To hope that my neighbour (or his wife) reads this?

[politebutgrumpy]

Hello Mr N and Mrs N

Indeed, hello anyone else who reads this and it reminds them of their own behaviour.

Please STOP FUCKING ENTERING MY FRONT AND BACK GARDENS WITHOUT MY FUCKING PERMISSION.

The first time, with your kids frisbee, I ignored it. Because hey kids throw frisbees.

The next time, when you REPAINTED THE SLABS ON THE PAVING STONES THAT ARE ON MY LAND I ignored it, because I was jet lagged and ill and DP was away and I couldn't handle a row by myself. And then it seemed to late and petty.

But when you PRUNED MY FUCKING PLANTS BACK and we texted you to say no we meant no. Prune from your side all you want but not ours. We like them a bit secret gardeny. Because its how we want it and we own them and the land and it gives us privacy from you.

Don't enter again. When you came in after your washing up gloves fell into our garden and I again asked you to stop I wasn't looking for an apology or an excuse I was looking for absolute confirmation that it would stop.

What you are doing is TRESPASS. It is also FUCKING CREEPY and breaks every social norm people on this cramped little island have.

I am going to get a monitor now so I can spy you entering. I can and I will take legal action. Also, the walls are very thin between my study and your kitchen, so I may consider playing inappropriate music, violent films, pornography etc on loudspeaker at certain times of the day. See how you like your space invaded.

Yours sincerely

PBG

well obvioulsy i'm unreasonable and unhinged too because that would f*ck me off, a LOT.

If someone pruned my plants in my garden i'd be FURIOUS.

I would however strongly advise you not to go down any legal route or send solicitors letters if you own your home. On selling, you are obliged to disclose any neighbour disputes and having to admit that there are neighbour trespass issues so severe that you've sought legal advice is going to cost you a lot of potential purchasers.

porn on loudspeakers it is (I used to fantasise about going away for the weekend with Metallica on full from speakers put on top of wardrobes, pointing at the ceiling because upstairs neighbour drove me to the point of distraction - ie out of london to a whole detatched house...)

How many times has it happened over how long a period of time?

Bovrilon - because of the layout with the back door it would be difficult, hard to explain. I'll try some pots.

Part of the issue is that I don't know how often it happens because lots of the incidents happen when we're at work or out or not in the back bit and we only notice later. Eg with the plants cutting back. I do ask them if they are responsible by the way. I don't leap to conclusions.

Hence partly why I'm thinking of cctv...

YANBU

Nancy, four incidens that I know of in the last two months, and four in the four months before that (that I know of).

I could leave it when it was very rare but the intensity seems to be ramping up.

They have only lived here six months btw, so eight incidents in six months

YANBU, you have the right to privacy in your own garden.

Or....you could have fun with it...

Start hanging our your washing whilst wearing a wasp net and flippers. Hang plastic bags and tin foil on the washing line. Paint a Haz Chem sign on some old chip board and leave it in your garden when you go out. Say a few worrying things within earshot whilst dismantling an old hoover or bike with an axe "stupid fucking hoover, I told you once I won't say it again, stop annoying me or your finished". They'll soon stop

If i were you i would start sunbathing naked, that would be enough to make them leave the country stay out my garden

Bobbi - that's why we've tried to avoid the legal route. If he ignores the letter we either don't enforce or take to court. And who wants THAT on a sales disclosure. Lose lose.

Hoodoo - thank you - I'm surprised so many seem ti disagree. I suspect my ranty OP put them off.

I apologise. I didn't read the bit about the ladder. That is just so totally out of order. I thought they just came in to get the frisbee. Set up a picnic on their lawn one day when they're out. (Not really but that would stop them I bet.)

Viviennemary what they're coming in for is irrelevant. The fact is that they keep trespassing after being asked not too. I notice you conveniently ignore the fact that they repainted the OP's slabs and came into the garden to prune back her plants

but even if you instal CCTV - and you catch them at it - what are you then going to do if you don't wish to take legal action?

CCTV seems a waste of money to me. I'd start with the solicitor's letter

x-posts

Could you set up cameras? Thet arent too expensive, or just get fake ones: But then follow up with a stern letter saying you are now monitoring their tresspassing with a view to legal action. Add that they DO NOT, or HAVE EVER HAD have any form of permission to enter your property, and as such any future tresspass by them will be reported as harrassment.

And, if you catch them again, report them to the police. Then when you really do want to take action, you have a history of 'harrassment' from them to use as a weapon. And hopefully lots of tapes of them scaling your fence.

Lemarc - they have a kitchen window which overlooks our garden (raised ground floor, our garden is lower ground floor). I presume they fell out.

I see your problem, you don't want to go legal because it will have consequenses for you. Fair enough.

You need to put something slippery on the ground where they or the ladder drops. A pond/blow up pool? An unfortunate oil spill?

Yes, to letter, saying if they happen to AGAIN drop something onto your property, they must call and arrange a mutually agreeable time to collect it. With you retrieving it, not them, as IT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY.

What was their excuse when you confronted them for painting your steps and cutting back you plants!?

Eg with the plants cutting back. I do ask them if they are responsible by the way. I don't leap to conclusions

And what do they say? Maybe they think they are being helpful (although I would be as angry as you to)....painting a neighbours garden is not normal behaviour, you dont wake up one day and say "oh I quite fancy seeing black slabs next door instead of white" and go and change someone elses property!

Is it an elderly couple? Although maybe not if they are using a ladder to get into your garden, and thats not normal either

The difficulty with putting anything then getting the back door open because of the way it opens. Hence why barbed wire would be perfect (if unhinged) because the door would open onto it and we'd never get caught on it but would make a ladder v difficult. But I don't want to harm any animals.

I am thinking about having the backdoor changed and then putting a (really putrid and manky) paddling pool there.

YANBU