Having two universities in the city brings many positive benefits to Brighton and Hove, from boosting the economy to making it a more vibrant place to live. But like many things in life, a balance needs to be achieved.

In this case it is between the needs and wants of students who live in the community and homeowners. After months of consultation, a Brighton and Hove City Council panel has come up with a list of 37 recommendations in a report that it hopes will help the two groups live peacefully side by side.

Most of the suggestions have been welcomed by students union representatives and steps are already being made to implement some of them. But student representatives argue that residents also need to do their bit whether it is by getting to know their student neighbours, offering them advice or simply abandoning the stereotype that all students cause a nuisance.

Sam Forster, University of Brighton students union’s vice-president for education and equalities, believes the first step for students and residents should be to introduce themselves to their neighbours.

He said: “Developing relationships with the people living next door and in the surrounding area is the best way to avoid a lot of problems as well as helping to raise the overall standard of life and feel of community.

“If you know someone on a personal level, rather than just as a next door neighbour, it is a lot easier to approach them about things.”

Assumptions Richa Kaul-Padte, University of Sussex students union welfare officer, agreed. She said: “Firstly, residents should not automatically assume that any young person causing a nuisance is a student.

“Like in any situation, if you are having problems with your neighbours knock on their doors and talk to them about it. Everybody taking on board extra responsibility to communicate with each other would alleviate a lot of problems.”

Both universities are also running initiatives to make students aware of their responsibilities of living in residential areas.

The University of Brighton has been running its Silent Students, Happy Homes (Sshh) campaign for a number of years. It encourages students to go home quietly at the end of a night out.

The University of Sussex is also implementing its Good Neighbour campaign to provide information to students to improve neighbour relations. Tips will include knowing when to take the rubbish and recycling out and understanding noise levels and how they can affect other people.

Mr Forster and Miss Kaul-Padte also agreed work needs to be done to tackle the problem of rogue landlords, who can charge students high rents but fail to maintain their properties.

The University of Brighton students union has suggested introducing an accreditation scheme for all landlords and agencies who let to students and the University of Sussex students union has launched a rate your landlord survey which it will pass on to the council to highlight students own experiences of living in the city.

The universities have also recommended a group should be formed of representatives from the council, Sussex Police, both universities and their students unions, landlord representatives and community leaders to tackle issues that arise.

The two universities are keen to reduce tensions between residents and students and hope the council’s recommendations can help show both communities how important their neighbours are to the city.

Action Charles Dudley, director of residential, sport and trading services at the University of Sussex, said: “We welcome the recognition and appreciation in this report of the important and positive contribution of the universities to the economy, life and vibrancy of the city.”

A spokeswoman for the University of Brighton said: “We are already taking action to address the recommendations and we will continue to do so where possible.

“This includes changes at Phoenix halls of residence in Hanover where the reception has been relocated and signs remind students to shut windows to minimise noise pollution.

“Use of CCTV has also been increased and work is under way to install a new smoking shelter, as suggested in the recommendations.”