The Herald reports The Community Justice Centre is receiving thousands of calls every year about disputes between neighbours, with the number of cases ending up in mediation on the rise.
Barking dogs, trees, fences and lifestyle issues like loud parties, renovations and air conditioners are the source of most disputes.
In major cities like Newcastle, more and more people are living in close proximity to their neighbours as building blocks shrink and high density housing developments increase.
Experts say most neighbour disputes can be sorted out through a friendly chat, but too often people allow issues to fester, which only makes the situation worse.
