According to a recent survey by Propertyfinder. com, bad neighbours can reduce the sale price of a property by as much as 9%, while squatters next door knocks a staggering 16% off the value of your home.

The survey also revealed concern among householders that unsuitable neighbours damage property prices for surrounding homes through their lack of interest in the upkeep of their properties.

"Our neighbours have a very significant influence on our quality of life, especially in urban areas, and increasingly house hunters are prepared to pay a premium for a quiet, trouble-free life, " says Nicholas Leeming, director of Propertyfinder. com.

"It's hard to quantify just how much the sale of your property can be affected by problem neighbours but it certainly does matter, " says Martin Doyle, of Douglas Newman Good.

"Everyone wants good neighbours and, nine times out of 10, potential buyers ask about neighbours. Generally people are very happy to hear that there's either an elderly person next door, or a nice family."

The best neighbours Statistically the best neighbours to have are childless couples followed by old people, while squatters are deemed the worst, with students considered only marginally better. Families with teenagers aren't too popular either . . . think slamming doors, loud music and latenight comings and goings.

What puts buyers off?

"Things that buyers notice the most about your neighbour's house are curtains hanging off the window, a bashed up car in the driveway, cladding and a badly kept garden.

Or if the house next door is let in flats, buyers can be concerned, even though this doesn't necessarily mean they are bad neighbours, " says Doyle, adding that there isn't much you can do about the appearance of your neighbour's home.

"Sometimes a house may be a bit neglected looking simply because your neighbour is elderly or unwell and can't manage the garden. In this case you could offer to do their garden for them in a diplomatic way.

"Or if the house is let maybe contact the landlord and explain that you're selling your home and would they be able to tidy up their property. Most people are reasonable and if you can retain good relations they will try and oblige."

Burying the hatchet Issues with neighbours are nothing new. In fact, a new eight-part series due to be aired on RTE later this year will look at how to resolve some common problems.

Bury the Hatchet, a Midas Production, is currently casting for people who have fallen out either with neighbours, friends or siblings over various disputes.

"This is not going to be voyeuristic TV but a series that genuinely attempts to resolve common conflicts between neighbours, siblings and friends, " says Stephen Smith, producer of Bury the Hatchet.

"We are currently at the pre-production stages and have had a good response from people who are genuinely interested in resolving conflicts. Regarding property, the most common problems we're hearing from people are about parking, noise, blocking out light and the general deterioration of a neighbour's house."

Senior counselling psychologist Stephen O'Neill, an expert on conflict resolution, will meet with both parties separately and then as part of a group to try to iron out issues at the heart of each dispute.

"Very often people forget what the initial dispute was over because both sides dig their heels in. This show isn't reality TV, it's more about sitting down with people who really want to solve their disputes, " explains Smith.

"In one case that we deal with, two neighbours are fighting over a parking space.

But, when we sat down with them both, the real issue wasn't really the parking but more of a class issue and resentment that had grown from that.

"But what we hope Bury the Hatchet will also do is to give viewers some pointers about how to resolve their own disputes, either with their neighbour or perhaps with a sibling whom they've fallen out with over something like who's caring for an aged parent, where one person feels they're left with the bulk of the work."

feel forced to sell up and move away from your neighbour, count your blessings that you're not living in the UK, where vendors are required by law to be upfront about nuisance neighbours when selling up.

All house sellers must complete a full Sellers Property Information Form (Spif) which covers a range of issues from any fittings and fixtures being left behind to disputes with neighbours over extensions, noise, pet problems or overgrown hedges.

No such legislation exists in Ireland and there's none in the pipeline for the foreseeable future. So if you want to shed your problem neighbours and get a good price for your home, now's the time to trim their lawn and kindly offer to plant up some window boxes for them!

'Bury the Hatchet' is still looking for participants. If you've fallen out with a neighbour, friend or sibling and want to resolve the conflict, contact Anita or Orla at Midas Productions on 01-661 1384 or bury@midasproductions

GETTING AWAY FROM THE NEIGHBOURS

IF YOU'RE fed up with your neighbours and are looking to move, here's a few tips that might help you sell successfully.

Consider selling during the winter when there's less chance of the family next door sitting out having a beer on the front doorstep!

If unruly kids are a problem, hold viewings during school hours and not at weekends when they'll be running riot in the neighbourhood.

Throw a few bones over the fence during viewings so at least the dogs next door are quiet.

Hire a skip and place it in front of your neighbour's house, so potential viewers think it's being done up or better still that they're moving on.

Offer to cut your neighbour's lawn before you arrange a viewing but make sure you're doing your own lawn at the same time, as it seems less judgemental.

Discourage evening viewings as noise levels tend to be higher then.

If neighbouring trees or hedging are blocking out your light, you're perfectly entitled to trim back branches or bushes which are hanging into your property.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

IF YOU want to check out what's happening in your neighbourhood, or if you want to report something that's going on, why not log onto www. neighbours. ie, a free website that allows you to register your neighbourhood and enter into discussion with other users living in the same area.

Already very popular with many of the new apartment developments, residents can complain about their neighbours as well as things like parking, noise or poor transport. And if it's a new housing scheme, you can ask other residents via the web if they're happy with the building standards, etc.

Neighbours. ie is also a good way to check out a new area before you buy a home. Best of all, users can retain their anonymity.