No longer such good neighbours

YouGov
June 15, 2010, 9:30 PM GMT+0

Nearly half (49%) of UK adults agree that people know more about the daily activities of their favourite celebrity than their neighbour, a recent YouGov Poll on behalf of Co-operatives UK has found. In particular, it is young people - 62% of 18-24 year olds and 72% of full time students – who are the most likely to keep more up to date on recent celebrity gossip than their neighbours’ movements. This is in contrast to those who are retired (39% are more likely to know more about their favourite celebrity than their neighbour).

Younger people are also significantly less likely to visit the homes of their neighbours, with 50% of 18-24 year olds and 60% of 25-34 year olds confessing they never pay a visit. This is well above the UK average of 39%. Notably, 18% of the same age groups (18 to 24 and 25 - 34) wish people visited them more often at home, and just under half (49%) of 18-24 year olds perceive most people in their area to be friendly.

Despite the widespread assumption that Londoners are not as neighbourly as the rest of the UK, the same percentage (43%) of residents from the North and Scotland say their neighbours have never called around for a chat.

However, it does seem that neighbours are often called upon for favours when needed. 23% of respondents say their neighbour has looked after a pet or plant for them over the last year, 66% say their neighbour has accepted mail or a parcel on their behalf and 27% say their neighbour has kept a spare key for them.

Survey details and full results