Avoiding warfare

Noise complaints

can seriously affect

a pub's value.

Paul Davey,

managing director

of Davey & Co

property agents,

suggests solutions

The importance of fostering a good relationship with people living close to your pub can't be overstated. It's too easy to be dismissive of anyone wishing to buy a house, flat or commercial premises immediately adjacent to a licensed business. After all, they were aware of the pub's existence when they made the decision to buy their property, so surely they should be prepared to put up with the consequences?

But that isn't the most constructive attitude to adopt if you want to develop your trade and maximise the saleability and value of your business. A record of complaint and poor neighbour relations can't be brushed under the carpet. When you sell, standard pre-contract property enquiries will include questions about whether you have received neighbour complaints about noise or disturbance or been involved in any other dispute.

This is not only relevant to formal notices issued against you by local authorities, but whether you have been in dispute with immediate neighbours. Dishonest answers could lead to legal trouble over false declarations and breach of contract. And it could deter potential buyers from proceeding and lead to the collapse of the sale of your business.

Give plenty of warning

While it is clearly sensible to form good relationships with neighbours - after all, they're your closest potential customers - a little effort could go a very long way in preventing these people potentially torpedoing a sale when the time comes to move on.

This is not just restricted to providing prior notice of any forthcoming events which may lead to increased parking requirements, noise problems or longer-than-usual trading hours on a specific day.

External trading areas are more vital to pubs than ever - as well as countering the effects of the smoking ban, attractive, well-maintained and well-furnished gardens and terraces add an important trading area and give customers another reason to choose your pub.

So if you're planning to make external improvements, let your neighbours know. They are likely to hear you are making improvements which might have a beneficial effect on the appearance of the area immediately adjoining their property, and have been forewarned that more activity will occur outside.

Prevention's cheaper than cure

The location of smoking shelters, children's play equipment, pétanque pitches, paved or decked seating areas and gazebos should be considered with potentially problematic neighbours in mind - after all, prevention is often far less costly than cure.

The staging of local events such as hog roasts, beer festivals, local charity fund

raising initiatives, and children's or family events in these areas can have a positive effect on neighbour relations because of their inclusive nature. Such commercially-driven strategies can help to bond your community.

If relations have already soured and there's no pleasing your neighbours, positive action is essential. Your problems may stem from a simple personality clash. Whatever the issues, you would be well advised to try to deal with them and reach some form of compromise with your disaffected neighbour. Arranging a meeting can help you work towards a solution and help to resolve an unhappy situation which may only deteriorate into warfare.

Key considerations

l If you are involved in a dispute, have disagreements or receive complaints from

immediate neighbours, you are obliged to divulge details to prospective buyers via your solicitor within a Commercial Property Standard Enquiry (CPSE) questionnaire, which forms part of the business-sale contract.

l Warning neighbours about external

improvements can help to keep them on-side.

l Consult your neighbours about siting

external areas such as decking, terraces, gazebos, pétanque pitches, smoking shelters or children's play equipment.

l Consider staging a range of inclusive local events such as charity functions and hog roasts in your outside trading areas to win local support for your business and foster

positive relationships.

l If you are already involved in an ongoing dispute or disagreement, try to reach a compromise with your neighbours by tackling the issues head-on.

l The saleability and future value of your

business can be adversely affected by

disputes - so be sure to avoid

dismissing any potentially serious issues.