To think my neighbour is a bit odd...to put it mildly?

[MrsWinnibago]

I've posted about this before. I live in a block of 4 flats. There are 2 on the ground and 2 on the upper floor. I live on the upper floor.

There is a font door to the street....this is communal...and a back door to the shared yard and our private gardens...each flat has it's own garden.

The shared yard leads out to the four gardens.

My children are well behaved and not loud and they go in and out a few times a day...always quietly. My ground floor neighbour keeps locking the door from the inside...even if I've deliberately put it on the option which means it doesn't close properly...this option ensures whoever is outside can get back in.

He repeatedly pushes the little catch up even if I or one of my DC are in the garden...then I...or my DC can't get back in.

I understand this could be a habit...he's lived her for 26 years...but really? HOw hard is it to just check nobody's outside before he does it?

His flat is right next to the back door so he seems to often stick his head out of his flat and then lock the door.

Earlier I went out and was watering my plants...I heard a noise and knew he'd locked me out. I went to check and sure enough it was locked.

So I banged on the door and called his name.

He came within seconds and said "I didn't lock it....the catch wasn't on."

It was. But I said "Oh right...it wouldn't open.." and he just pottered back indoors.

Later DD was out there and I went down to take her a drink and he'd locked it again!!!

DD hadn't noticed so that's good but REALLY!??

AIBU to speak to the council about this? It's a Housing Association flat but he's bought his...he's a bit bossy..in his late 60s and retired. I wondered if the HA could put a different catch on it perhaps? I have asked him before to check if DD is out there.

He shouldn't have to check. He should leave the door alone.
Surely he has his own front door with locks on it? Si why does he feel the need to lock the main door?

Ugh. If he was a dog he would wee all over the place to let you know it was his territory.

Before escalating it to the Council maybe maybe make a little sign for the door saying 'please check no one's in the garden before locking the door'.

If he continues to keep locking you out............wee on him.

I wonder if he maybe worries about random people coming in or something. Have you ever asked him about it?

I remember him from your other post. He's a prick. He has his own flat with a lockable front door.

Speak to him, perhaps along the lines of;

I've been having some trouble with the door locking itself when I'm outside. Have you had any similar troubles? I'm going to contact the HA to see if it can be sorted

He does have his own door...we all do. I do understand that older people are more security conscious but the back garden is land locked...nobody could gain access at all and the front is ALWAYS locked and secure. As soon as you go out it shuts tight and you can't get back in without a key.

I did think about a note but the fact is that the back door area has been sort of commandeered over the years by the 2 elderly residents...of both downstairs flats and they each have a little occasional table, plants and ornaments there...if I stick a note on it will look almost aggressive.

I'm not sure how to approach this now.

Take the little catch off ;-)

YABU. He isn't odd. He's just a tosser. If he doesn't like communal living, then he shouldn't have bought a flat.

I remember your other post. I think that you need to be blunt and say to him to stop doing it, that he's locked your children out on a few occasions and that it's unacceptable. See what he says to that.

Oh dear that does sound like they think they own the door! I like szelis idea. Let's him know you aren't impressed but doesn't accuse him directly.

I don't mind the ornaments and plants of course...but a note just makes things look a bit...off or something. He complains a lot about things...he had a moan about the girl who is opposite me on my floor (she's above him) and her "noise". She is very quiet and easy to live with! He's had a go at DH about him using a power saw at 6.00pm once...he walked out and shouted "That's enough!" and DH said "Be polite....I will be stopping soon but don't tell me what to do or raise your voice" and since then he's been locking us bloody out!

I read Szelis idea...I think it's good but he will know I'm lying as we all know how to manage the lock on the door. What if I just ask the HA to change it? for something less...lockable!

Put masking/electrical tape over the latch so it cant close ;)

Have you actually had a conversation with him about it? If not, that's probably a good place to start.

I realise he could just take it off, but he'd have to admit it.

I think that over the years they have had neighbours in both upstairs flats that never used the garden..so they do feel like it's theirs or something.

They told me that previously it's been all lads who partied all the time...my garden was like a jungle when we came but I;m not going to be bullied!

Finney did you read my entire OP? If you had, then you'd know the answer to your question.

Talk to him

Will I did consider asking DH to "doctor" it but that would have him up in arms and I really don't want to upset the apple cart....he's not a bad old stick but he's just in habits which need to be adjusted.

Plants I have! He keeps doing it!

Tell him you are going to Blue tack a note to the door every time you or the children go out, saying you are outside and don't lock the door, if he still locks it, then you know he is doing it on purpose and then you have to have a serious discussion or take the lock off.

I'd say to tell him you are going to ask for a different lock to be out on the door, one that needs a key perhaps, so you can't keep getting locked out.