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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to talk to my new neighbours about their dog?

34 replies

JammyGem · 21/11/2016 15:15

We live in a house converted into 6 flats. We have the garden flat, although anyone can use the garden. To get to it you have to go through the side gate.

We have a cat and always keep the gate closed, or at least pulled to, as she knows she's not allowed the other side (the road at the front can get quite busy)

We've had some new people move into one of the flats and they take their dog out to the garden two or three times a day. They never close the gate behind them and let their dog go to the toilet right in the garden.

Now I know cats are the same, but at least she does her business right in the corner underneath the bushes, buries it, and we do a weekly clean-up...

It's been two weeks since the neighbours moved in and they've not cleaned up the garden at all - there's dog shit everywhere and massive yellow patches in the grass. Obviously at the moment it's not really garden weather, but during warmer months we spend a lot of time out there so I don't want it to end up a mess.

I've tried to catch them to have a chat but they always disappear before they hear me. WIBU to bring it up with them and ask them to close the gate and to take their dog elsewhere? I know the garden is theirs too but I don't think it's fair to leave it in a state where no-one else can use it.

OP posts:
Original poster
JammyGem · 21/11/2016 15:18

I should also mention that the side gate doesn't just lead to the garden, but also to the garage entrance, which everyone from the flats uses as storage, so shutting the gate makes that bit seem more secure as well.

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 21/11/2016 15:19

Just stick a note through their letter box asking them to clean up after the dog , that's just disgusting . Can you get one of those things for the gate where it automatically closes , I'm not sure what they are called .

44PumpLane · 21/11/2016 15:24

You can't really ask them to take their dog elsewhere but you can (and should) ask them to clean up after their dog regularly.

When we take our dog to other people houses (including friends with dogs) we take poo bags and poop scoop straight away- it's no one else's job to pick up after my dog.

Likewise, as the garden is shared, of their dog poops on the grass where it could be trodden on they should be poop scooping immediately (if they are with the dog) or at least daily.

candybar007 · 21/11/2016 16:06

Check your lease if you have one or the agreement of sharing the garden, hopefully there is something about keeping it clean and tidy. Failing that a polite notice on the gate should get the message across.

KatharinaRosalie · 21/11/2016 16:28

they are leaving dog shit all over the shared garden? If course you're not U to talk to them. NOt just talk but to demand they stop this immediately and pick up the shit as it happens. That's minging

user838383 · 21/11/2016 16:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MyKidsHaveTakenMySanity · 21/11/2016 17:17

I agree with boopsy. Everyone's garden should NOT be used as a toilet for their dog whether they clean it up or not. As they are new, let them know nicely that it's not really the done thing there. I wouldn't like my garden to have pee and dog poo all over. Even when picked up, dog poo is still on the grass!

Stripeyblanket · 21/11/2016 20:57

Is the whole building owned by a landlord? If so you could ask them to speak to your neighbours. If not I'd mention it myself and if still no joy, speak to environmental health.

YelloDraw · 21/11/2016 21:00

I agree with boopsy. Everyone's garden should NOT be used as a toilet for their dog whether they clean it up or not.

Same. What total scum bags.

LBOCS2 · 21/11/2016 21:08

I bet the lease prohibits dogs. In fact, the lease probably prohibits pets at all without the explicit permission of the freeholder or RMC. And if permission is granted it can always be revoked if they're causing a nuisance (such as defecating in communal areas).

Do you have a managing agent? This falls firmly in their remit. If the dog owners don't have permission they're in breach of their lease. If the flat is rented then the leaseholder has a responsibility to ensure their tenants abide by any and all the terms of the lease as well as the AST. Ultimately it could result in forfeiture.

Original poster
JammyGem · 21/11/2016 21:23

The building is all under one landlord but he's pretty useless (seriously, that's a whole other thread) so we're going to have to sort this out ourselves.

I'll try to catch them to talk to them but they always seem to disappear as soon as I try to get their attention- I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt and hoping they're not just ignoring me.
I'm not suse which flat they've moved in to so can't leave them a note through their door...we're the longest staying tenants, all the other flats seem to change tenants every couple of months.

I'm gong to keep trying to talk to them and if all else fails but up a note by our communal front door - I just don't want to be that passive-aggressive neighbour!

OP posts:
WiddlinDiddlin · 21/11/2016 21:27

Yep try to catch them and just ask that they pick it up every day.

It might be reasonable to say they shouldn't let their dog toilet there at all but you are standing on no legs since your cat shits there daily and you only pick that up weekly (it really doesnt matter WHERE in the garden your cat shits, the fact is, it does).

IEatCannibals · 21/11/2016 21:30

I would find out what flat they're in. Shovel the shit into a plastic bag and put it on their doorstep. Or possibly through the letterbox if they have one.

MidniteScribbler · 21/11/2016 21:35

Yes they should be picking up straight away, but you should be doing the same with your cats shit as well.

1happyhippie · 21/11/2016 21:39

I would be telling them. They have to pick up after their dog, it's part of having a dog
We have a dog and I pick up everything straight away. I don't think I would be taking my dog into a shared garden to do her business to be honest. It just doesn't seem right.
I hate people who don't pick up.

CatSittingMonkey · 21/11/2016 21:50

Have a chat with them about it but if they ignore and continue to leave dog crap in the shared garden then pick it up each time and shove it through their letterbox.
Disgusting.

baconandeggies · 21/11/2016 21:53

Lazy feckers too, not taking it for a walk to do its business.

baconandeggies · 21/11/2016 21:55

why not just affix a 'no dogs' sign on the gate? Might work.

coolaschmoola · 21/11/2016 21:58

Unless you pick up your pet's shit daily you can't really demand they do. Cat shit stinks!

birdladyfromhomealone · 21/11/2016 22:06

I am a LL and if one of my tenants behaved this way they would have a written warning re SEC 21. Bit different if the garden was sole use by them but it is shared, so it would be in their contract to keep communal areas in good state.
leave a note on the gate to keep it shut and poo pick. if they ignore padlock the gate and see what your LL has to say about it!

ShoeEatingMonster · 21/11/2016 22:12

Just as an aside
as she knows she's not allowed the other side (the road at the front can get quite busy)

Hmm yes I'm sure your cat knows and follows the rules.

Notcontent · 21/11/2016 22:38

That's truly vile. There is no way they should be using the garden as a dog toilet.

By the way I don't agree that cat poo is the same. I don't have a cat of my own, but we have a cat who visits us and often does his business in our garden but he does it under bushes and buries it. Dog poo is a different matter...

FluffyPineapple · 21/11/2016 23:51

Your neighbours should definitely be picking their dogs crap up as soon as dog does it. You should also be picking your cats mess up as soon as your cat does it too.

I can't see how you can demand someone does something you are not prepared to do yourself.

Also the pet section on this site is full of cat owners stating that cats are free roaming and they can't keep them in. It seems its "Tough!" whenever a poster complains about cats shitting all over their garden but your cat knows he's not to go out the door? Hmm

IMissGrannyW · 21/11/2016 23:57

when I was a kid my parents had an open drive (as many people do) and next door's dog would often wander onto it and crap. Dad used to fling it's shit back into their garden with a spade, and they soon stopped it crapping on our drive/picked it up quickly.

But I should say my dad (though an arse) was a very strong, assertive alpha-male, so he had the balls to carry it off (and not saying it was a good thing, I'm just saying this is what he did).

aurynne · 22/11/2016 00:06

I would pick it up and leave the bag hanging off their door handle, or in their letterbox. And make bets about how many times I would need to do it before they got the hint.