Here are the issues that bring out the Victor Meldrew in you

Two things that drive us Brits to distraction are dog mess and bin collections. without getting all ‘Victor Meldrew’ about it, we all have at least one thing that goes on in the neighbourhood that makes us seethe with rage.

Despite the bin and dog haters, parking tickets and council tax disputes generally drive most local authority complaints. Yet, surprisingly, no matter where you are in the UK the top 10 environmental health complaints are all remarkably similar.

The term ‘environmental health’ isn’t just about recycling and the local environment. It’s a catch-all term for everything from noise pollution to pest control and from messy neighbours to dodgy drains. Some complaints are relatively easy to deal with. Some can drag on for years.

At Resolver, I see a huge variety of complaints about all sorts of things that might make you write or call your local council. Here are few of the main ones – and what you can do about them:

Litter and fly tipping are an increasing concern to people these days. How your local town looks can affect how you perceive your community, from councillors to neighbours.

A surprisingly large number of complaints to councils are about trees (branches that need trimming) or hedges (woe betide the council that leaves a hedge to go native). Lots of neighbourly disputes arise thanks to trees and hedges. My top tip? compromise where possible. Some of the nastiest (and most expensive) legal battles I’ve seen have involved things that grow or miniscule boundary disputes. This doesn’t mean you should let next door get away with bad behaviour. But it’s worthwhile taking a deep breath, inviting them round and bashing out a compromise where you can.

of course, this isn’t always possible. Noise, threats and unruly neighbours are a nightmare – and you need your council’s help if the problem is ongoing. Again, quoting the law isn’t always going to be the solution (you end up trapped in legal debates that can be exhausting). But mediation really can make a difference – or at least demonstrate how reasonable you’re being. Interestingly, though noisy neighbours make the list, it’s messy neighbours who spark more complaints.

I also see a smattering of complaints about more ‘specific’ issues, like unsafe playgrounds, grumpy council staff and ‘those pesky kids’ (underage drinking in parks usually). As is often the case, some of these cases may seem petty, but when you look at the context, there are wider issues.

Every council does things differently, which means some situations are specific to where you live. For example, rubbish collections certainly do make the top 10, but in some areas it’s the bins not being collected, in others it’s the sheer number of bins, or being penalised for not putting the right things in them (or shutting the lids).

If you need to complain to your council, it helps to get a bit of evidence.

Photos are useful or keeping a diary if you’re unhappy with a noise pollution issue. Stay calm and think about how you want the problem to be resolved. Many councils offer mediation for neighbourly disputes, which can save years of hassle.

Though every council is different, they should all follow the same rules when it comes to making a complaint. Get started through resolver.co.uk.

If you’re not sure which council is responsible for your issue, see gov.uk/complainabout-your-council. what local issues drive you mad the most? Get in touch: your stories@resolver. co.uk. Make a complaint at resolver.co.uk or talk to us at @ resolver.co.uk or facebook/

resolvercouk Noisy neighbours? Help is at hand if talk doesn’t work