Nosy Neighbours

One in three Brits admits they regularly ‘spy’ on their neighbours, according to research.

The study of 2,000 adults unearthed the extent to which we keep tabs on those next door and nearly half can’t resist peeking outside whenever they hear any ‘goings-on’ outdoors. In fact four in ten can recite the times their neighbours leave and return from work, nearly half spot a new car immediately and a fifth notices if a stranger visits.

Noticing parcels being delivered, if a couple argue more than normal or even when the online shopping comes were other common aspects people knew about those living close by. But one in ten curtain-twitchers admitted they have been spotted peering through the windows by their next door neighbour. The study of 2,000 people was commissioned by Yale as part of National Home Security Month, which is running throughout October.

And even the intimacy of a relationship doesn’t stay private - over a quarter knew a neighbouring couple were having real troubles and one in ten even know a neighbour currently having an affair.

Nigel Fisher from Yale, lead sponsor of National Home Security Month, said: "This shows just how closely the people who live next to us are watching and the things that don’t go unnoticed. However, the results show that where people did admit to keeping tabs on a neighbour it was usually with good intentions of making sure everything’s alright."

The study also saw a quarter of people confess to spying on the neighbours at least once a week. While a third admit they rush to the window if they hear a strange car pull up. A nosy four in ten regularly peer out of the curtains and thirty per cent had looked out of the window of a dark room to watch undetected. And 45 per cent said they were very familiar with their neighbours habits and daily routines. While some have even had cause to speculate that a neighbour was pregnant – such was their level of observation, while being au fait with next door’s evening trips to clubs or taking the kids to activities was common.

The neighbours are often watching and while it’s good to have another eye on their property, over a fifth finds their neighbours to be too nosy. Results showed that four in ten adults have caught their neighbours watching them from a window when they’re in the garden, whilst others peek over the fence or listen in on conversations when in earshot. A frustrated 17 per cent have fallen out with their neighbours over their intrusive behaviour, with many admitting their neighbours seem more interested in the lives of others than their own.

Almost three in ten troubled homeowners have even confronted the people next door over their nosiness, though many said it made no difference to their snooping habits. In fact a third of those polled had neighbours that were so nosy it had led them to avoid that person wherever possible. However, just under three quarters of respondents said that they would always raise the alarm and inform the homeowner if they saw something unusual occur on the property. And although curiosity gets the better of many, the intentions are good overall- the biggest reason to keep tabs on the neighbours was ‘to check they’re alright.’

Nigel Fisher added: ‘"Having neighbours who are familiar with our day to day lives and routines can be a blessing as it means that should anything suspicious or out of the ordinary take place, it doesn’t go unnoticed and this can, in a roundabout way, benefit the security of your home.

"However, nosy neighbours are no substitute for having adequate security measures in place. This is why, during National Home Security Month, we’re encouraging people to take a look at their own homes and consider how they improve home security to reduce the risk of crime."

TOP 10 THINGS THE NEIGHBOURS NOTICE

1.         Changes to the house

2.         A new car

3.         Times leaving for work and arriving home

4.         Overall patterns

5.         If a stranger visits

6.         If a couple are arguing

7.         They get an internet food shop delivery

8.         Whether a neighbour might be pregnant

9.         Evening activities during the week

10.       If they have flowers delivered