Nearly one in ten move home to get away from problem neighbours according to new research. But if you moved home, what chance would there be that you’d end up jumping from the frying pan into the fire?

Well, over half of Britons have had a problem with their neighbours and many are still suffering, according to the research by MORE TH>N Home Insurance.

The study showed Britain’s most common problems with their neighbours are:

• Excessive noise.
• Overhanging trees.
• The neighbours children.
• Verbal harassment.
• A hedge between properties.
• Problems with an extension or outbuildings affecting the property.
• A wall between the properties.

The situation has become so serious that a fifth of people have called on the police to deal with the problem. Nearly 50% would seek legal advice (over a quarter of these choosing to contact a solicitor and 19% using a legal helpline) and many (46%) would also take drastic measures and consider suing if the issue got out of control: this could prove very costly.

David Pitt, Head of Insurance at MORE TH>N comments: "We've been providing access to legal documents as part of our home legal cover since 2002, and it still surprises us that so many people have problems with their neighbours."

"Legal advice or mediation can be crucial in these situations to ensure that the problem is solved to avoid people taking drastic measures such as moving home."

MORE TH>N offers the following tips for dealing with ‘problem neighbours’:

• Keep a comprehensive record of all dates and times when the neighbours have caused problems.
• Where possible try to reason with your neighbour but do not lose your temper.
• Unless we live on a desert island or in the remote countryside we all have to live next door to somebody else.
• Consider involving a mediator who can take an objective view of the problems and suggest solutions that you may not have tried.
• Where the problems are relating to noise or smells emanating from your neighbours property, contact your Local Authority who have wide ranging powers to abate such nuisances, this may involve the council taking the neighbour to court, for example.
• In the event that you are unable to resolve your differences with your neighbour and the Council are unable to help, such as in the case of a boundary dispute, please consider seeking legal advice. A solicitor’s letter setting out your case will often be sufficient to bring the matter to a conclusion without the need to start court proceedings. Your home insurance policy may include Legal Expenses Insurance which would cover the cost of instituting such legal proceedings should the need arise.