Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About the neighbours

45 replies

Millerr · 16/06/2017 20:00

There is a long back story but basically we moved in to our (council) house about 5 years ago. The house is in between two other houses and a mother lives in one of the houses and her adult daughter lives in the other house (so they are next door but one neighbours and we are next door to both of them).

Since we moved in they have made it clear that they think the daughter should have got our property from the council. Apparently a housing office 'promised' her the house when it became empty and this didn't happen.

They have been really difficult for years; banging on the walls, putting in complaints with housing, contacting social services and just generally being difficult and rude about the whole thing. Housing are well aware of the issue.

So far we have looked at the situation with a bit of bemusement (because what else can you do)

As a side, we did speak to the council about swapping, as we don't really care, but our house was extended so is bigger and the daughter can't move in as she doesn't have enough kids and we can't move into her house as we would be too overcrowded.

Anyway, today I got a phone call from my little brother at about 3oclock asking me to come back as there was a 'problem' with the fence. I got home and basically they have removed a fence panel from each side opening our garden up into their gardens. There were their kids playing in our garden when I got home.

I went round and asked them to put the fence panels back. They refused saying they don't have them!! I have called the council and they said they will deal with it next week but until then I have blocked the gaps of with some panelling. This was removed about an hour and a half ago.

I mean WTF! I genuinely don't know what to do. It's our garden and is now being used as a walkway by their kids! We are supposed to be having friends round but it's not really appropriate if the garden is open and kids are just walking through. Every time I've seen one I told them to basically get out but then their mum or grandma starts screeching about how it should be their garden?

I mean I don't think IABU but I don't know what to do?

OP posts:
ItsNachoCheese · 16/06/2017 20:05

I would let your pcso know so they are aware. Damaging your property is not on

Birdsgottaf1y · 16/06/2017 20:05

There is nothing you can do over the weekend, but this has escalated to anti-social behaviour that needs to lead to a warning.

They are both in breech of their tenancy agreements and you cannot enjoy your home, so it is time for action from the Council.

Don't accept mediation, because you are not part of the issue and can do nothing to solve this.

BeBeatrix · 16/06/2017 20:06

If you keep a record of what they're doing, when, it will help when complaining to the council - or even possibly the police, given there's been criminal damage and harassment.

Not sure what else to recommend, except sympathy that you've ended up with some of the worst neighbours I've heard of - especially given your kindness in even looking into swapping house!

SpareChangeDownTheSofa · 16/06/2017 20:06

Wow, that's crazy.

If it was me I'd be sitting in the garden waiting for them to come and go but I'm like that haha!

Take photos of the fence and everytime they come in (its your garden and you can take photos). Phone the council every single time they trespass and log with 101.

The council will get sick of you and want to fix it quicker if you keep bothering them.

kaytee87 · 16/06/2017 20:07

Tbh I'd probably call the non emergency police line and ask them to speak to your neighbours

EssentialHummus · 16/06/2017 20:08

Put a complaint in writing to the council cc'd to the neighbour and get a police reference number (it's trespass if I've understood the OP correctly). Put up more panels and film them as/if they're removed again.

AngryAngry

Honestly, it's not your fault that her daughter didn't get your house.

honeyroar · 16/06/2017 20:09

Cheeky sods! Surely that would get them in trouble with the HA? In the meantime could you borrow a poopy dog to "decorate" your side of the garden! Sounds like you need some CCTV.

honeysucklejasmine · 16/06/2017 20:11

Bloody hell. What ridiculous behaviour from them.

GhostCurry · 16/06/2017 20:12

Trespass laws should cover this, surely? I mean it's not a council issue but a police one, at this point?!

LittleBeautyBelle · 16/06/2017 20:13

That is nuts! Can you complain to the police? They are trespassing. Normally I would not turn away kids like that, probably the opposite, but these neighbors are doing this on purpose to defy you and your right to your own home and garden. Wow, cannot believe they are doing this! They should have been cautioned by the police a long time ago with their ongoing behavior.

SvartePetter · 16/06/2017 20:14

Maybe you need to water your garden?

Siwdmae · 16/06/2017 20:14

Call 101, tell them neighbour's have committed criminal damage. They sound batshit. Go out if their kids are in your garden and shout at them, it's absolutely unacceptable for them to be harassing you like this.

PennyPinkleton · 16/06/2017 20:24

Barbed wire fence in the gaps

Cheeky feckers!

Patriciathestripper1 · 16/06/2017 20:27

Omg I really feel for you op we had awful neighbours and could write a book on it. We ended up moving.
Get cctv up asap ring the police and report criminal damage to your property email council everytime something happens.
Don't accept mediation as you are not the problem.
Tell the council your neighbours are in breech of their tenancy and you want them to inforce the own tenancy policy.

Agerbilatemycardigan · 16/06/2017 20:38

Put a load of sprinklers on your lawn and keep them turned on during the times they mostly use your garden.

abbsisspartacus · 16/06/2017 20:41

Get dogs lots of them for the weekend

Supermagicsmile · 16/06/2017 20:50

That sounds awful. Report to 101!

CouldntMakeThisShitUp · 16/06/2017 20:54

call the police on them!

they've been harassing you for ages and now they've upped it to criminal damage and trespass

pinkblink · 16/06/2017 20:58

They sound delightful, I second getting some sprinklers, or borrow a dog so it goes in their gardens

LucieLucie · 16/06/2017 21:03

Tell the chavs they are liable to end up both being evicted from their homes if they carry on with their petty and entitled anti-social behaviour.

Not a brain cell between them clearly.

Film the ongoing sand report it to the housing on Monday, police in the interim

dinosaurbum · 16/06/2017 21:06

I put up the panelling again and if they take it would call 999, sounds severe but there is a crime in progress. They have criminally damaged your fence (if it's your boundary line, is that a thing with council housing?) trespassing and verbal abuse.

Foxysoxy01 · 16/06/2017 21:07

You really need to call 101.

LakieLady · 16/06/2017 21:43

Fine fishing line is almost invisible and makes great tripwire. String it across the gaps.

After they've fallen flat on their faces a couple of times, they'll soon give it up.

What a pair of twunts though. Who the fuck do they think they are?

MumW · 16/06/2017 21:51

Grin at the thought of fishing line but perhaps best to keep it as a thought. You don't want to lose the moral high ground.

HundredMilesAnHour · 16/06/2017 23:18

Would electric fencing be considered unreasonable? Grin

Swipe left for the next trending thread