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AIBU?

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AIBU to dismantle a neighbour’s unsafe trampoline after children kept using it?

14 replies

JemimaPuddleduck53 · 15/09/2026 22:01

l live in a block of flats, there is 6 flats in my block and 3 other blocks all attached in a row. each flat has its own bit of the back yard and each block of flats is divided by a fence. One of the kids that live in my block has had 2 trampolines for years (5/6 years) and they are not in there part of the garden they are in the spare part that one of the bottom flats is responsible for. I have never had an issue with this. the kids no longer uses the trampolines very often. due to the age of the trampolines, them being left out to the elements and no maintenance being done one of the trampolines is now dangerous. The frame has broken at one of the legs and there are springs missing. Now to the part where AIBU.....
kids from the other blocks are playing on the trampolines and bringing their friends, sometimes there can be 8 kids playing on them. I have many times over the last month asked them to leave the garden and explained that it is dangerous. earlier today I was going out and I noticed that 6 kids, (only 2 of them came from the other flats) where playing on the trampoline, when I came back an hour later there was 3 of them still there. I asked them to leave as it isn't their garden and again said the trampoline was dangerous. I waited till they had walked round the side of the building before pulling all the springs off the trampoline this dismantling it. I thought I will phone the council tomorrow about getting them removed. On my way to my house I spoke to the neighbour who's kid had the trampolines and told them what I had done.
This evening about 7.45 I looked out my bedroom window and 3 of the kids from the other blocks where again in my back garden they had put the springs back on the trampoline and where playing on it. I should add that now there are many gaps in the springs that they couldn't attach. I opened the window and the kids looked up and I said "out". At no point did I shout at the kids they got up and left.
Within 5 minutes one of the kids parent was at my buzzer asking why I had shouted at their child, terrifying them. I said that I had not shouted at any of the children. the parent also mentioned that I had taken the trampoline apart.
AIBU in thinking that the parent rather than coming to me should have been asking their child WHY they went back after being asked to leave? and WHY they put back together something an adult took apart because it was dangerous. I do think that the parent would have been shouting very loudly if their child has been hurt on the trampoline.

OP posts:
Newbookandcupofcoffee · 15/09/2026 22:08

Take the springs away all together until the morning the council are lifting them, I would do the same in your position 100%.

whippersnapper55 · 16/09/2026 08:31

I would have pointed out that her child was using defective play equipment that is dangerous and could get hurt. It's not your job to police it's use but I think informing the parents is reasonable. Dismantling the trampoline yourself is overstepping - it's not yours and it's not your responsibility to police the use of it. Can you report to the council or managing company to ask that it be removed?

Ablondiebutagoody · 16/09/2026 09:13

I would let the parents deal with what their kids do.

AlgaeDreams · 16/09/2026 09:18

Hmmm it's you that's potentially made it a lot more dangerous.

Postjurywoes · 16/09/2026 09:24

Not your circus, not your monkeys.

Seriously OP what if they do hurt themselves, how and why would it affect you?

zingally · 16/09/2026 10:57

I suspect it's more than "potentially dangerous play equipment", and more "don't like the noise of a bunch of kids playing in your garden/right under your window."

If the trampoline is in a part of the garden that isn't yours, then there's not anything you can do about it. Taking it upon yourself to dismantle it was over-stepping.

PinkLemons99 · 16/09/2026 11:03

Ignore the twatty replies OP.
Presumably, they’re equally dim parents whose kids are little angels. I think you should have reminded the parents that their kids are trespassing but otherwise, I’d ignore them.

Trampoline injuries can be very serious so you did the right thing phoning the council and dismantling parts of it. I’d take more springs out on one side and take them indoors so there’s no way they can play on it. Or take a knife and cut the cover down the middle.

AlwaysExtraHot · 16/09/2026 11:39

Postjurywoes · 16/09/2026 09:24

Not your circus, not your monkeys.

Seriously OP what if they do hurt themselves, how and why would it affect you?

I think the OP is right when she says, 'I do think that the parent would have been shouting very loudly if their child has been hurt on the trampoline.'
I'd have taken away the springs completely.

Viviennemary · 16/09/2026 11:42

whippersnapper55 · 16/09/2026 08:31

I would have pointed out that her child was using defective play equipment that is dangerous and could get hurt. It's not your job to police it's use but I think informing the parents is reasonable. Dismantling the trampoline yourself is overstepping - it's not yours and it's not your responsibility to police the use of it. Can you report to the council or managing company to ask that it be removed?

I agree. You need to contact the owner of the trampoline and let them deal with it.

LeaderBee · 16/09/2026 11:52

Fair enough to be concerned about their safety, but dismantling something that doesn't belong to you and the "out" comes across as a bit Kareny.

PrawnAgain · 16/09/2026 11:57

You made the situation far more dangerous by removing the springs and leaving them near enough to the trampoline for the kids to reattach them. Why not just call the council so they can dispose of it safely without interfering with it?

JemimaPuddleduck53 · 16/09/2026 15:16

the children that are coming and playing on the trampolines do not live in the same block as me. The owner of the trampolines have just left them to rot. Many years ago a pervious neighbour in my block had a trampoline in the same place, it took 2 accidents before they dismantled that trampoline. the first one a child split the back of their head open and for a concussion the second one was a child got entangled in the ripped safety net and was being choked, and adult had to run down with scissors cut them out. I would hate for anything like that to be repeated. it never crossed my mind that by taking the springs off I could potentially be making it more dangerous. I guess I am old school in that if an adult chased me from their garden and told me something was dangerous I would have listened and not returned. I do appreciate all of you comments and have taken them on board

OP posts:
TonyDancer · 16/09/2026 15:22

It’s kids who shouldn’t be there intruding. I’d want rid of the trampoline too. See if the council can remove it. If you move it outside you can log it and the council will take it away

Postjurywoes · 16/09/2026 15:38

AlwaysExtraHot · 16/09/2026 11:39

I think the OP is right when she says, 'I do think that the parent would have been shouting very loudly if their child has been hurt on the trampoline.'
I'd have taken away the springs completely.

But how does that impact OP?

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