This article describes a survey carried out in England which identified factors associated with neighbourhood objections to community housing for people with mental handicaps. The five most common concerns of neighbours were: devaluation of neighbourhood property; the behaviour of residents; noise from the houses; risk to neighbours' children; and increased traffic.Over one‐fifth of the houses in the sample experienced organised opposition, whilst a much greater percentage experienced some hostility. Significantly more opposed houses than unopposed houses had a history of previous problems with neighbours. The other difference between houses which had experienced organised opposition and those which had not was the degree of consultation with local people prior to opening. Houses which had experienced organised opposition had been involved in more consultation with neighbours through letters, informal visits, and formal meetings.It was encouraging to find that most of the hostility dissipated following the opening of the houses. The level of integration and acceptance by local communities, however, never became very positiv