Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Neighbour climbs over the fence next to my house to get home.

231 replies

AveryC · 13/11/2024 21:45

Hi everyone,
I just moved in to a new development, everything is good except for one thing.
My house is located at the end of a cul-de-sac. The front door faces a path for we walk to our driveway and a low fence, which marks the boundary at the end of or property. Outside the low fence have a a lawn and have a narrow walkway.
The walkway can get to to places like the supermarket and school.
However, during school dismissal, people often cut across the grass and climb over the fence, stepping into our property on their way home and some neighbors often walk through my property and climb over the fence near my house to access the footpath.

In doing so, they end up stepping on parts of my property, including areas just outside my parking space or some child jump into my front door area.

I feel incredibly annoyed and uncomfortable about their behavior. If they get too close to my house, I usually warn them. But there are times when they do this on the outskirts of my property, which makes it harder for me to say anything.l, but it supposed to be a close.

It’s only winter now; I can’t imagine what it will be like in the summer.
What should I do? And AIBU?

Thank you for reading my thoughts.
Here is my primary school-level drawing for your reference.😂

Neighbour climbs over the fence next to my house to get home.
OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Wibblywobblybobbly · 14/11/2024 23:08

Before you plant anything, check your deeds. Some new estates limit what you can plant. Also buy bigger established plants or they will just get trampled on.

AveryC · 14/11/2024 22:46

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 14/11/2024 11:44

@AveryC why dont you shade in all the private land so it is clear, put directions of school and supermarket too cos i cannot work out where they are coming from if you are at the bottom of the cul de sac. all the cul de sacs i know are impassable at the bottom. what height is the fence in situ? so in the new pic is the red shaded area also private??

Edited

The developer only put up a waist-high fence as the boundary for the cul-de-sac, thinking it would indicate no access. But clearly, people don’t see it that way.

OP posts:
AveryC · 14/11/2024 22:40

satonacat · 14/11/2024 20:50

That would annoy me, the whole point of living at the end of a cul-de-sac is that you have no through traffic and your kids etc can just dump their bikes outside your house. The way the developers have designed it makes it feel like everyone is tramping through your driveway (which I guess they are) that's annoying too, I often leave my car unlocked on my drive or dump stuff next to the car if I'm packing for day trips or holidays etc do I would want that to feel private.

Either a gap needs to be cut through or installing robust plants along 'your' bit; will need to be something fairly substantial otherwise people will just trample your plants.
Shame the developers won't take ownership of the issue, was a stupid idea to have a low fence next to a footpath because of the security risk, most footpaths going past houses have 6ft fences where I live.

You think the same way as I do. I bought a cul-de-sac because I didn’t want strangers or too much traffic. If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t have bought it.

But I’ve seen comments saying it’s their right to cross a fence to someone else’s cul-de-sac. Now I’m starting to doubt myself too 😂.

OP posts:
AveryC · 14/11/2024 22:37

There are too many comments, and I can’t respond to all of them at once. However, I’ve noticed that some people hold views opposite to mine. From my perspective, a fence means you’re not supposed to cross it and should use another exit. But it turns out some people believe that crossing the fence is acceptable.

This has made me realize that some people genuinely think this way. So, the only solution for me is to place obstacles, as explaining it to them won’t help since our logic is fundamentally different.
🤔

OP posts:
satonacat · 14/11/2024 20:50

That would annoy me, the whole point of living at the end of a cul-de-sac is that you have no through traffic and your kids etc can just dump their bikes outside your house. The way the developers have designed it makes it feel like everyone is tramping through your driveway (which I guess they are) that's annoying too, I often leave my car unlocked on my drive or dump stuff next to the car if I'm packing for day trips or holidays etc do I would want that to feel private.

Either a gap needs to be cut through or installing robust plants along 'your' bit; will need to be something fairly substantial otherwise people will just trample your plants.
Shame the developers won't take ownership of the issue, was a stupid idea to have a low fence next to a footpath because of the security risk, most footpaths going past houses have 6ft fences where I live.

another1bitestheduck · 14/11/2024 14:09

Fluffyiguana · 14/11/2024 11:44

If the situation is exactly as set out in this drawing i.e. there is a very small public right of way between yours and your neighbours' private roads (the gap between the two black areas you've drawn here) then it's trickier. Because you can't fully block off access / complain about people crossing in that spot. You would need to build higher fences / barriers around the areas you legally own and leave a right of way

this. you could put up any of the suggested solutions alongside your section of the fence but unless your neighbour did the same thing presumably they would just carry on stepping over anywhere between the middle part/neighbour's part instead. So at least they wouldn't be able to step over directly onto your doorstep, but they'd still be walking on the 'shared' private land.

Twototwo15 · 14/11/2024 13:54

gamerchick · 14/11/2024 13:31

Right? So put a sign up.

Is it even the OP’s fence?

gamerchick · 14/11/2024 13:31

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 14/11/2024 13:21

You have to put a sign up warning people when using anti-vandal paint

Right? So put a sign up.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 14/11/2024 13:21

gamerchick · 13/11/2024 21:56

burglar grease.

You have to put a sign up warning people when using anti-vandal paint

TheDeepLemonHelper · 14/11/2024 12:58

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Purplewarrior · 14/11/2024 12:58

The fence is way too low.

julia08 · 14/11/2024 12:50

On the second diagram, are the parts you shaded black roads (that a car can drive on), or a footpath to your house? Does this area belong to you in your deeds? If so, could you put up a garden gate at your boundary to block the way?

johnd2 · 14/11/2024 12:50

Don't see it as an issue, it's actually an opportunity. These people are saving 3 minutes per journey, and time is money.

What you need to do is get together with the neighbour and buy a turnstile, as well as one of those contactless payment things.
Then each time some one wants to cut through your land they pay 50p toll.
Job done!

Welshmiss10 · 14/11/2024 12:45

we had a similar issues, as I side on to a walking path and people/fishermen would try and jump the fence. This fence with the additional section has stoped it completely

WearyAuldWumman · 14/11/2024 12:44

AveryC · 14/11/2024 10:10

Thank you for your understanding. Indeed, I purchased a new build property, and before construction was completed, I had no idea how the lawn would be designed, what the fences would look like, or where the plants acting as barriers would be placed.

At one point, the developer even considered building a pedestrian pathway near my house, but they later scrapped the plan, which was a relief to me. As a result, I’ve been following up on every step of the process very closely.

My husband tells me to let it go, as he thinks these issues will only arise during school drop-off and pick-up times. However, I’m concerned that the situation may worsen in the future. I’ve already been looking into some plants or barriers, as you suggested.

I hope I won’t need to confront the neighbors directly, as I believe this is a matter of basic courtesy and shouldn’t have to be brought up. Hopefully, once the plants are in place, they’ll take the hint.

Prickly plants do make a difference, but remember to put up a temporary barrier to give them a chance to grow.

MyCatIsBeautiful · 14/11/2024 12:35

What does your neighbour with the shared land think about it? It must affect them too.

Cerealkiller4U · 14/11/2024 12:33

AveryC · 13/11/2024 21:56

I’m not sure if the developer has any restrictions, but I suspect that such a tall fence might not be allowed. Besides, placing a fence that high right near the front door would probably make the house look like a prison.

This issue really bothers me. I’ve considered adding some potted plants outside the fence, but I’m not sure if that would help.

Every day, I feel like telling those people not to do this, but I’m afraid of coming across as a strange or difficult neighbor.🥹

Read it then? I mean you need to look at what it says before we can give you suggestions surely?

Oreyt · 14/11/2024 12:29

@MyOtherCarIsAPorsche

All of our gardens are one big grass patch. No fences to show where they end and the neighbours begins.

Suppose that's what happens if you buy off plan but I can understand your daughters annoyance.

minerva7 · 14/11/2024 12:29

It's not karma @BettyBardMacDonald

The old lady didn't want random people on her property. I can imagine that would make her feel anxious and unsafe. There is nothing wrong with that.

As for her falling and lying unnoticed for days. Your response was heartless given the circumstances.

Oreyt · 14/11/2024 12:27

Could you and the neighbour put a fence and gate over the driveway?

Are the builders still on site?

Neighbour climbs over the fence next to my house to get home.
butteriesplease · 14/11/2024 12:17

hi, I feel your pain OP. I'm in a corner house and people cut across the front garden all the time, or let their dogs use it... gross. I planted holly plants and some other things to make the edge clearer (I wondered if some folk thought it was communal or something), and if I see kids walking on it, I go out and tell them not to go across our lawn. As the plants get bigger, they won't be able to cut across. Putting the plants in has really improved things. Good luck!

BourbonsAreOverated · 14/11/2024 12:17

snowmichael · 14/11/2024 12:08

Put glass or nails at the top of your fence

Don’t do that. You could hurt someone or wildlife and end up in trouble

Whenyourgonehowcanievengoon · 14/11/2024 12:12

Like this OP?

Dark Green arrow is the way neighbour should be walking out the estate and down the footpath (by the grass verge) to school/shops.

Red arrow is the way people are jumping the fence and walking past OP house (in blue).

Id be frustrated, one of the reasons we brought a house in a no through road is peace and quiet with people who do shifts and trying to sleep in the day.

Neighbour climbs over the fence next to my house to get home.
snowmichael · 14/11/2024 12:08

Put glass or nails at the top of your fence

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 14/11/2024 12:02

Guest100 · 14/11/2024 02:19

If it’s a repeat offender maybe you could just ask them not to cut through. When I was a child my brother was given permission to cut down the side of our back neighbours yard to get to school. In the next street. I did it once and the old lady that lived there really told me off. I apologised and never went near the boundary again. Years later she made me feel bad about not going near her yard as she fell and was on the ground outside for three days.

Poor woman - how horrible for her. Hope though you're not suggesting it's a rightful comeuppance...