Bit of backstory...
We live on a small road off another road. On our small road are 4 semi detached houses. We live furthest from the road in House 1. We also own House 2 which we rent out to almost cover the mortgage. It was my house before I married my DH, is very small and is almost out of negative equity. House 3 has the neighbours from hell and in House 4 lives a quiet, elderly single chap. His house is nearest the road.
About 5 years ago a same sex couple (women) rented our house. We were always pleasant with them, they were civil but seemed quite grumpy. We put it down to them maybe having faced some prejudice in the past and just maintained a casual 'hello' type relationship with them. They seemed to resent paying us rent and often slipped comments into conversations such as 'well, with all the money we pay you I'm sure you can afford it' etc.
2 years ago the man who lived in House 3 died and the same sex couple (now known as the neighbours from hell NFH) bought it. They then seemed to become really grumpy and never passed a civil word with us. That suited us as we are very quiet and like to keep ourselves to ourselves. They then applied for planning permission for an extension. We had to object as it was so close to our properties that it makes them look like terraced houses and our houses have now dropped in price due to the extension going ahead. I think this was the catalyst to them hating us.
They then approached us about having the House 2 and 3 joined drives tarmaced. We were expecting our 1st child then after a long hard infertility road and were broke. They asked us to contribute £1000 to the drive and, after some humming and ahhhing, we agreed as we had just enough savings. They then came back 2 weeks later and said it would cost us nearer £3000. We said we couldn't afford it. NFH then said they would pay the bulk of it and we could still pay the £1000 which we eventually did.
Since then relationships have deteriorated. They scowl at us all the time and say horrible things to us to other neighbours and any workmen we employ. We have since had baby number 2 and are quite cramped in the house. My husband needed a study so we had a small outside wooden office built. The NFH objected to this on the grounds that we have too many deliveries and they are sick of delivery vans coming down our small road.
Last week they stuck a huge sign on their car back window saying 'slow down!' It was obviously aimed at us and my husband went round. He is a very laid back, reasonable man. They called him an idiot and said they were sick of delivery men driving over their rockery at the end of the drive. They said I should go to the shops instead - easier said than done with 2 children under 2 and still suffering the after effects of spd. My baby needs special milk which also needs to be delivered. They both ranted and shouted at him for about 10 minutes, saying he drives too fast up our small road (which to be fair I have told him off about before). He told them that the parcel situation wouldn't be changing but he would go slower on the road in future.
The final straw was today. I was in the garden with the babies when one of the NFH opened our side gate and yelled something at me. I didn't catch what it was so I went out. She showed me her rockery all scattered all over the drive and told me that one of the delivery drivers did it. I apologised but said that there was nothing I could do about it. She ranted on for a bit and I offered to take a photo and complain to Amazon which I have done.
I am at the end of my tether with them. I am sleep deprived and feel that if they speak to them again I am going to explode and tell them to just fuck off. My husband said to just leave it to him. I want to move but we can't afford it at the moment. Should we offer to pay for their rockery damage? Are we being unreasonable having a delivery probably every other day?
I just feel I need an outsiders view on this.