Ireland’s Neighbourhood Life Report

Neighbourly life has always played a meaningful role in Irish communities, but the way we connect with the people living beside us is changing. Hybrid working has brought more people home during the day, cities are evolving with increased activity, and rural areas are experiencing growth as new residents settle in. These shifts are influencing everything from how often we see our neighbours to the situations that create tension or connection between households.

To understand what neighbourly life really looks like in Ireland today, insurance comparison site Chill surveyed 2,000 people nationwide. We asked how they feel about the relationships on their doorstep, the problems they have experienced, the kindness they receive and the reasons some households feel more connected than others. The findings reveal a very human picture of modern neighbourhoods, shaped by both everyday frustrations and the small, generous moments that continue to bring people together.

How people feel about their neighbours

While many people value friendliness from their neighbours, a significant number also prefer to maintain a comfortable level of distance. Overall, 45% of respondents say they are happy with their current neighbour relationships, and 42% say they genuinely like the people living nearby.

Trust and deeper feelings of community are less common. Only 35% of respondents say they truly trust their neighbours, and just 23% feel a strong sense of community spirit in their area. These results suggest that although neighbourly warmth is alive and well, the strong community bonds that have traditionally shaped Irish neighbourhoods are not experienced by everyone in the same way.

Generational and housing differences offer insight into how neighbour relationships evolve. Younger adults tend to feel less connected, with just 39% of Gen Z feeling satisfied with their neighbour relationships compared with 63% of Baby Boomers. People living in detached homes and bungalows are more likely to feel positively about their neighbours, while those in terraced or high-density housing report more varied experiences.

Friendly neighbours and the value of community kindness

Neighbourly kindness is still deeply rooted in communities across Ireland. Only 12.55% of people say they have never received a favour from a neighbour, meaning almost nine in ten Irish residents have experienced at least one act of kindness at their doorstep.

Neighbourly acts of kindness	% of residents who have received this kindness
Taken in a parcel	46.4%
Helped during an emergency	27.1%
Let me borrow tools or equipment	25.9%
Invited me round for food or drinks	25.2%
Put my bins out / brought my bins in	23.3%
Looked after my pet	18.0%
Lent me household items eg hoover, extension lead, etc	17.4%
Offered emotional support or checked in on my wellbeing	17.1%
Given me a spare key / helped me get into my home	15.6%
Helped me with DIY / home repairs	15.4%

The most common gesture is a practical one. A total of 46.40% say a neighbour has taken in a parcel for them, a sign of day-to-day trust that many people rely on more than they realise. Almost as many have received help during more serious moments. A total of 27.05% say a neighbour has stepped in during an emergency, and 25.90% have borrowed tools or equipment.

There is also a strong social side to these relationships. A total of 25.20% of residents have been invited to a neighbour's home for food or drinks, and 23.25% have had someone put their bins out or bring them back in, a simple gesture that can mean a lot.

Baby Boomers experience some of the strongest forms of community support. They are the group most likely to have been invited for food or drinks (32.62%), received emotional support (26.24%) or had help with gardening (17.02%). By contrast, younger residents stand out for different reasons. Gen Z are the most likely to have had their pet looked after by a neighbour (20.73%) and are just as likely as older groups to have borrowed tools (25.37%).

Neighbourly kindness looks different across Ireland's cities. Waterford emerges as one of the most generous, with residents most likely to receive help ranging from parcel collection to DIY support and childcare. Limerick shows strong social bonds, leading in shared meals and emotional check-ins, while Cork stands out for practical everyday help, such as bin support.

Neighbourly act of kindness	Most likely location to receive this kindness	% of residents who have received this kindness
Taken in a parcel	Waterford	50.00%
Helped during an emergency	Waterford	30.30%
Let me borrow tools or equipment	Waterford	33.33%
Invited me round for food or drinks	Limerick	33.83%
Put my bins out / brought my bins in	Cork	29.15%
Looked after my pet	Waterford	23.48%
Lent me household items	Waterford	23.48%
Offered emotional support or checked in on my wellbeing	Limerick	23.38%
Given me a spare key / helped me get into my home	Waterford	17.42%
Helped me with DIY / home repairs	Waterford	21.97%
Helped with gardening or watering plants	Limerick	15.92%
Picked things up for me from the shop	Waterford	16.67%
Looked after my children	Waterford	15.91%
Brought round dinner/meals	Waterford	14.39%

Everyday neighbour issues and how people deal with them

While many neighbour relationships are positive, disputes are a reality for many households across Ireland. Only 36% of people say they have never experienced a neighbour-related issue, which means almost two-thirds have faced some form of friction in the past. This varies noticeably by city. Dublin residents report the highest levels of neighbour issues, with only 32.5% saying they have never experienced a problem. In contrast, Galway (42.5%) and Waterford (47.9%) residents are more likely to say they have had no disputes, suggesting that neighbour tensions are less common in these areas. Limerick and Cork sit closer to the national average at 37.9% and 39.1%, respectively.

Noise and parking are the most common sources of tension. A total of 19.5% of respondents report noise problems, and 19.4% say they have dealt with issues involving parking. These concerns reflect the pressures of contemporary living, particularly in areas where homes are closer together or where parking space is limited.

Most common issues with neighbours	% of people who have faced this issue
Noise complaints	19.5%
Parking issues	19.4%
Toys over the fence	14.1%
Nosy neighbours, including intrusive security cameras	12.2%
Pungent smells	10.2%
Not using the bins correctly	8.9%
Neighbour impedes on your property boundaries	8.2%
Cutting down plants/trees on your property	7.8%
Fence has broken and it's your neighbour's responsibility	6.6%
New building or tree obstructing your natural daylight/view	6.3%

Smaller irritations also appear regularly between neighbours. Belongings ending up in gardens, unwanted attention and drifting smells are all situations that can quietly affect daily life. Responses to these issues vary. Many Irish residents say they would try speaking directly to their neighbour first, and this is the preferred approach for noise (59.74%), parking (66.49%) and plants being cut on their property (49.36%).

Some problems, however, are more likely to be ignored. More than a quarter of people (28%) say they would do nothing if toys repeatedly landed in their garden, and 24% would not address unpleasant smells coming from a neighbour's home.

When problems begin to affect property, safety or legal responsibilities, people become more willing to involve external support. More than 22% say they would contact the council about unlawful DIY work, and a similar proportion would escalate matters to the council involving damaged fences (17.42%), blocked light (19.20%) or misuse of bins (20.9%). Residents are more likely to contact the police when they believe property damage has occurred (17.12%) or when a neighbour's behaviour is overly intrusive, such as the use of security cameras (16.05%).

Dublin residents report higher levels of noise and parking frustration, which aligns with denser neighbourhood layouts and busier streets. People living in Cork are more likely to try resolving issues through calm conversation before taking further action. Galway residents report a broader mix of neighbour-related challenges, while those in Limerick are more inclined to escalate issues involving safety or structural damage.

Ian O'Reilly, Head of Personal Line Sales, notes, "If a neighbour damages your property, document everything and speak to your insurer before the issue escalates. Clear communication and good evidence are key to resolving disputes without unnecessary stress or expense."

Why some neighbour relationships feel distant, and the small steps that build connection

As the earlier findings show, positive neighbour relationships often grow through simple, thoughtful gestures rather than big displays of friendship. Yet even though many people experience regular acts of kindness, not everyone feels close to the people living nearby. A total of 26% of respondents say they prefer to keep to themselves, and 25% say they simply do not see their neighbours often enough to build a meaningful bond. These everyday barriers shape how relationships develop long before any issues arise.

Ian says, "As our survey shows, strong communities are built on small, consistent gestures. Taking in a parcel, checking in during bad weather or offering a simple hello can create trust long before any problem arises. These moments matter far more than people realise, and help establish goodwill, making it easier to handle challenges when they do arise.

"Modern lifestyles also shape how people connect with those living nearby. A total of 21% say they are at different life stages from their neighbours, which can make forming friendships feel less natural. Another 13% say their schedules do not overlap, and 12% say they do not share common interests, which highlights how timing and lifestyle differences limit opportunities for stronger ties.

"It's also important to note that people value their privacy. Busy schedules, different life stages and limited free time all make connection more challenging. What matters is not forcing relationships, but creating opportunities for neighbourly goodwill when they naturally arise.

"Neighbour issues usually begin with something small, but can escalate quickly when property or safety is involved. A fallen tree, a damaged fence or even a misplaced DIY project have the ability to become more than a neighbourly misunderstanding. These situations often involve questions of liability, and that is where insurance plays a vital role. Understanding your policy helps avoid confusion and keeps disputes from spiralling. Clear communication and an understanding of home insurance in Ireland can make it much easier to resolve disputes before they become stressful or costly."

Sources and Methodology

To understand how neighbour relationships are changing in Ireland in 2025, Chill surveyed 2,000 adults across a broad mix of regions, housing types and age groups. Respondents were asked about their day-to-day interactions with neighbours, any issues they have experienced, how they would handle common neighbourhood situations, the acts of kindness they have received and the reasons some households feel more connected than others.