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AIBU?

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To want to knock nails back through to neighbour's garden

87 replies

FindingTheBalance · 29/05/2025 18:31

We have obnoxious neighbours that we've had disputes with since they moved in. I made the mistake of asking them to turn music down so my baby could sleep and after two polite requests they said if we ever spoke to them again they'd report us for harrassment. Since then we've had issue after issue with them with them shouting abuse at us, spreading lies about us around our kids school and generally a-hole behaviour like encouraging their dogs to jump up at the fence and bark when we come in the garden.

Anyway, my husband just came in with a gash down his arm. Turns out they keep attaching items to their fence, but use crazily long nails to do so. We were already aware of a new set down one third of the fence so have blocked those off from the kids. But we've now discovered another set of them just behind our children's den that we're dismantling to build a bigger one. It's a blessing our kids haven't been stabbed by them as they climb around there all the time.

Would aibu to just hammer the nails back through? Or cut them flush with the panel? If they were reasonable neighbours I'd talk to them first but that's sadly not the case.

OP posts:
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Childrenare4life · 01/06/2025 19:10

Not sure if this has been mentioned already but if you have legal cover with your home insurance then I'd contact them. It's what legal cover is designed for.

looselegs · 01/06/2025 18:29

Our neighbour piled soil up against our fence. Our path was covered in muddy water whenever it rained, and it eventually caused the fence panel to bow.
Was quite satisfying when we changed the fence, lifted the old one out ( it's our fence not their's) and half their plants cane with it!

JohnofWessex · 01/06/2025 09:30

Dangerous building team at the local authority

MissMoneyFairy · 01/06/2025 08:08

You can also report to the council as they are an ongoing danger to the public, anyone could injure themselves if they put their hands out or fall

jeaux90 · 01/06/2025 08:06

Ridiculously dangerous and protruding on your property. Dremel them off.

wombat1a · 01/06/2025 08:01

That is beyond dangerous, I would start a personal injury claim against them, regardless of if the point of the screw is within their border there is a responsiblity to 3rd parties to not leave things in a state where they can cause injury. Look up making a health and safety claim against a neighbour.

MissMoneyFairy · 01/06/2025 07:47

JohnofWessex · 31/05/2025 20:40

Its not just the nails that need cutting off by the sound of it

Bullies have no balls

TisILeClair · 31/05/2025 21:40

That picture is horrific to be honest. If you want a quiet life then cut them back with bolt cutters but leave a few mm and put either a cork or a bit of wood onto each screw end to make it safe(r).

OhcantthInkofaname · 31/05/2025 21:08

I think the champagne/ wine corks a great idea. Paint them and make the most of the idiots.

JohnofWessex · 31/05/2025 20:40

MissMoneyFairy · 31/05/2025 18:27

This can cause serious injury and infection, you'd need a tetanus shot too, I'd get a copy of dh medical report, they need cutting off and I agree with ppl about a brick wall

Its not just the nails that need cutting off by the sound of it

mathanxiety · 31/05/2025 19:41

OCDmama · 31/05/2025 16:18

I don't want understand why you're taking such a softly-softly approach to this, or why people are advising you to.

You're lucky it was your husband that got scratched and not one of the kids, and it was only a scratch.

At the very least I would be cutting the ends of these screws off. Why the fuck do you care if their crap falls down? They could have had your kid's eye out FFS.

You're worried about them accusing you of harassment? Mate, someone left a trap like this for my children harassment would be the least of their worries.

Edited

YYY to this.

DonutsWin · 31/05/2025 19:02

Dremel them off. It will take minutes.
A junior hacksaw will take hours.

mathanxiety · 31/05/2025 18:34

Take a hammer and bend them down. Before you do, take photos, and take a photo of your H's bleeding arm.

Send your H for a tetanus shot.

MissMoneyFairy · 31/05/2025 18:27

This can cause serious injury and infection, you'd need a tetanus shot too, I'd get a copy of dh medical report, they need cutting off and I agree with ppl about a brick wall

bellabasset · 31/05/2025 16:33

You both own your houses so you will have household insurance, can you check with your insurers if you're covered for what is a dangerous structure ie nails that you or your family could be hurt by. A letter written by a solicitor might be more effective than trying to deal with it by putting cork on it or cutting off the ends. Good luck with resolving the issue

OCDmama · 31/05/2025 16:18

I don't want understand why you're taking such a softly-softly approach to this, or why people are advising you to.

You're lucky it was your husband that got scratched and not one of the kids, and it was only a scratch.

At the very least I would be cutting the ends of these screws off. Why the fuck do you care if their crap falls down? They could have had your kid's eye out FFS.

You're worried about them accusing you of harassment? Mate, someone left a trap like this for my children harassment would be the least of their worries.

alcoholnightmare · 31/05/2025 15:34

Cut them flush with the panel - preferably when you know they are out

actually no, I think the cork screw idea is best. No damage to thier screws, whatever they’ve got on fence won’t fall out, safety your side.
don’t give them more to get defensive and nasty about

amele · 31/05/2025 14:34

Also tell us his company, bad reviews help

amele · 31/05/2025 14:33

Cut the screw back. You’ll need a metal cutter of some sort

amele · 31/05/2025 14:33

Doesn’t matter if it’s his fence, he has something sharp sticking out onto ur side that can cause significant harm to anyone especially children. Can you imagine someone falling face forward or even backwards and having the screw go inside you!

amele · 31/05/2025 14:33

Doesn’t matter if it’s his fence, he has something sharp sticking out onto ur side that can cause significant harm to anyone especially children. Can you imagine someone falling face forward or even backwards and having the screw go inside you!

CreteBound · 31/05/2025 14:19

Put your own very high fence up

SinnerBoy · 31/05/2025 13:58

I agree with the injury claim, even if it's a small sum, because it'll be a good lesson for them. What they have done is stupid and negligent, there must be some legal recourse.

Had your husband been to the doctor / minor injuries clinic? He should, to get an official record.

And bolt cutters, put the remnants on their drive, so you're not accused of stealing.

Finally, asking politely for a bit less volume absolutely is NOT harassment.

looselegs · 31/05/2025 13:29

Cut the buggers off....then throw the cut off bits back over!

JohnofWessex · 31/05/2025 13:13

I might be inclined to get a no win no fee deal and make a personal injury claim

I might also get onto building control about the soil

Failing that

Dear Twat

There are a number of screws that have been inserted into the fence from your side

My husband has been injured by one of them.

Please can you ensure that they are removed within 7 days.

I also note that a large quantity of soil has been placed against the fence which is now buckling.

If you send it First Class there is deemed service after (three?) days or just put it through their letterbox

Also perhaps a shitty review on Trustpilot might be in order