Fighting With the Neighbors: When to Involve the Police

In any apartment or neighborhood, there is very little you can do to select who is around you. Sometimes this causes fighting with neighbors. Knowing when to involve the police when there is a dispute is important to both prevent the fight from escalating and to resolve the problem amicably.

First Resort: Your Landlord

Your landlord is the first authority you should turn to for help with the fight between you and your neighbors. A responsible landlord will try to resolve the problem so that you no longer have a disagreement,
and will do so in a non-confrontational or angry manner.

When to Involve the Police in a Neighbor Dispute

It is time to contact the police for assistance with a dispute with your neighbor when your landlord does not respond to your request for help and the problem escalates or your neighbor threatens your or your
family’s safety. You should also involve the police if your neighbor injures you or damages your property.

When Not to Involve the Police in Problems with Neighbors

You should not involve the police if your neighbor has not threatened you, hurt you nor damaged your property. Due to the demands on their time the police will likely not become involved unless there is an
imminent threat against your health and well being. Contacting the police during a period of calm in your dispute will likely not result in their becoming involved.

You should also not contact the police if your neighbor seems willing to resolve the dispute or your landlord is attempting to end the problem. Involving the police could make your neighbor even angrier and
cause the fight to escalate. If your safety is not threatened, try to resolve the problem through your landlord first.