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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be furious that my neighbour ‘borrowed’ my garden furniture for her BBQ?

238 replies

2coolec · 05/08/2025 17:37

Went away for the weekend, came back Monday afternoon to find our patio table, four chairs, and parasol in next door’s garden.

Turns out she’d had a BBQ on Sunday and “thought we wouldn’t mind” if she borrowed them. Was “going to return it”. Only I found out because by Monday evening it was still all sat there and I saw her teenage son and his mates hanging out on my furniture.

No note. No text. Just helped herself. I wouldn’t even have known if I hadn’t looked over the fence.

I’m honestly livid. It’s not a small thing to borrow and she didn’t even ask. What if it had got damaged? Or gone missing?

AIBU to think this is beyond cheeky and actually borderline theft?

OP posts:
AnnoyedAsAllHeck · 09/08/2025 22:05

JennyBG · 09/08/2025 18:30

I wonder why OP hasn’t answered any comments yet? Is she next door?

Hopefully, not under their patio while they use her garden furniture for another BBQ!

The OP has not been back since her first post?

Mossey55 · 09/08/2025 21:12

Discourteous of them. Cheeky definitely but not theft if they never tended to keep it
don’t overreact

Jorge14 · 09/08/2025 21:10

This is mental 😂 people are nuts. It’s completely taking the piss. I know no harm has been done but it’s unbelievable, especially as they didn't bring it straight back after the BBQ. I wouldnt flip out at them as you have to live next door but id say, please can you bring my furniture back and ask before taking my things in future, i think that is fair enough.

LemonDropsXx · 09/08/2025 20:53

It wouldn’t bother me if I knew them. If I don’t know them it would be cheeky but it wouldn’t be a hill I’d die on worrying about.

Skybluepinky · 09/08/2025 20:49

I get on fine with my neighbours so wouldn’t have an issue with it.

Magnificentkitteh · 09/08/2025 20:30

This is brazen and I would be v surprised but equally surprised at the strength of feeling here. I think I'd be more amused than anything, but I do get on with my neighbours.

WearyAuldWumman · 09/08/2025 20:25

Mayanatalia · 09/08/2025 20:08

Lawnmower would be fine

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Why?

Mayanatalia · 09/08/2025 20:23

WalkDontWalk · 09/08/2025 20:23

I think that that translates as 'my position is about to become untenable - I'm off'.

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Okay 😂

WalkDontWalk · 09/08/2025 20:23

This reply has been deleted

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

I think that that translates as 'my position is about to become untenable - I'm off'.

Mayanatalia · 09/08/2025 20:21

This reply has been deleted

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

WalkDontWalk · 09/08/2025 20:17

Mayanatalia · 09/08/2025 20:14

No because they’re inside the house, it’s not a big deal if they’re garden items.

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Leaving aside the revelation that you keep your barbecue indoors - ours wouldn't go through the kitchen door....

So, the criterion for you is that anything outside the walls of the house is fair game for borrowing without permission, yes?

Mayanatalia · 09/08/2025 20:14

WalkDontWalk · 09/08/2025 20:11

@Mayanatalia

Okay - and the rest would not be?

Edited

No because they’re inside the house, it’s not a big deal if they’re garden items.

WalkDontWalk · 09/08/2025 20:11

@Mayanatalia

Okay - and the rest would not be?

Mayanatalia · 09/08/2025 20:08

WalkDontWalk · 09/08/2025 19:57

Why's it not the same?

How about saucepans? Bed linen? The barbecue? Lawnmower? Blender? TV?

Are any of these okay to borrow, just because you can get at them?

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Lawnmower would be fine

Makingitupaswegoalong · 09/08/2025 20:00

AlphaApple · 05/08/2025 17:39

For a good neighbour/friend it wouldn’t bother me. For a neighbour on nodding acquaintance it’s CF territory and she owes you an enormous thank you, a bottle of wine and some chocolates.

Surely a good neighbour/friend would ask first?

WalkDontWalk · 09/08/2025 19:57

Mayanatalia · 09/08/2025 19:36

That’s obviously not the same 😂 it’s just a bit of garden furniture

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Why's it not the same?

How about saucepans? Bed linen? The barbecue? Lawnmower? Blender? TV?

Are any of these okay to borrow, just because you can get at them?

Nanny0gg · 09/08/2025 19:56

Mayanatalia · 09/08/2025 19:36

That’s obviously not the same 😂 it’s just a bit of garden furniture

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Some garden furniture is very expensive

WhatMyNameis · 09/08/2025 19:56

On the right I wouldn’t bat an eye.

On the left I’d call the police

🤷‍♀️

Mayanatalia · 09/08/2025 19:36

Nanny0gg · 09/08/2025 19:34

So if they popped into your house (had a key to feed your cat) you'd be ok with them 'borrowing' the sofas? Or your bed?

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That’s obviously not the same 😂 it’s just a bit of garden furniture

Nanny0gg · 09/08/2025 19:34

Mayanatalia · 09/08/2025 19:32

It wouldn’t bother me, I would just laugh but I am quite easy going and easy to get along with

So if they popped into your house (had a key to feed your cat) you'd be ok with them 'borrowing' the sofas? Or your bed?

Mayanatalia · 09/08/2025 19:32

It wouldn’t bother me, I would just laugh but I am quite easy going and easy to get along with

SamPM · 09/08/2025 19:19

Flyswats · 05/08/2025 22:31

that is disproportionate and vaguely insane

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No it's not insane, this response is completely valid. Sounds like you have zero moral compass, just like the neighbor.

justanotherdrama · 09/08/2025 19:11

That’s just ridiculous!!!!!! How or why they thought that’s acceptable is a mystery!!!!! But how did they get in your garden tho?

MumOf4totstoteens · 09/08/2025 19:08

I was brought up that if you kicked your ball into a neighbour’s garden, you had to go knock and ask them if it was ok to please get it back and apologise, so to creep into someone else’s garden and take their belongings is just wild to me! Definitely get CCTV and I would report this on 101. Tell them you don’t want any further action, but you just want this logged in case something else happens.

MumOf4totstoteens · 09/08/2025 19:02

Hm17 · 05/08/2025 18:14

Cheeky as fuck. At least they’ve shown you who they are. If you want to fight fire with fire, you could send them an invoice for hire of garden furniture.

I would do this but as a joke because at the end of the day you have to live next to them, but you can’t just let it slide because give an inch they take a mile clearly!

dear x x x please find attached invoice for use of garden furniture. Then list 1 x bottle of wine, 1 x bunch of flowers 1 x apology with promise this won’t happen again

the write

PS: in all serious though, please do not trespass on my property and steal my belongings as this is theft and we have been advised to report this to the police, which I’d hate to have to do. Just so we are clear, if there is anything you would like to borrow in future, please ask first to avoid any misunderstandings.

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