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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Neighbours at war - house on market nightmare AIBU & WWUD

147 replies

Tutifruity1999 · 17/05/2015 10:59

Backstory
I've been living here 12 years and used to get on quite well with my neighbours who live 5 doors down from me. 5 years ago after I returned to work full time I got another dog to keep my dog company while myself and my partner was at work.

At the time I wasn't aware my new dog was a yapping dog, but I started getting complaints from environmental health noise team. They couldn't tell me who complained so I set up my iPod with a recording app when I went to work.
And both my dogs were barking quite a lot.
My first dog never had barked previously but the new dog was making her bark too. As I live in a semi detached I guessed it was my next door neighbour.

So I got a dog door cat flap installed so the dogs could go out when they pleased.

This seemed to improve things and I never heard anything more until a year later I had two letters from environmental health that two other people had complained.

I phoned the council to discuss things and told them what I had done to combat the problem. I had started working shifts so at that time the dogs were at home from 9-7 six days a week so we arranged for a dog walker to come in twice a day.

Things started getting worse and I was getting letters monthly from environmental health so we set up s video camera to see what was happening and my dogs were at the bottom of my garden barking at the pack of dogs who lived in the garden backing onto mine.

I had problems now as when they were in the house my next door neighbour complained and when they were let out a few of the neighbours complained so I couldn't win. So I was now taking them to a friends mon-fri and they would be left at home only on a Saturday.

Things then got worse and I was getting hand written letters saying shut your f*ing dogs up every Saturday and more letters from the council. As I was coming home one Saturday One of my neighbours came out from 5 doors down who I had previously been friendly with and really had a go at me about it saying things like I was distroying his life.

My point of why I posted
Fast forward to now, it's been a ongoing nightmare with getting shouted at in the street and letters. A relative of mine who owns a house with some land that has died and I have inherited the property and we have spent the last six months doing it up and we will be moving into it soon.

The neighbour who have been verbally abusing me in the street has just sold his house.

Mine has just gone on the market for rent. I haven't got a sign up as I don't want to draw attention to the fact that I am moving with my neighbours but I am using the same agents that he sold his house with.

I had 4 viewings back to back yesterday. I sat in the garden to get out of the way and it seems the verbal neighbours have found out the house is on the market. As soon as my second viewer came round I could hear a high pitched barking dog and loud music blaring from his house. Then his child was playing in the garden screaming. This is from a family who are quiet.

I am certain they are trying to sabotage my viewings. WIBU to go round there and have a word?

I don't know what to do, it was so loud the agent had to go back in the house to discuss feedback as I couldn't hear him.

WWUD?

OP posts:

BeaufortBelle · 17/05/2015 12:23

To things stand out for me.

The pack of dogs next door - isn't this the real problem and why has nothing been done to resolve that?

The fact that you have left two dogs along for 10 hours a day, without for a long time at the beginning, even a dog walker. I think that's neglectful and to be perfectly honest I'm surprised environmental services or your neighbours haven't involved the RSPCA.

I think it's a case OP of what comes around goes around and you've been a very bad neighbour for a very long time.

SoldierBear · 17/05/2015 12:24

I'm sorry your DH died

But you allowed your sentiment to overrule your knowledge the dog was unhappy and seriously annoying your neighbours. That' a great case of "I'm alright Jack and bugger the consequences".

I agree it probably is deliberate and after 5 long years there would be few people who would not sympathise with him.

Oh, and you are possibly quite identifiable from all the information you've posted, so if any of your other neighbour read your blasé attitude towards the noise your dogs make then prepare for more of them tacking this in various ways.

LinesThatICouldntChange · 17/05/2015 12:24

Regardless of the circumstances, it's been bloody unfair on the dogs, to keep them as pets for your own sentimental reasons when they were clearly unhappy and neglected of your attention for hours and hours.

amybear2 · 17/05/2015 12:25

Why on earth would tthey want to do anything that hinders you and your dogs moving out? It makes no sense!

Floralnomad · 17/05/2015 12:25

I thought it was illegal to not declare neighbours disputes.

WorraLiberty · 17/05/2015 12:26

Huh?

"5 years ago after I returned to work full time I got another dog to keep my dog company while myself and my partner was at work."

"I have considered rehoming my second dog but it is sentimental to me, my husband bought it for me as a wedding anniversary gift just before he suddenly died at a young age from cancer"

Waltermittythesequel · 17/05/2015 12:26

Because they've sold up and are moving.

Sounds like petty revenge to me.

GERTI · 17/05/2015 12:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TwinkieTwinkle · 17/05/2015 12:36

WorraLiberty I noticed that as well.

OP, why does your sentimentality override your neighbours right to live in his house, undisturbed by constant barking?

SoldierBear · 17/05/2015 12:36

Oh, well-spotted, Worra

SO, which one is it OP?

Original poster

Tutifruity1999 · 17/05/2015 12:39

Worra - in my original post I changed the details slightly so I wouldn't be so identifiable.

The pack of dogs that live next door do also bark, they set my dogs off so the noise isn't just from mine. Yes mine do bark I have seen that for myself but as soon as I realised how bad it was I did take action to prevent it as much as possible.

To be clear, I do have a new partner now who comes home at 2pm and my dog walker still comes in twice a day.

OP posts:

Waltermittythesequel · 17/05/2015 12:40

GERTI · 17/05/2015 12:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nanny0gg · 17/05/2015 12:46

Anyone else at the poster who leaves her dog 10 hours a day? (but it's ok because he doesn't bark...)

Why do people have dogs when they are at work full time?

WorraLiberty · 17/05/2015 12:48

Changing the words partner and husband makes you less identifiable?

Original poster

Tutifruity1999 · 17/05/2015 12:48

To the poster who said about me doing my own viewings so they don't
Recognise the agents car,
I'm using the same estate agent branch they used but his house was for sale and mine is to let. But the sales and lettings department are separate so there different agents to what he used.

The agent I have been dealing with parks on my drive and the neighbour can't or won't see him but the viewers hang around outside his house for some reason because they have a sign outside his house and I dont. Also my house and his are identical.

I have tried to be considerate about my dogs, i don't know what more I could do.

OP posts:

Diamond23 · 17/05/2015 12:51

If the solicitors are half decent- for both the neighbour and your sales- they will easily find the multiple complaints against you from the council searches. This probably won't affect your future sale as got buyers will know the noise problem is no longer there it obviously hasn't affected neighbours move

If I were you I'd just wait to rent it after be moves out. I don't believe that the dogs aren't being left anymore though, you obviously thought it was fine for 5 years despite the complaints

BeaufortBelle · 17/05/2015 12:52

It'd be a cracker of a neighbour dispute to record though wouldn't it.

There have been problems between me and several neighbours because I have neglected my dogs and there have been several complaints to environmental services about me. I have been causing significant disturbances to my neighbours for several years now and they have attempted all legal ways in which to deal with me and reduce the nuisance I have caused.

I think prospective purchasers should knock on all the neighbours doors and ask for contributions for their new home. They could save a fortune your neighbours must be champing at the bit to see the back of you.

whiteblossom · 17/05/2015 12:54

Dog sitters. They take the dog along with others keep it company and walk it, happy dog happy neighbors. That's what you should have done. I know two near me, adding another dog into the equation just made things worse.

WeAllHaveWings · 17/05/2015 12:55

regardless of the circumstances having dogs barking continuously even for 2-3 hours throughout the day for years is totally unacceptable and you should have resolved the issue years ago even if it meant rehoming the dog (it was obviously also distressed being left alone so would have been better for the dog).

Don't blame your neighbour really for his revenge.

The only thing you can do is explain to the agent the issue and let them know the neighbour is moving so its a short term issue, or wait until he moves before having further viewings.

Hope your new home is at the very least 1/2 mile from any neighbours as dog barking sounds do travel especially over open space. If not I would seriously consider what you are going to do before you piss off the next set of neighbours.

IgnoreMeEveryOtherReindeerDoes · 17/05/2015 12:58

What would I do? Suck it up but then I had 4years of bastard neighbours barking dogs that reduced me to tears many days that have gone on to do the same to a friend who they eventually moved to.

westcountrywoman · 17/05/2015 13:00

Do you mean the noise was coming from the neighbour who is moving? In that case, if the neighbour is moving anyway and you can manage without the rental income for a month or two, I'd wait until they've moved, and then market your property.

lollilou · 17/05/2015 13:07

From someone who had to move from rented accommodation not once but twice due to barking dogs you have no sympathy from me.
Also please tell your new tenants that you are going to sell in the near future.

D0oinMeCleanin · 17/05/2015 13:08

The pack of dogs that live next door do also bark

Did they bark before you started letting yours out? My dogs don't bark unless they are given reason to, but when I first moved here my terrier would 'reply' to the terrier further up the street, who barks constantly. I'd bring mine inside as soon as it started, theirs would still bark. I eventually trained mine to ignore theirs but it bothered me massively that I had to spend time doing this and also arrange for care of my dog when working to avoid my dog causing a nuisance all because some other fucker cannot be arsed to deal with their dog.

I have tried to be considerate about my dogs, i don't know what more I could do

You could have and should have placed in them in doggy day care or left them with your friend for all of your shifts, along with training the yappy one. Barking is a sign of stress. Not only have you caused your neighbours extra stress but you have failed your dog too.

I'm sorry you are having a hard time on this thread but your neighbours at not the ones at fault.

namechange0dq8 · 17/05/2015 13:14

I have tried to be considerate about my dogs

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