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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to take it upon myself to do the neighbours' gardens?

58 replies

morgyworgy · 26/02/2015 12:31

We have lived here for 5 years, lovely terraced period properties, we have neighbours adjoined either side.
Neighbour 1 works in the middle east and returns for a month in the summer and an additional fortnight at any other time. The rest of the time the house is empty.
Neighbour 2 I think either works away or long shifts where he sleeps over for days at a time. I think he has also moved into his gfs. We don't see him from one month to the next. In fact, a courier left a parcel here for him and he came round for it 10 weeks later once he saw the card.
As a result of this, their gardens aren't the best, neighbour 1 is pretty low maintenance and just full of litter, moss on the flags and weeds growing through.
Neighbour 2 is like a jungle. Full of litter (we're town centre) trees overgrown, sky/telephone leads come unpinned, gate broken off and left, ditto the doors to the electric cupboard thing.
Thing is, we have gone up for sale and the photo of the front of the house on the agents website is awful. You can see all the shite in it and neighbour 2 looks like an abandoned ghost house. Agent has said she can crop them out but they will see it if they drive past/view.
A big selling point of my house is the kerb appeal, it's beautiful. But then you see what surrounds it and nobody will buy.

So, aibu to go around, pick up the litter, pull up the weeds, trim some trees, fix the gate, maybe jet wash the paths and wash the windows
DH thinks I'm bonkers. Im not though am I? I just want to sell my house

OP posts:

FenellaFellorick · 26/02/2015 12:36

I can see why you're doing it. I suppose it is a bit bonkers in a way but tbh if it was putting people off and I knew the owners weren't around I'd probably do it.

MMcanny · 26/02/2015 12:36

I would to sell, maybe let the neighbours know what you're doing first though.

susiella · 26/02/2015 12:37

I'd fall on your neck with gratitude OP & if your neighbours took umbrage they're nuts. Good luck with the house sale.

hestialou · 26/02/2015 12:37

No, not if they aren't there I'd crack on, if they ask, just say you are selling and wanted to maximise profit. If they get cross just apologise and promise not to do it again

Tangerineandturquoise · 26/02/2015 12:38

Someone on our street did it- the neighbour in question was not happy!
That said, if you have a thick skin then you could offer, after all you are moving anyway so a bit of low key resentment wont last long.

Charitybelle · 26/02/2015 12:39

Pick up litter and clear up, not sure I would jet wash or fix anything without ndn permission. They may object if you do it, but I'm sure if you ask nicely they would be grateful?

MidniteScribbler · 26/02/2015 12:39

Have you tried this radical new concept called 'talking'?

You could actually talk to your neighbours and discuss the situation.

dynevoran · 26/02/2015 12:41

My neighbour did this to mine. It had neither litter nor was a jungle just slightly overgrown and I was a bit miffed but just accepted that she is elderly and a bit nosy with no boundaries and no malice was meant. It just felt rude that she didn't ask me first! So I would suggest just run it by them and explain reasons and given they are hardly there I'm sure they won't mind.

RedButtonhole · 26/02/2015 12:42

I had a neighbour who took it upon himself to "help" with my garden. I had a thread about it actually. I wasn't happy at all.

I would ask them first.

VacantExpression · 26/02/2015 12:43

But that might be tricky Midnite if you don't see them for months on end. I would love you OP and can't imagine they would have a problem with it (neither would I, if my neighbours are reading this!)

wigglesrock · 26/02/2015 12:43

I'd pick up the litter but absolutely nothing else until I'd spoken to them. What would you do if you damaged something or if they said you'd damaged something will you were improving it.

Gruntfuttock · 26/02/2015 12:44

I thought the problem was that the neighbours aren't there to ask. I'm sure the OP has got the sense to talk to her neighbours about it if they're there, but she's asking what to do as they're not.

Original poster

morgyworgy · 26/02/2015 12:44

I can't ask though, that's the thing as they are never here to ask.
I could stick a note through and say I'm going to do it on xxxday if you object let me know. That way I've made an effort even though the chances of them seeing the note is slim to none. I thought if I did it, we might sell fast then move before either came home and they would be none the wiser who it was
I just think that they clearly have pride in their own gardens, they surely can't moan at it looking better.But then I don't know either of them at all

OP posts:

wigglesrock · 26/02/2015 12:45

Well then no, I certainly wouldn't be any jet hosing/power washing without asking.

Original poster

morgyworgy · 26/02/2015 12:45

Redbuttonhole was that the retired guy with the strange set up of gardens? It's that thread and my doom and gloom dh that is stopping me atm!

OP posts:

RedButtonhole · 26/02/2015 12:47

Personally, I would report it to whoever is appropriate, if it is really as unsighlty as you describe. Council or whatever may know how to contact them.

I would have rather my neighbour had done this than wade in with both feet and stick his interfering nose in.

RedButtonhole · 26/02/2015 12:50

He is retired, but our garden is fairly standard set up, so maybe not me!

To be honest, if they are never there, it's likely that they wouldn't care and probably appreciate it. The way it happened for me was a horrible and stressful invasion of my privacy at an otherwise difficult time so I am probably over sensitive.

Do you see anyone else coming and going that would be able to give you a contact number?

SweetValentine · 26/02/2015 12:54

I agree with your 1244 post. And I'd definitely do it, will make such a difference to selling it. And if they get the hump they'll probably decide as you're moving there's no need to tell you not to do it again.

TheFecklessFairy · 26/02/2015 12:57

No, it is NOT bonkers - it is very sensible. You are trying to sell so what goes on either side of you is very very important to potential buyers, believe me.

I'd get stuck in, get litter picking, weeding and generally make the place look spick and span. And then you can tell potential buyers that both your neighbours are away a lot so there's no noisy neighbours to worry about!

Why would the Council care redbuttonhole? It's none of their business if a private house is a wreck.

You will be so pleased morgy when it is all looking spick and span. Good luck.

Postchildrenpregranny · 26/02/2015 12:58

I cant see why they'd object OP. Its not like you are planning on replanting . Just a bit of a tidy/cleanup .And agree it could put people off your house-it would me . Would probably think 'If they are not maintaining the garden what else are they not doing?' (as a terrace you have party walls, garden fences ?) Potential buyers won't know they aren't there much
They might even be grateful

123Jump · 26/02/2015 12:59

DH has a management company. The year of the terrible snow, when the thaw came lots of pipes burst.
They tried to contact this lady as the apt (which they didn't manage)above contacted them re:burst pipe in their place running into the lady's apt, who they did manage.
They couldn't contact her, so a girl from work went into her apt, on Christmas Day, and lifted everything off the floors (wooden), all her shoe collection which was on the floor, bags, clothes, CDs, remotes etc, saving everything.
Two days later the lady's dad called in to the office raging that they let themselves in!!

123Jump · 26/02/2015 13:01

Sorry, my point being, do try and get hold of them if you can, and be prepared for them not to be pleased if you do get their gardens cleaned.
However, you'll be moving anyway, so I say do it!

TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos · 26/02/2015 13:15

I would think it is intrusive normally but, in the specific circumstances, trying to sell and the neighbour away for long periods, I probably would, covering myself, as you suggested, with a note.

Pokeymont · 26/02/2015 13:17

Id pop a note through their door and then do a tidy up. I don't think that's bonkers at all. I think it would help you sell your house.

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 26/02/2015 13:43

Its trespassing. You cant touch peoples stuff without asking.

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