BRITS GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM… NEXT DOOR

Friendly UK neighbours are having regular chats, taking deliveries and watching over each other’s homes

The idea that as a nation we keep our neighbours at arm’s length, or that there is often bad feeling between neighbours is challenged by new research released today by Allianz Insurance.

The research found that 71% of the UK population chat to their neighbours at least weekly, with many speaking even more frequently than that. Also feelings towards neighbours are extremely positive, with 61% of people saying that their next door neighbour is friendly, approachable (53%) and polite (50%). Encouragingly, 44% feel that their neighbours are trustworthy and would happily give them a spare key to their home (28%).  

There is also good evidence that neighbours are lending a helping hand to one another with 74% taking in deliveries, almost half (46%) keeping a watchful eye on their neighbour’s home when they’re away and nearly a third (29%) lend items to one another such as tools, suggesting that good neighbourliness is very much alive and well. 

Having good neighbours also makes people feel safer in their home, with 72% of people happy to ask next door for help in an emergency. However, the old cliché of borrowing a cup of sugar from your neighbour is dying out, with only one in 10 people (11%) popping around to ask when they have run out.

Jon Dye, CEO of Allianz Insurance said: “Most people would prefer to live in a safe and vibrant community and having good relationships between neighbours is a key part in achieving that goal.  As we start to enter the summer holiday season, it is very pleasing to see so many people keeping an eye on their neighbours homes while they are away and we would encourage more of that type of neighbourliness”  

Only eight per cent felt that their neighbours were of the nosey variety and a fifth (21%) said those next door were very private. The biggest annoyance of all is noise, with 13% claiming the noise through shared walls was a problem.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

This survey was carried out on behalf of Allianz Insurance by OnePoll Research, who interviewed a random selection of 2000 homeowners with neighbours aged 18+ between 9 and 13 May 2014.

https://www.allianz.co.uk/home.html

Allianz Insurance is one of the largest general insurers in the UK and part of the Allianz SE Group, the largest property and casualty insurer worldwide.

Around 83 million private and corporate customers rely on Allianz's knowledge, global reach, capital strength and solidity to help them make the most of financial opportunities and to avoid and safeguard themselves against risks.

In 2013, around 148,000 employees in over 70 countries achieved total revenue of 110.8 billion euros.

For further information contact:

Lauren Hunt-Morgan

Consolidated PR

Tel: 0207 781 2361

Email: laurenhm@consolidatedpr.com

Helen Braddock

Consolidated PR

Tel : 0207 781 2375

Email : helenb@consolidatedpr.com

Sian Glennane, Senior Communications Officer

Allianz Insurance

Tel: 01483 465 227
Mob: 07891 570995
Email: sian.glennane@allianz.co.uk