to take my neighbour's complaints with a pinch of salt from now on?

[Stinkle]

I live in a little estate of 8 houses, we all get on really well (BBQs in the summer, New Year's Eve parties, kids in and out of each other's houses, that sort of thing), except this 1 neighbour - my next door neighbour - and he's difficult with everyone

For the last year neighbour has been constantly complaining about everything (he's the same with all the neighbours, not just us) but specifically the noise of our dog barking, which we've a bit about to be honest. Dog's not a big barker and I work from home so I'm here all week apart from 10 minutes when I do the school run, dog comes out and about with us at weekends, there's always people in and out and if we're going to be out all day he goes to stay with my Mum so he's never really home alone. Don't get me wrong, he does bark (someone knocks on the door for example) but it's not excessive and I know for 100% definite that he isn't "barking constantly all day" as the neighbour claims. I've also checked with other neighbours who all say they never hear him.

Yesterday morning, the neighbour starts hammering on our door, ranting and raving that the "bloody dog had been barking all week again", really aggressive and lots of threats.

The thing is, we were on holiday, dog was at my mum's all week. I told him that the dog wasn't here all week so any barking wasn't anything to do with us and from now on if he had problems he should contact the local Environmental Health dept

He's clearly bullshitting about last week, so I just think we're never going to keep him happy and we should give up trying

I think a nice firm eff off is in order, miserable old git!!

What was his reaction when you said the dog hadn't been there?

I'm in between thinking he's got issues which need medical help and issues that a good fuck off you arsehole will cure!

I didn't really give him a chance to react, just said my piece and shut the door

I just had enough of it to be honest

in your shoes I would be tempted to make sure the neighbour sees you all heading out for the day with dog, give a cheery wave and smile - and leave a tape recording of a pack of dogs barking and howling to play all day long!

some people just like to complain. they are bullies and/or lonely/nosey. I would call him on it, saying he is absolutely lying as your dog has been away all week, and you will NOT tolerate his nuisance unfounded complaints any longer.

Hammering on your door, ranting and raving sounds a bit unhinged like harassment to me. Suggest you keep a diary of any episodes like this, just in case things don't improve. (But I hope they do.)

I would be telling all of your other neighbours, after all if he is making stuff up about you he may well do the same with them...

Sounds like he's the one that's barking. . .

(couldn't resist)

Thanks!

He's the same with all the neighbours - bullied the lady who lives opposite into parking her car elsewhere as he "didn't like looking at it" when it was parked on her drive.

DH suggested phoning EH ourselves as his complaints were getting ridiculous.

Thing is, he has older teenagers with loud music, mopeds coming and going, etc, so is hardly the quietest neighbour in the street. We all make a bit of noise from time to time, he's far from perfect himself

Could he be hearing another dog and assuming it's yours? it happened to me, moved into a house 2 days later woman hamners my door to rant about 'my' dog barking all night, she was very embarrassed when I pointedly told her that I didn't actually have any pets and it was the people over the back. I was and at her as she flustered an apology. What a twat.

Tell him to sod off...

Lady at the back of me has complained to the council before as apparently my dogs bark all day...when investigated one of the times she had complained about (had a diary full of them) we were on holiday over 200 miles away with our dogs guess what it was my next door neighbours dog not mine at all!

Some people have mental health problems or are lonely and isolated and small things take on massive significance.

If he is abusive and threatening it might be worth contacting your CPOs. when I worked in Mental Health services for older people 9many years ago) sometimes people with dementia got introduced to services via police liaison after complaints about them.

Thanks!

There are no other dogs in the area so he's not mixing us up with anyone else - our little estate is made up of converted farm buildings and we're in the middle of nowhere, there are no other houses close by and none of my other neighbours have dogs.

I've rung EH for a chat to see what they suggest, someone's going to call me back.

As JonesRipley says, I wonder whether there's a possible mental health problem there. My DM had an issue with someone making multiple complaints, which then turned out to be delusions.

Might be worth trying to escalate this as complaints about a dog that isn't there are either deliberate harassment, or delusional, and either way there's a problem.