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AIBU?

AIBU or can i tell neighbours where to shove their gates?

341 replies

cheekybean · 28/03/2017 03:57

We moved to our house 6 years ago. We have a shared drive with our neighbours which has never really been a problem. However, 6 months ago, neighbours asked us if we wanted electric gates on drive. We said no, we didnt see the point. Security is not an issue, i am in all the time, they work away during the week, so opening and shutting gates is not really an issue. They said it was for them.

They asked us again, we said no because we could really afford it. They said they would pay and we could owe them. We said no because that didnt sit well and we dont want gates.

Got up saturday morning and a pair of 6 foot security gates were being fitted. We knew nothing about it. Given a bill for £600 and told dh is to wire them up. Plus we have to power them from our house

AIBU? Surely if we have said no, that should be the end of the matter! They are not here all week. Its only because they can't be bothered to open and shut the gates manually.

The gates are bloody ugly, TBH our drives looks like the entrance to a scrap yard. I dread coming home and having to look at them. DH is stressed becaused we have yet to confront neighbours as they arranged installation whilst on holiday.

WWYD. I dont want to fall out with neighbours and end up on channel 5. Husband dosent want to fall out as they are our friends apparently. But friends dont spend your hundreds of pounds and dont tell you what on. Feeling v. Pissed off due to being walked all over and DH's kind nature being taken for granted.

OP posts:
WaegukSaram · 28/03/2017 04:01

What?! No! You already told them no. And no also to using your power.

Not sure what to suggest though (other than NO). Solicitor? They're not really your mates, are they.

UnconventionalWarfare · 28/03/2017 04:04

Tell them where to fuck off not only are they taking the piss expecting you to pay but they somehow expect your other half to wire them up??? Is he a trained proffesional with experience in electric gates? In which case bill the cunts or otherwise dont touch them incorrectly installed and commissioned electric gates are lethal

Orangebird69 · 28/03/2017 04:05

You seriously have to ask on here?!?! Tell them to FUCK RIGHT OFF!

PoundlandUK · 28/03/2017 04:09

Why did you not tell the work men it was an unauthorized order, and that they were trespassing on your jointly owned driveway any must leave? Have they finished installing? If not, then tell them to stop immediately and that the work must be removed at the expense of the neighbours.

KoalaDownUnder · 28/03/2017 04:11

Umm. So much NO.

Who the hell do they think they are, really?!

LindyHemming · 28/03/2017 04:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AshesandDust · 28/03/2017 04:21

The sheer brass neck of it! I'd be furious. You need to get
the contractors back and tell them they don't have your
permission, as joint owner of the gateway, and they need
to take the gates down right now or you'll sue them.
This has the potential to make your home life a misery
if you let them get away with it - put your foot down now.

cheekybean · 28/03/2017 04:22

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

PoundlandUK · 28/03/2017 04:28

If you've only told them to get rid of the lanterns and not the whole then you have possibly implied acceptance of the gates themselves.

I'd suggest that you state your position very clearly 9am tomorrow morning. The gates must be removed now else you will take legal action.

PoundlandUK · 28/03/2017 04:29

You need to do it in writing, too.

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 28/03/2017 04:33

Check your house insurance. You're probably covered for legal advice.

cheekybean · 28/03/2017 04:34

Thanks poundland. We have no idea when they are coming back to finish installing them. Just find it a bit suss that neighbours holiday is conveniently when this fiasco has occured or perhaps i am reading too much into it

OP posts:
Sunnyjac · 28/03/2017 04:45

Order the removal of the gates otherwise there will be legal action. Their behaviour is shocking!

smurfit · 28/03/2017 05:18

Is it a right if way situation? Who owns the land the gates are on?

Mummyoflittledragon · 28/03/2017 05:31

Solicitor letter ordering dismantling and removal of the lamps and gates from your shared property and making good of the drive. As in putting back to how it was before. Otherwise legal action. No don't be bullied. They bought a house with a shared drive with no gates. If they want to gates and go decide what happens to a drive where they live, they need to move to a house with a 100% owned drive.

FrenchLavender · 28/03/2017 05:33

Stop saying you can't afford it. Just tell them you don't like them, don't want them and don't need them, and on that basis not only will you not be paying for them , wiring them or powering them from your own electricity supply but you will be taking legal action if they are not removed. I am sure that any home with shared access must have some sort of covenant in the deeds that forbids something like this.

It is absolutely outrageous behaviour. Are you 100% sure that your DH hasn't mumbled something that sounded to them as though he was vaguely in agreement about this? I can't quite believe that anyone could be so spectacularly rude or thick to not have understood that you were saying no.

araiwa · 28/03/2017 05:42

We refer you to the reply given in the case of Arkell v. Pressdram

WeAllHaveWings · 28/03/2017 06:04

Tell her dad to leave your property until the neighbours return to discuss.

NightWanderer · 28/03/2017 06:13

I agree that it doesn't matter what your reasons are, if you don't want the gates then that's an end to it. I think to start with tell the father that you said no to the gates and that they need to be removed immediately.

feesh · 28/03/2017 06:15

They're expecting a battle, that's why they've gone away for it! Give them one!

LostQueen · 28/03/2017 06:19

Given a bill for £600 and told dh is to wire them up. I just cannot get past the audacity of this! Shock

pictish · 28/03/2017 06:31

They'd get nothing from me but a stern telling off. Yanbu.

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Iggi999 · 28/03/2017 06:40

It's the idea that someone went out, ignored the 6ft gates and told the workmen to take off the 2ft lanterns that seems insane to me. Your messages seem very mixed!

Parker231 · 28/03/2017 06:44

Why did you allow the workmen to fit them?

Penfold007 · 28/03/2017 06:44

Planning permission would be needed to install these gates. Check with the council but I bet they haven't got permission. Also as said upthread stop saying you can't afford them as it implies permission.

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