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Living well in your neighbourhood

This guide is a companion to Living well in your home, which provides information on how to make your home as safe, comfortable and suitable for your needs as possible.Man wearing hat

In this guide, we look at:

  • how to find and arrange some of the local services and activities that may be of particular use to older people
  • what to do if you encounter problems such as noisy neighbours.

You can download our free information guide from the top right corner of this screen or click on the links below:

Index

 

Council services

A number of the services and amenities described in this guide are provided by local councils, also known as local authorities. In some areas there are two tiers of local government – district councils and county councils. In others, one local authority is responsible for all local authority functions. The main responsibilities of local government are:

  • education
  • social services, including home and residential care
  • planning
  • waste disposal and collection
  • trading standards
  • libraries
  • roads and transportation, including free travel schemes
  • fire and rescue
  • housing
  • leisure
  • revenue collections and benefits payments (Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit).

In areas with two-tier local government, the main functions of district councils are housing, planning, waste collection, environmental health, some leisure functions, revenue and benefits.


What next?Contact details for your local council(s) should be in the phone book. Most councils also have useful websites about their services.

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Disabled parking badges

The Blue Badge scheme is a national scheme of parking concessions for disabled drivers. Drivers with a Blue Badge are exempt from some parking charges and can park in restricted areas in some circumstances. You may qualify for a badge if you receive the higher rate of Disability Living Allowance or are otherwise restricted in your mobility. The scheme is administered by the social services department of the local authority. If your request for a badge is refused, you do not have a formal right of appeal but you can ask for the decision to be reconsidered.

What next?Contact the local authority for further details of the scheme and how to apply.

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Transport concessions

In England local authorities are required to offer a free bus pass for off-peak travel to the over-60s. In some areas the scheme may be more generous. Currently the pass may only be valid within the local authority’s area. From April 2008 this will be extended to allow free off-peak travel throughout England.

Reduced fares are also available on coaches and trains for older people in some circumstances. Ask the rail or coach operator for details.

What next?For details of your local bus pass scheme contact the local authority or your local Age Concern. 
 

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Disputes with neighbours

Most of us try to stay on good terms with our neighbours but disputes can arise. It is usually desirable for these to be resolved as quickly as possible and with the minimum of fuss. If you have a problem with your neighbour, try to discuss it informally in the first instance. Reaching an agreement early on can save time, trouble and expense. It can also minimise bad feeling, which can be important given that you will still have to live near each other.

Common causes of disputes between neighbours are noise and nuisance, boundaries and fences, rights of access to property, hedges and overgrown vegetation. We do not have space to consider all of these in detail but in most instances an outcome will be determined by reference to the law and/or the legal documentation establishing ownership of the properties.

Check the position with an organisation such as the Citizens Advice Bureau before taking any action, particularly if it will affect your neighbour’s property. You may find that your actions are not supported by the law. Your next steps may differ depending on whether your neighbour is a tenant or a homeowner. Mediation is a useful way of resolving disputes without having to take more formal legal action.

What next?If you are involved in a dispute and want to check the legal position, contact the local Citizens Advice Bureau and ask for details of mediation services.

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Noise problems

Noise and other nuisance behaviour can make it very difficult to relax and enjoy your home. If a neighbour is making what you consider to be an unreasonable amount of noise, try asking them to reduce it.

If the noise persists or is a regular occurrence, contact the environmental health department at the local authority. They can visit to assess whether the level of noise constitutes a nuisance. You should also keep a diary of the type of noise and its duration.

If the noise does constitute a nuisance and the environmental health department cannot resolve the matter through discussion with the neighbour, they may serve a notice on the person making it. Failure to comply with the notice could lead to prosecution.

There are rules governing noise from pubs and restaurants and other commercial premises. If a licensed premises fails to meet its obligations in respect of sound-proofing and noise reduction, its licence might be suspended or removed.

The council also has powers to enter a building to silence a burglar alarm if it has been ringing for more than a certain length of time. All alarms should have a 20-minute cut-out device.

What next?If you are concerned about noise or other nuisance behaviour, contact the environmental health department of your local authority. Contact Environmental Protection UK for further information on noise and other environmental problems.
 



Case studyDesmond is 74 and lives by himself:

‘It’s funny: I’ve lived in this area for a long time now but there are still things I don’t know about it. My granddaughter kept asking me whether I was recycling my rubbish so last time I went round to her house I got her to show me the council’s website to get details of the local scheme. It’s useful having all the information you need in one place.Desmond

‘I’m a widower and I do like to get out and about to see people. I go to Age Concern twice a week, mostly just to see my friends and have a chuckle. They’re very helpful and pointed me in the right direction when I was having problems with noise from one of the houses across the street. When another neighbour and I spoke to our noisy neighbour about it they were quite apologetic and it hasn’t been as bad since, but it was good to know what our options were if it had carried on.’
 

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Age Concern in your area

We have a large network of local groups providing a wide range of services and activities directly to older people. Each local Age Concern is an independent charity and what it does will depend on its size and resources. Contact your local Age Concern to find out what services they offer.

Services and activities often include social and leisure provision such as day centres, lunch clubs, and exercise and dance classes. Befriending services may be able to come out to you if you are housebound. Local Age Concerns also provide practical assistance such as handyman and gardening services, home-care services and information and advice to help you make the most of your rights to benefits and care and any other issues you have.

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Finding reliable trades people

Trying to find reliable trades people such as plumbers or electricians can be difficult, particularly if you are new to an area and have not had to use anyone locally before. Sometimes friends and family are able to make suggestions but if not there may be other sources of information.

Some local Age Concern groups can provide lists of trades people. This may be for information only rather than an actual recommendation. If you do ask your local group for a list of this kind, check the basis on which it is being provided.

In many areas there are home improvement agencies that provide information and support to householders who need to arrange work to maintain or adapt their homes. These agencies are sometimes called Care and Repair or Staying Put.

To find out whether there is a local home improvement agency, contact the housing department of the local authority. In England, Foundations, the national organisation for home improvement agencies, may be able to provide further information.

The Government supports a scheme called TrustMark to help consumers identify reputable contractors for repairs and home improvements. Trades people with the TrustMark are assessed by a trade association to check they meet Government standards.

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Social and leisure activities

It can be difficult to find new social circles and things to do, particularly if you have recently moved area or are living alone for the first time in many years. The good news is that in many areas there are lots of possibilities for older people. If you have time on your hands this can be used to learn something new or take up an activity purely for fun, whether it is tai chi, painting, line dancing, a new language or studying for a qualification.

What next?Find out what your  local Age Concern provides or ask the local authority or your local reference library for details of what is going on in your area.

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Volunteering

Volunteering can be a great way of learning new skills or making use of those you already possess, as well as offering the opportunity to meet new people and help others. You can volunteer to do lots of different activities, working on projects delivering services and interacting directly with people, or providing support functions such as clerical or administrative duties. Information on local volunteering opportunities may be available from your local reference library or Citizens Advice Bureau.


What next?Contact the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action or Volunteering England for details of local volunteering groups.
 

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Personal security

Generally, older people are less likely to be victims of crime than some younger age groups. There are steps you can take to further reduce the risk of falling victim to violent crime such as mugging or assault while you are out and about.

  • When walking, waiting for transport or otherwise out, keep to busy, well-lit areas.
  • Do not carry large sums of money around and keep valuables hidden out of sight.
  • Stay alert to what is going on around you. If someone is following you go to the nearest place where there are other people and call the police.
  • Consider how you would react in different situations. If your bag is snatched it may be better to let it go rather than risk injury by trying to save it.

If you are the victim of a crime, contact the police. Remember as much as you can about the incident and make a list of what you have lost. Contact your bank or credit card company to cancel any stolen cards. If your keys have been stolen, change the locks. Check whether your insurance company will cover this cost and report any lost items that might be covered by your policy.

What next?For further information on personal security contact your local police force. If you have been a victim of crime and want help and support, contact Victim Support.
 

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Useful organisations

Find details of your nearest local Age Concern on our site, or call the Age Concern Information Line on (free call) 0800 00 99 66.

In the rest of the UK, contact your national Age Concern office:

Age Concern Northern Ireland
Tel: 028 9024 5729 (national call rate)

Age Concern Scotland (Scottish Helpline for Older People)
Tel: 0845 125 9732 (lo-call rate) 

Age Concern Cymru
Tel: 029 2043 1555 (national call rate)

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
National network of free advice centres.
For details of your local CAB call 020 7833 2188 (this number gives local contact details only, not advice).
 
Consumer Direct
Provides information on consumer rights and how to buy goods and services safely, including details of trade associations participating in TrustMark.
Tel: 0845 404 0506 (lo-call rate)

Foundations
Coordinating body for home improvement agencies in England. You can search for your nearest agency on the website.

National Association for Voluntary and Community Action
Promotes local voluntary and community action schemes and can provide details of local community and voluntary services.
Tel: 0114 278 6636 (national call rate)

Environmental Protection UK
Provides information on noise and other environmental problems.
Tel: 01273 878770 (national call rate) 
 
TrustMark
Government-backed scheme to help consumers find reliable trades people for work inside and outside the home. Call Consumer Direct (above) for participating trade associations.

Victim Support
Independent national charity helping people to cope with crime and its after effects with a network of local branches.
Tel: 0845 303 0900 (lo-call rate)

Volunteering England
Offers details of local volunteer centres in England and how to find volunteering opportunities across the UK.
Tel: 0845 305 6979 (lo-call rate) 

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What should I do now?

If you would like more information on the issues in this guide please call the Age Concern Information Line free on 0800 00 99 66.

You can order free paper copies of all our information guides through our online Information Guide order form.  

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Related books

We also publish books covering many of the above issues in our online bookshop. The following books may be of particular interest:

  • Choices in retirement housing - this book guides you through the housing options available to you and answers common questions about retirement housing.
  • Choices in retirement - the fourth edition includes new sections on getting the most out of the NHS, reducing household bills, adjusting to being at home, and grandparenting.

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