Home nail & beauty salons: how to maintain positive neighbour relations & resolve conflict
By Rebecca Hitchon | 29 March 2025 | Business, Expert Advice, Feature, Salon & Spas
Scratch Stars Home Nail Salon of the Year finalists for 2024 offer advice for how home business owners can keep the peace with neighbours and resolve potential conflicts…
Kirsty Brown, owner of Paintbrush Nails, Stirling – Scratch Stars Home Nail Salon of the Year 2024
Kirsty Brown, owner of “When opening a home salon, it’s good practice to inform your direct neighbours. A friendly conversation or letter can set expectations and prevent any surprises. This is especially important if there will be noticeable changes, such as an increase in visitors or adjustments to parking arrangements. Explain the launch by framing it as a professional setup. You could mention that you will keep client numbers controlled, maintain discretion and ensure minimal disruption.
“I’ve built a good relationship with my neighbours, and one of them is a regular client. As a gesture of goodwill and to foster mutual respect, I always make an effort to accommodate her schedule.
“Here are some measures to prevent disruption and accommodate neighbours:
• Manage parking thoughtfully – Encourage clients to park considerately and avoid blocking driveways. If parking is limited, find alternative options and notify clients in advance, so they can plan.
• Control noise levels – Be mindful of music volume and avoid late evening appointments if they could disturb neighbours.
• Regulate traffic flow – Staggering appointments prevents congestion and maintains a steady, controlled flow of visitors.
• Maintain a tidy, discreet entrance – Keeping the front of your property clean and tidy ensures that your home salon integrates seamlessly into the neighbourhood. It is important to remember that it is residential property, not a shop front.
• Be approachable – Let neighbours know they can speak to you if they ever have concerns, to foster open communication and trust.”
Fiona Fox, owner of Ulu Beauty, Christchurch
Fiona Fox, owner of “When letting neighbours know about your home salon, keep the conversation light and positive, such as: ‘Hey, I just wanted to let you know that I’m launching a nail salon from home. It’ll be appointment-only, so it won’t be too busy, and I’ll make sure parking doesn’t cause any issues. Let me know if you ever have any concerns!’
“If your home salon involves physical changes, it’s even more important to inform neighbours. Before building work starts, mention what’s changing, how long it will take, potential disruptions and that you will do your best to keep disruption to a minimum. Here’s an example of how you could phrase it: ‘Hi, just a quick heads-up – I’m setting up a nail salon at home, and I’ll be converting my [xxx] over the next few weeks. There might be a bit of noise during the day, but I’ll do my best to keep it as low-key as possible. Let me know if anything ever becomes a problem!’ Once the work is done, a friendly follow-up or small thank you gesture can help maintain a positive relationship.
“Here are some common neighbour complaints and how to address them:
- Parking – If a neighbour feels your clients are taking up spaces, reassure them that you’ll remind clients to park considerately. If possible, offer alternative solutions like using your driveway. You could say: ‘I understand parking is tight, and I really don’t want my business to cause problems. I’ll remind clients to park respectfully, and I can also adjust my bookings if needed to ease pressure.’
- Noise – Some neighbours might be sensitive to increased foot traffic or conversations. Reassure them that your salon is appointment-only and that you’ll keep noise levels in check. You could respond: ‘I completely get it, and I want to be a good neighbour. My clients usually come one at a time, and I’ll make sure there’s no excessive noise. Please let me know if it ever becomes a problem again.’
- Increased foot traffic – If a neighbour feels there are too many people coming and going, explaining your appointment structure can ease their worries. For example: ‘I only take one client at a time and space out appointments, so there isn’t a constant flow of people. I really appreciate you letting me know, and I’ll keep an eye on it.’
“If things escalate, having a record of solutions discussed can help. Most complaints come from miscommunication. By staying approachable and open to feedback, you can keep the peace.”
Dawn Patrick, owner of Pretty Neat Salon, St. Albans
Dawn Patrick, owner of “It is always advisable to inform close neighbours of your intentions to run a home salon. This offers transparency and invites them to come to you with any potential issues.
“A common complaint is parking. I offer up the spare space on my driveway to clients. I try to avoid clients overlapping to ensure that they can use this. However, there are times when a client may be early/leave later and another parks on the road. But with only one client parked on the road, this is no different to a neighbour entertaining a friend.
“For many home salons, appointment times fall outside of the standard working day or week. This results in higher numbers of clients arriving in the residential area when neighbours are home, making the business more noticeable to neighbours. Make an effort to minimise the salon’s visibility. As they say: out of sight, out of mind.
“In instances where complaints are raised, always listen to the concerns and seek to resolve them, no matter how petty. Keeping your neighbours on side is preferable, however in the 25 years I have owned a home salon, I can sadly say there are neighbours that enjoy the drama complaints bring. In such instances, ensure you do all you can to avoid conflict, and keep a diary of exchanges and measures you have put in place to find a resolution. Do your best to remain calm and not rise to any bait.”
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