500-fit%2Cprogressive\/2018\/02\/08162716\/friends-with-neighbours_2000x1500.jpg?resize=2000%2C1500&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nWho\u2019s watching your place?<\/h2>\n
![\"sydney](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/images\/1886x1415-fit%2Cprogressive\/2018\/02\/06175813\/sydney-terraces_2000x1500.jpg?resize=1886%2C1415&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nNo party pooping<\/h2>\n
![\"house](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/images\/1814x1360-fit%2Cprogressive\/2018\/02\/08162717\/house-party_2000x1500.jpg?resize=1814%2C1360&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nCreating that \u2018lived-in\u2019 look<\/h2>\n
Make a local connection<\/h2>\n