Shall I introduce myself as a new neighbour?

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Dear all, we have bought a new house in London and are thinking about introducing ourselves to our neighbours. Normally we would go around and say hello but in a COVID world I'm thinking wouldn't it be better to just post a note through their doors introducing ourselves? What shall we write in the note? Also, we are planning to apply for a planning permission to extend our kitchen - shall we mention that in an introductory message or not? What do you think oh wise ladies? 🙏🏻

I’m not in London, so maybe not the best person to ask, but I would go round and say hi. As long as you stay well back from the door, and it’s outside, I’d think it was ok. I would definitely not mention the extension yet, but I’d probably drop them a note before they hear of it through you seeking planning permission

Too bad they haven't popped round to say hi to you!
I would go round and say hi. Feel them out a bit.
When I moved in to my current house I wrote to both neighbours introducing myself and asking about our garden walls - dangerous but not clear on the deeds who owned them. I kept it light and brief and just asked if they had any knowledge. Then went round to talk - one slammed the door in my and young daughter's face, the other was delightful. I still ended up paying for both sides myself though!

My husband asked me the same question but I decided not to, as the new person. I only have 3 neighbours and each one introduced themselves in the first week, first.

I was uncomfortable with 'forcing' myself on my neighbours, especially as the new people.

Not in London, but I'm from London
We have new neighbours who emailed me and we've had a pleasant exchange so far... she have us the heads up about a lift extension and side return building works starting in June!? I was a bit miffed at first but hey she was polite and I've now got used to the idea of building work all over the summer....

I’d go round. Knock and then take a few steps back in case they are a MNer particularly vulnerable or anxious. I’d make the first introduction purely social and broach the subject of planning separately.

I wouldn't like that anytime. I'm not very sociable. I've moved a lot and never done that.

We've never gone out of our way to introduce ourselves, it just happens naturally - out front, putting bins out, garden etc.

I'd find it odd if someone turned up at my door tbh but I'm very much anti-social introvert!

I think a note is a nice idea. I wouldn’t particularly want someone new ringing my doorbell, as I’m busy either...with wfh or our DC. Just keep it to a light intro and include your number on it. I wouldn’t mention building works just yet!

I would assume my new neighbours would be a bit high maintenance if they came round to introduce themselves specially.

In London, assuming you're in a terrace, you naturally bump into your neighbours all the time. So I would wait for that and then say hello and introduce yourself.

We are really good friends with our neighbours and friends with lots of people on our street but it's all just happened naturally rather than anyone ringing our bell.

Obviously in rural places you're not going to run into each other all the time so it'll be different. But if a new neighbour came to introduce themselves in our road I would definitely think uh oh.

Recently had a new neighbour knock on to introduce himself and it was lovely. ☺️

Oh god, I'd hate for my neighbours to do that uggggh

I’ve just moved - give them a week or so to introduce themselves (which most of my neighbours did), and if not you can go and say hello

I’d wait a little while to mention planning... work out what kind of people they are first :)

I wouldn’t actually go round and knock on their door in case they were eating dinner/ watching something thrilling/ having sex/ generally not wanting to engage with people. I’d wait till I saw them outside and say hi, I live next door, good to meet you etc.

Also in London and our neighbours came over to us the weekend we moved in. We do tend to go and introduce ourselves when someone moves in to our actual building (3 other flats) but that's pretty much as far as we've gone

I’ve never done this in London - somehow also managed to largely never meet most of my neighbours in all of my london flats! Success!

I joke but also partially serious - who has time to get to know all their neighbours? I don’t have time to spend with my actual friends!

Our neighbours came out to introduce themselves to is over the course of the first week so I'd be tempted to wait and see whether anything happens naturally first. That said I do know people who have given notes to neighbours detailing future work and they believe it helped stop any anxious neighbours etc.

I wouldn't put a note through - all a bit formal and there is no 'etiquette' as to how they respond to that.

I'd just go round, knock then stand back from the door and introduce yourselves..... can say something vague like hoping to invite people round to get to know each other a bit better once we can all mix more..... or can introduce selves and if it goes a bit lukewarm in terms of response, be ready with a question to do with the neighbour hood (what day to put the bins out or if they can recommend the best chip shop locally or something - can be totally fabricated).

I’m in London- I’d find a knock on the door strange, particularly in these times.

I don't think I would do that. When you need to get planning permission, I would only introduce myself to the neighbours who will be most affected by the extension. I only introduce myself to neighbours if I happen to bump into them. Ive had previous bad experience though and never get involved with neighbours.

I had a new neighbour knock this week with a card and chocolates. I bought her a bunch of flowers in return. It was lovely. And the fact she opened her front door in her pjs makes me think she's my kind of person

I think it would be nice yes. After 8yrs we only know the neighbours either side of us. I did meet another across the street about 5 years ago and she said she was moving out. We had occasion to all be on the street at the same time in December and she was still there . We haven’t gone to meet new neighbours that have moved in as we’re a bit introverted.

Maybe next door op but I wouldn't push myself further than that until I got a feel from the neighbours if you start recognising each other around and about. No hurry IMHO. You don't know these people.
Good luck in your new home and congratulations 💐🥂

I would probably knock and say a quick hello to the houses either side. We moved house last year & my neighbour was really grateful we'd knocked as she was elderly and a bit apprehensive about new neighbours so it reassured her. It also made me feel better about any child noise she might have heard through the adjoining walls as I thought she was less likely to be annoyed if she knew us!

I probably wouldn't mention the extension when you first meet them though, unless it comes up in conversation naturally.

Those of you who'd hate for someone to politely introduce themselves... why on Earth would you be annoyed by this? It's a kind thing to do that takes two minutes.

People on here never fail to surprise me.

@YukoandHiro, I wouldn't hate it but would find it odd as I've never heard of anyone doing it!

I'm an awkward bugger though and the type of person who goes over conversations in my head for hours afterwards to analyse whether I did/said the wrong thing so being caught out unexpectedly in my doorway with no way out would make me nervey.

Joys of social anxiety