Feuding Australian high-rise neighbours fight with nappies and chairs

Feuds among neighbours in high-rise blocks are on the rise, with tables, chairs and even used nappies being used as missiles in balcony wars. Latest State Government figures show requests to the Department of Fair Trading for urgent mediation have increased by 10 per cent.

Last year, there were 1405 calls for departmental intervention, compared with 1273 in 2008.Complaints ranged from the run-of-the mill to the bizarre.

Among the stranger cases was a complaint by an apartment-dwelling resident relating to noisy geese. Departmental officers who investigated discovered a neighbour was keeping birds, which he said were to feed his dogs.



In another case, a resident in a long-running dispute awoke to find an "evil" effigy of himself staring out the window of his neighbour's unit across the courtyard. The neighbour initially told investigators the effigy was artwork, before agreeing to remove it.

A complaint was made by the owner of a male bath house who claimed his business was suffering because alcoholic drinks spilt on the timber floor of the nightclub above were dripping on to patrons. Both residents engaged lawyers and were preparing to fight the matter in court.

Another case mediated last year involved neighbours throwing chairs, tables, used nappies, lit cigarettes and condoms from their unit. Fair Trading Minister Virginia Judge said the key to resolving disputes was to seek advice at the earliest instance before the feuding became protracted.