sadietoo Posted October 26, 2009 Author Share Posted October 26, 2009 OSH I wish it were that easy...I absolutely agree about not escalating things as well, and certainly do not want to make it war, but I do just want to shut this man out of my life. He is "known" to be very difficult and has fallen out with just about everyone in our very small road. My MIL used to live here before we moved in and he reduced her to tears one day by cutting back all the overhanging stuff and throwing it over her fence (yes I know technically he can but everyone knew she wasn't fit or able enough to clear it). He obviously spends a lot of time looking over his fence because he finds so much to complain about that happens in our garden. First of all he didn't like it that we had strung a washing line down our garden instead of having a whirlygig thing like my MIL had had. (there is a huge hedge on the opposite side ( not ours another neighbours) and we need to get the washing up to get any chance of drying it. It offended him because he could see it from his lounge window (a small narrow window high up in the wall designed to let a bit more light into the room not the big plate glass type) Then we mysteriously had the planning people round when we were replacing our existing conservatory (he is the only one who can see into our garden). Then the notice in the garden, my son's dinghy and trailer in our front garden which prevents us getting both cars on the drive (it's a private road so we own our bit of it anyway and we don't block anyone else) annoys him too. And of course yesterday as soon as OH was out there trying to put up the new gate he found a mysterious need to be in and out of his caravan, parked just his side of where the gate is! And yet when he needed something on his electric gate fixed, I found the man trampling all over my front borders without so much as a by your leave!!!! So I'm being petty now I know, but I really don't feel like trying to parlay with him!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 Hmmmmmmm Sorry sadietoo I didn't realise that he had form. Yes you must shut him out. How awful for you and the family. I hope it works and you can ignore him. Why oh why are some people like that? Life is too short, for heaven's sake. I do feel sorry for these people, it must be dreadful to be so full of anger all the time. I posted this in "pearls of wisdom" Type it on a card and pop it through his letterbox anonymously in the dead of night when he won't catch you There is no fire like greed, No crime like hatred, No sorrow like separation, No sickness like hunger of heart, And no joy like the joy of freedom. Health, contentment and trust Are your greatest possessions, And freedom your greatest joy. Best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 He's probably got a night-time camera set up If you do go down the fence route, do check on the height - I've a feeling that it may be different for a front fence, compared to the back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 For some reason these type of people feel the world and YOU owe them something. Not sure why - but would they give some of their garden to you - nope don't think so . I would do the fence - and as someone has already said, he cannot paint or fix anything to that fence, even on his side without your consent. If he does he is liable to replace the panel(s) affected. We had to make this very clear to our NFH as she got a quote from our fence man to fix trellis onto our new fence, when OH had already asked her not to She also commented on colour schemes. Luckily we had a really good bloke to do the job and as soon as she tried to get the fence moved etc he got onto us at work. She always waited till we were out to do this - and thought she might get away with it, as she had done with the other neighbours who are her "generation" but lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 Sadie,you truly have my sympathies. It must make you feel so annoyed at him sometimes,& you must feel like you are always waiting for him to make his next petty move If I were you,I would take some photos of the fence that is there now,the new fence you put up,plus the gate & gate post in question, just so that you have a record. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dippy bird Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 I really feel for you.Our neighbour put nails in our tyres for months as he didn't like us parking our cars outside our house! He claimed that he couldn't get his trailor onto his drive,which doesn't actually exist(no dropped kerb,therefore no drive), he then said that his wife liked to look out of her window to see the view of the field over the road.He said this when it was pitch black the first winter we moved in! We ended up having to spend a fortune on CCTV equipment as it was costing us a fortune on new tyres and wheels.We also involved the police who actually thought he was a sandwich short of a picnic,but without any proof,they couldn't do anything but warn him. The nails kept coming.My OH now parks his car right down the street just to keep the peace (and our tyres in tact). Some people are unbelievable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 If you do go for the fence route, why wouldn't you allow him to paint / grow climbers up/ etc his own side? You won't be able to see his side of the fence, after all, and so long as you can make it clear to him that you'll expect him to pay for replacement panels if he causes real damage. I don't think screwing or nailing lightweight trellis to his side of the fence will shorten it's life or make it rickety? (assuming it is lightweight trellis and appropriate length screws!!). The guy does sound horrible, don't get me wrong I'm not defending his behaviour. But... there's no point in getting into some big battle with him, or descending to his level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 I really feel for you.Our neighbour put nails in our tyres for months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 If you do go for the fence route, why wouldn't you allow him to paint / grow climbers up/ etc his own side? You won't be able to see his side of the fence, after all, and so long as you can make it clear to him that you'll expect him to pay for replacement panels if he causes real damage. I don't think screwing or nailing lightweight trellis to his side of the fence will shorten it's life or make it rickety? (assuming it is lightweight trellis and appropriate length screws!!). If he grows climbers it can really really does shorten the life and with somone like him i doubt you'd be able to get him to pay to have it replaced without going to court. We moved into this house two years ago and have so far had to replace three fence panels because of climber damage and they were planted just before we bought it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockadoodle1 Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 My neighbour is worried that the Foxwatch will hurt her little pooch's ears. I told her she will only know that when he puts his paws over his ears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 If he grows climbers it can really really does shorten the life and with somone like him i doubt you'd be able to get him to pay to have it replaced without going to court. We moved into this house two years ago and have so far had to replace three fence panels because of climber damage and they were planted just before we bought it. I didn't realise that climbers could cause so much damage! I totally agree with you that I'm sure a nightmare neighbour wouldn't consider paying to replace a panel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted October 26, 2009 Author Share Posted October 26, 2009 Thanks again everyone for the support. We are getting some quotes for fencing this week and hope to get it all fixed up very soon. You are right that it can only be 1m tall at side nearest road, but I will grow a big something in that corner of the garden so will get extra height that way. I can be patient! I think then all will go quiet for a while...until OH puts up new and long awaited shed at bottom of our garden.....we are getting planning advice before the first slab for the base is laid, as sure as eggs is eggs, he will whinge because it will be seen from his patio doors.... I really can't believe people can be so petty. There are all sorts of things someone with that much time on his hands could be doing to improve the lot of himself and others......I hope someone will put me out of my misery if I ever get like that!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 Not a close neighbour,but a local villager complained & objected to our planning permission to extend our house backwards into our garden,because he would be able to see it when he walked past with his dog in the morning He would...................if he had a step ladder or a cherry picker maybe. The back of the house is just that - it can't be seen from the road. Unfortunately his claim was listened to as he is a local councillor - our close neighbours,one who we are adjoined to,had no problems at all. When we forst moved here & the house was 2 up 2 down, & we were extending,we found another villager actually in our freshly dug foundations with a tape measure to make sure they were the correct depth.Appatantly this was for 'our own good', despite Hubby being a builder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 If you do go for the fence route, why wouldn't you allow him to paint / grow climbers up/ etc his own side? You won't be able to see his side of the fence, after all, and so long as you can make it clear to him that you'll expect him to pay for replacement panels if he causes real damage. I don't think screwing or nailing lightweight trellis to his side of the fence will shorten it's life or make it rickety? (assuming it is lightweight trellis and appropriate length screws!!). The guy does sound horrible, don't get me wrong I'm not defending his behaviour. But... there's no point in getting into some big battle with him, or descending to his level. If the fence was on a shared boundary then I would agree with you CA, despite the fact that climbers might cause a bit of damage. However, in this case the fence will not be on a shared boundary, it will be onn the OPs property (the neighbours chainlink is on the shared boundary). In this case, him doing ANYTHING to it without permission would be unacceptable. It would be like putting, say, a tree in your garden and having him attach things to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbier Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 My MIL used to live here before we moved in and he reduced her to tears one day by cutting back all the overhanging stuff and throwing it over her fence (yes I know technically he can but everyone knew she wasn't fit or able enough to clear it). He can't do this: it's actually classed as flytipping if he dumps stuff over the fence without checking first. The legalities are that although you can cut down stuff that is overhanging your garden, you must "offer" it back to the neighbour. If they don't want it then it's your responsibility to dispose of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 My, there are some miserable people out there with nothing better to do with their lives. My sympathies to those of you with such rotten neighbours. We have occasionally agreed to differ with ours, but am beginning to really appreciate how nice they are in comparison to others! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 My neighbour is wonderful. He has a very large field .... maybe 2 acres .... which he has planted with deciduous trees. He stopped me while I was out with the dog yesterday and asked whether I would like to use the corner that abuts our garden to fence off and put the chooks in it LIKE No more arguments with hubby about the chooks destroying the garden Christmas has come early Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 OSH you are one lucky lady! Your neighbour sounds fantastic. I'm very lucky with mine too, although no fields to borrow here unfortunately. Years ago (I was about 15) we moved house largely due to a neighbour who bought the adjoining semi. It was bought to be developed as the previous elderly owner had let it become quite run down. We knew this and were prepared for some disruption. We weren't prepared for him removing the brick-built outbuildings on our side of the boundary. The plans for his extension didn't state this, they said that he would remove his side only - but we came home one day to find him emptying and dismantling our side! He had also opened up our drains (one of the buildings had an outside loo in it) and the smell was terrible. Dad stopped him, and there was a 'heated debate'... ending in Dad phoning the planning department who agreed that this was not part of the plans and that he should repair the damage immediately. Things turned nasty after that - he held a party with full-size nightclub sound system & refused to turn down the noise at 3 a.m. although I was 'sleeping' in the adjoining bedroom. At 5 a.m., the police went in and saw that these speakers were in the hallway, turned towards our house and up against the wall. He turned the music down at that point, then turned it up again as soon as they left. After that he began a campaign. Every few nights he would arrive, turn on the music - one track playing over and over again - and leave. He would return the next morning and switch it off. It was loud enough to rattle windows on houses 4 doors along, that weren't joined to ours. The police said they could do very little as he wasn't living there. All we could do was report it and get the Environmental Health people in. He was eventually prosecuted, and it stopped, but by that time we had begun to look at moving out anyway. It made us all ill. Like Happy Chickens, my heart goes out to anyone who is dealing with a 'difficult' neighbour... I wouldn't want to go through it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Crikey Yorkie,thats more than just difficult - that is just plain evil! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozmk1 Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 ouch you guys have some NASTY neighbours. i was always led to believe that if you are stood at the front of your house you are responsible for the boundary to the left of it? we;v just bought a reposessed house (im going to put pictures up soon as its shocking) and it was safe to say it was the "worst house on the street" and people around us had let their gardens get in a mess too as theres no point trying to keep them nice when youv gotta contend with a tip and a jungle next door to you. but now that we have cleared it and ripped own makeshift fencing etc other people are doing the same, having a clear out etc etc and thankfully on the property side of things we get alogn quite well. hope you get it sorted and just to be pedantic i would do as others have and make sure you build as big as you can just becuase you can! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Wow, I can't believe how bad some of your neighbour-experiences are! I'm sure that everyone occasionally has to do things/not do things in order to keep the peace with next door, and quite right that sometimes it's nicest and best to go for the "give-and-take" option. BUT...! it has to be on both sides, and there is a limit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyfeet Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Our 'joined' next door neighbours are moving out next Monday and I will really miss them - they have been brilliant with feeding first the cats when we are away and then the chickens when we had them, watering plants, moving post etc. We've got first time buyers coming in - we've seen them and smiled and waved which was echoed so we are hopeful things will be good. Dawn x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbier Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 i was always led to believe that if you are stood at the front of your house you are responsible for the boundary to the left of it? You can't rely on that. If you have the deeds with definitive "T"s on it then that's a boundary you are responsible for. Otherwise then it can be difficult to identify. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted October 27, 2009 Author Share Posted October 27, 2009 Can I just say that after reading some of your stories on here I am thinking I shouldn't be complaining at all. Our neighbour's irritating ways seem very small fry in comparison to some of the nightmares you have had to put up with, and I am really sorry for you all. It does get to you and is very stressful, even though you tell yourself not to let it bother you, sending you hugs...and huge thanks for the support.It does help to know you are not alone. When people have to be so territorial it makes you realise perhaps we haven't evolved as much as a species as we like to think we have! (Although having said that I daresay my neighbour could misconstrue my OH "watering" the end of the garden to put off the foxes as us marking out our territory )(hastens to add he has never done that when anyone could have seen him ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Our neighbour's dog has been hurling itself at the hedge and fence again after the girls - or us if we are out there. 3 times yesterday and only called back twice - once for a treat. So it is being rewarded. Once today and it wasn't called back at all. We are now logging down when it does it (it is accompanied by snarling, barking and growling) and we will also be taking video shots. When we have a fair few I will tell her ladyship to keep her animal under control or remove her hedge and replace with a secure solid fence (which it is supposed to be anyway) or I will go to the authorities. I am in no doubt that it will attack if it gets in our garden as it already has attacked the post lady twice (once it ripped the inside of her thigh apart but she didn't want to take the matter further - so much blood on the driveway). We added another chicken wire fence our side long before the girls were around because we were worried about our own safety after it got in and snarled at us on the patio - then I chased it with a stick. We have strategically placed weaponry around the garden just in case - I can't think what else to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
