Be considerate of the neighbours

WITH many people working from home for the foreseeable future, a lot more business activity is taking place in residential areas.

The need to stay home means more entertainment is happening at home, including more visitors and deliveries.

However, says Gerhard van der Linde, managing director for Seeff Pretoria East, laws still apply, and everyone has the right to enjoy their property without discomfort. You should not interfere with your neighbour’s rights, or you could face legal consequences.

South Africa has a comprehensive set of laws which deal with property and neighbourly issues, along with local municipal by-laws and regulations concerning acceptable noise levels etc. The basic rules, he notes, include:

• Reasonable noise, such as that from gardening and building work, is acceptable between 6am and 6pm and party noise to about 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

• Dogs may not bark incessantly.

Van der Linde says part of the attraction of living in a sectional title complex or estate that is well managed is that they often have strict rules with regard to noise, parking and so on.

More visitors and home deliveries will occur in residential areas as more people work from home. PICTURE: RODNAE PRODUCTIONS/PEXELS