how should I handle this awful woman?

[PerfectStranger74]

I have history with my neighbour - too much to go into, but briefly, we no longer get on, and do not speak. The kids know why we have fallen out, but since attending mediation that her social housing landlord set up after her anti social behaviour, we agreed to let our kids play together again and put the past behind us, though I still don't speak to her.
All good.
Til yesterday. I was at a funeral, my sister was at my house with her dp (17) and neighbour set her fire drum right next to our fence where our rabbit hutch is. Dsis told her the rabbit was distressed as hutch was filled with smoke. She said she didn't care, and refused to move the fire away. I wasn't until she overheard them saying they would call the rspca that she finally moved the fire. Now, obviously, I need to go and speak to her today, so please advise me on how to handle this awful woman who is a bully and a coward, and lies her way through everything. I know she will deny any wrong doing, and I know I'm gonna get wound up and likely handle it badly.tia

Why do you need to go and speak to her?? She moved the drum - sorted?

Any idiot that puts a fire next to a fence needs their had testing. I would raise that with the landlord - and leave her well alone. She sounds unstable, if not down right stupid having a fire so close to property.

Could you move your rabbit hutch so that it is away from the fence so you can be sure the rabbit won't become distressed in future.

What would you achieve by following this up with her? Would it improve the situation?

It sounds as if the the answers are 1. Nothing but grief 2. No it would make it worse.

Follow the good advice above about moving the hutch and talking to the landlord.

Assuming your sister removed the rabbit from the hutch!

She moved the drum eventually , when the threat of the rspca was raised, after refusing to do so when asked reasonably. The rabbit was very distressed and stunk of smoke.

The fence is metal, btw, so no risk of it setting alight.

Still the potential for damage to property though - smoke discolouration, burn marks, and depending on the construction material, possible melting.

I still stand by, no one in their right mind lights a fire next to fence, on a boundary, regardless of it's construction.

Whilst she does sound a pain, I am more concerned that the rabbit wasn't immediately removed from the situation by your sister?

I'm with you on that, she is not of sound mind!
I can only assume the fire was placed there deliberately out of badness.

Dd took the rabbit out as soon as she saw the hutch full of smoke

Don't go and have a word as you are bound to exacerbate matters - log it with your landlord and put it behind you

God, no, I'm not looking for a fight!

I do think I need to speak to her to make sure it never happens again.

If she's that much of a bully, your 'speaking' to her will have the opposite effect to the one you want. It will only escalate.

Have a word with her landlord over fire hazards etc, but continue to avoid her.

I 'm not convinced that she is the type of person who can be reasoned with, from what you have said here.
I think you should log the issue with the landlord and leave it at that.
She is trying to be provocative, rise above it. Give her enough rope though and she will hang herself, metaphorically speaking.

I would just leave it tbh, she sounds a bit unhinged.

I'm inclined to think that going round there is the way to guarantee it happening again and again.
Talk to the landlord, not to her. I can't see that you'll achieve anything except a slanging match by going round there yourself.

You wont make sure it happens again...people like her dont do what their neighbours say. Leave it alone.

FGS Perfect, given the history and the advice you are being given if you go around there now then you are either very dim or as bad as she is.

Speak to the landlord and log any issues when they happen.

Don't go round, it sounds pointless. She's probably one of those people who only respects those who shout louder than her, do unless you can bring out the big guns, I suggest you just leave it.

She sounds cleary deranged, i know how you feel as i had a loon just as simular living over the back of me.
She nearly poisoned my dog and slagged my family off over the fence

Some people are best avoided at all costs, move your rabbit hutch to other side of garden and keep your distance from her-she will lose interest like my neighbour did once i started ignoring her

Don't speak to her. Move the rabbit hutch to the other side of the garden. History has shown that there is nothing to be gained by engaging with her- even the mediation resulted in an agreement to avoid each other forevermore! Stick to that.

Agree that it doens't sound like she can be reasoned with.

The best course of action would be to inform the landlord and find a new place for the rabbit hutch, on the other side of the garden.

Leave it whats the point of going around there ?

Thanks!
Yes, I think it's been done to get a reaction. So give her none.

She sounds like a nightmare and a very stupid, cruel person. Whatever her problems with you, how DARE she take it out on your rabbit? But everyone is right, talking to the cow will only escalate things. Report her to your landlord.