Next door nightmares

Badly behaved neighbours are costing Britons thousands of pounds each year.

According to a new survey from Tesco Personal Finance 45 per cent of homeowners who suffer damage to their property as a result of next door neighbours are footing the bill themselves, or claiming on their own insurance.

Reasons given for not complaining to neighbours range from having a good relationship and not wanting to jeopardise it to having a poor relationship and not wanting to start a fight.

Commenting on the findings head of Tesco Home Insurance, Allan Burns, said: "It would seem that the great British aversion to complaining is alive and well, despite the fact it might cost them financially. However, it's heart-warming to know that some avoid the confrontation route because they think so much of the people living next door."

Avoiding confrontation though costs around a quarter of long suffering homeowners with a bill of more than £500.

Even those who choose to claim for this through their insurance rather than opening their wallets could well face higher premiums when it comes to renewing the policy.

"We would encourage homeowners in this situation to think carefully before deciding on which course of action to take. They may find that their neighbour is willing to hold themselves accountable and therefore foot the bill or claim from their own insurance policy," concluded Mr Burns.