my irritating neighbours and their annoying kids...

[VelvetSpoon]

I probably am BU since this is all really low level and nowhere near as bad as most peoples issues with their neighbours but...

I really don't get on with my neighbours, they irritate the shit out of me. It's all minor stuff like their bin constantly overflows (because despite having 2 cars they are too lazy to take their rubbish to the tip - only just over a mile away!) so I end up with their rubbish strewn over my garden, including dirty nappies etc, yuck. I strongly suspect they stole a pressure washer I (foolishly) left in my garden. They've broken my fence, and put a crappy one up in its place which looks cheap and tatty.

And the noise...they have 4 kids under 8 in a 2 bed house. Our houses are about 7ft apart but I can hear noise constantly from about 6am. Whining, crying, screaming. Ugh. It's worse in summer because the kids are all in the garden all day making a horrendous noise. Today, they've been outside shrieking for an hour already. I turn tv/ radio up but it still doesn't drown them out. They always have the (equally annoying) kids from over the road round as well so that's 7 screaming kids in a 15 x 30ft garden.

The kids chuck toys over into my garden all the time (I used to throw them back, now I just bin them. They do this super annoying thing where they constantly hang over the fence and expect to be spoken to. I was having some work done in the garden a few months back and they were all lined up along the fence, calling out and asking questions to the workmen. It's the same as if I'm in the garden. The other evening bf and I were outside taking some measurements. Then they all pipe up 'hello...hello...HELLO.... HELLO...WE'RE TALKING TO YOU...HELLOO...HELLOO...HELLOO...

You get the idea. It went on continuously, shouting at full volume, for the 10 mins or so we were in the garden. Bf gave them 'the look' but they're so undisciplined that went completely over their heads.

I have to go and do some weeding and mow the lawn later, I am dreading it as I know I'll have an hour of HELLO..HELLOO etc on a loop. while their ignorant parents sit indoors and ignore it

I don't think the nice interraction works, judging by how they were with the workmen it makes them worse if anything.

I am definitely getting a taller fence put up as soon as i can. I do need to replant near the fence too so will look at getting bamboo or something else fast growing.

The only thing I'm bitter about is that I don't have better neighbours.

I keep telling myself that they can't live in a 2 bed house with 4 kids forever...

No they can't live in a 2 bed house with four kids forever. Sound like they are overcrowded and everyone is feeling the strain.

I have some very noisy children in my street too but thankfully they are not all next door.

They are equally very chatty and when I was removing ivy from the side of the house they were all round asking loads of questions about how the ivy clung to the wall etc....ended up with an impromptu lesson on plants and how they grow . Then the drawbacks of some plants like ivy which can damage brickwork etc. They lost interest eventually.

It must be miserable if you cannot even enjoy the back garden without lots of interruptions though,

children don't really play quietly. They sound quite sweet really wanting to talk to people. I get that it would be annoying after the first few times though.

Can you move?

You're me?
or you're living the other side of my neighbours?

everything you have described describes my life to a T
although they break the fence and refuse to replace it, so I get that bill, I also get the neighbours asking to borrow T bags, gravy, eggs, during the day, or at 3am they bray on the door asking for cigs or money, I tell them not a chance and they put my windows through,

The kids hanging on the fence is just the worse, I have a 6foot fence and they still manage to hang off the top of it, I have absolutely no privacy when in the garden, to the extent where I no longer use the back garden ...

I even get the bin thing, I put mine out at 6 am then watch like a hawk for it to be emptied, if I don't get it in as soon as it is they refill it on the street with their rubbish as they haven't put their 6 bins (1 of their own, 5 stolen from neighbours) out in the last 6 months, as their bins are full I also get the dirty nappies etc thrown over into my garden

Its awful I really do feel for you .. I thought it got better as each kid grew up and went to stay in prison, but now they have the grand kids and its like groundhog day .. dont be like me and become a depressed reclusive hermit, I don't even open my curtains any more and haven't for years because of them .. my advice honestly .. is move .. do whatever you can .. just move ..

Until a new fence can you buy trellis to attach to top of your current fence to increase its height?

So if you just give them a small wave and a slight smile and then ignore them, it doesn't work? I saw my aunt do that, and it positively crushed the children it was directed at! I haven't had an opportunity to practise it.

You have my every sympathy.

What is it with kids that can't play without sounding like they're being disembowelled? Next door's kids used to let our piercing shrieks when I was a kid. I remember my parents not being impressed at all.

If other people's children talk to me politely then I'll smile and be polite back even if I don't feel like chatting. I think it's important to interact with them if they're being polite. But "hellooo... we're talking to you", well, I'd flip my lid.

Reminds me of when a group of kids came round trick or treating (accompanied by adults) and in addition to ringing my doorbell they also started kicking my door. They woke me up from a snooze and in that split second I really felt the bloody grim reaper was at the door. They got a mouthful and the door slammed in their faces but given the bovine look on the faces of the adults I don't think they really understood what the problem was.

I think a fence should be your earliest priority. The noise might be slightly easier to deal with if you no longer have to look at them.

Good luck.

Put some trellis up and plant some Russian Vine which will grow like buggery and screen your garden.

I really don't want to move, well not for a few years.

When I moved in next door had owners in late middle age, and an elderly parent living in the annex. Very quiet. Then parent went into a care home and the house was sold to a developer who made the annex into a separate property - which is where irritating neighbours now live.

I will go through all this again in a couple of years as my neighbour on the other side is in her late 80s and house bound. Who knows who will end up living there!

I don't hate children generally. If I went outside and they said hello normally, or waved, I'd respond similarly. I know as a kid I'd say 'hello Mrs X' if I saw my neighbours - or use their first name if I was allowed. Not be yelling at me. Bf has reminded me the other day when we ignored them they were saying loudly why isn't she answering..CANT YOU HEAR US? ARE YOU DEAF'

The temptation to tell them to shut the fuck up is huge. But that will no doubt be the one thing that gets the parents outside.

I think the problem is 'other people's kids'

Buy a big bag of gobstoppers and offer them all one. Peace and quiet for a while at least.