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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think this was Neighbours fault? (diagram included)

166 replies

HiyaMummy · 26/12/2017 15:46

I live on the top floor of a block flats. 2 flats per floor. Rented from a Housing Association. Diagram not to scale

The squares in the corner of the flats are our front doors. Next to our front doors we each get a space, probably the size of an understairs cupboard. The HAs contract with us says this space is for the storage of pushchairs (which I do for DD) and non perishable food and drink items. The alcoves don't have doors on so you can see into each others alcoves and easily access them. We're not allowed to add doors or even poles for curtains/screens - I've asked before, but the HA say the block is secure so anything that gets stolen should be easily found.

Over Christmas I stored some of DDs Christmas Presents and some alcohol there. I left some of the chocolate out there along with some bottles of beer.

Neighbour has a dog. On Christmas Day after coming back from family his dog was off lead and while neighbour unlocked the door, the dog got into my alcove, where he promptly knocked over a crate of beer bottles licked that up and ate some of the chocolate.

This morning neighbour knocks on my door and asks me and DH to pay for the vets bill he's now got as his dog has become very ill from eating and drinking the contents of my alcove.

While I sympathise because it's awful when your pets ill I have a cat and I hate it when she's ill I feel it's the neighbours fault for allowing his dog to be off lead in the communal areas where he may have access to stuff he shouldn't be having such as chocolate.

Neighbour is coming back later to discuss it and I want to know if I'm UR to refuse (we can't really afford vets bills, we have pet insurance for the cat for this very scenario)?

AIBU to think this was Neighbours fault? (diagram included)
OP posts:
HeadfirstForHalos · 26/12/2017 16:04

they usually say as long as they get no complaints from the other residents in the block about your pet your allowed to keep it

If he gets arsey about you refusing to pay I'd consider mentioning reporting his dog for being unsupervised and out of control in the buildings communal areas causing damage to your belongings .

LazyDailyMailJournos · 26/12/2017 16:05

He's being very unreasonable - and I say that as a dog owner myself.

You need to tell him what you have told us and let him know that you won't be asking him to cover the cost of the items his dog damaged, but that as far as you are concerned that is now the end of the matter.

If he gets stroppy then nicely point out that he's welcome to complain to the HA - but that he will have to explain to them that he did not have his dog under control in a public space. I'd be surprised if there weren't conditions attached to having pets in the block - which will include keeping them under control and not causing a nuisance.

wowbutter · 26/12/2017 16:07

Tell him to supervise his pet, and use his insurance if the bill is so high.

OnTheRise · 26/12/2017 16:08

When he comes round present him with a bill for the replacement of all the items his dog damaged or ate, and tell him you're not responsible for his dog being so out of control it behaved like this.

There's no way you're responsible for his dog's vet bills.

PositivelyPERF · 26/12/2017 16:11

IT sounds as if he's let the dog run around the hallway for a good few minutes and it's got into your stuff. There is no way it managed to case that much mess if he had his eyes on the dog and was taking it into the flat. I reckon he let the dog run around while he's been taking off his coat, putting away shopping/gifts, ect, then went to retreave his dog. Even if it happened in a split second, it's totally his responsibility. I would suggest that he keeps his dog on a lead while in the communal area.

Munchyseeds · 26/12/2017 16:13

Sorry the dog is I'll but NOT your problem.
Dog should have been on a lead
He should be replacing what the dog ate

mummmy2017 · 26/12/2017 16:14

Tell him he is the pet owner, he let his dog off the lead, while you are very sorry his dog stole your goods, you have no intentions of paying anything towards his vets bills, and will also NOT be asking him to replace the stolen goods.

PositivelyPERF · 26/12/2017 16:14

Bty, if you don't be firm about this, you may find he try's to take the piss in other ways. I find that if you're too accommodating to people when they first make demands, you're just opening the way to be bullied. Start as you mean to go on.

PositivelyPERF · 26/12/2017 16:14

Tries not try's*

XiCi · 26/12/2017 16:20

The dog must have been unsupervised for a good while to get into the chocolate boxes and eat enough to be ill and then knock over and drink the beer! Your neighbour is a cheeky fucker and a chancer. What did you say to him when he called round? You need to tell him in no uncertain terms that you will not be paying any bills and that he should have been supervising his animal

Original poster
HiyaMummy · 26/12/2017 16:21

I said I was sorry his dog was ill and that was it, I was a bit taken aback tbh.

I'll have DH here when he comes back so won't let him bully me.

OP posts:
brizzledrizzle · 26/12/2017 16:22

They are being CFs. Don't engage with them and don't pay up, you could remind them of the policy about keeping dogs which aren't complained about if they get particularly unpleasant - I'd write to them and send a copy to the HA.

cathyclown · 26/12/2017 16:25

Apart from this issue, I would invest in a few various sized lockboxes for the alcove.

I am truly amazed that the choc and beer etc. is never pinched by others. You must live in a very civilized block of flats with very honest people!

KatharinaRosalie · 26/12/2017 16:26

they should be offering to pay for stuff the dog ate or damaged!

Maelstrop · 26/12/2017 16:27

Dog should not have been off lead, he should have been able yank it away/call it away. How long was the dog in there, for god’ sake?

Original poster
HiyaMummy · 26/12/2017 16:28

It's a lovely block cathy only 3 floors high so 6 flats. There's 2 families on middle floor with children aged 2-16 and then older ladies on the ground floor in the 1 beds.

OP posts:
AntiHop · 26/12/2017 16:28

Definitely not your responsibility.

Original poster
HiyaMummy · 26/12/2017 16:29

I wasn't in when this happened. DH and I were at the pub and DD was with MIL and SIL, so I can't honestly say how long the dog was in the alcove for.

OP posts:
JaimeLannister · 26/12/2017 16:31

His fault. 100%. Clearly he wasn't watching his dog. What if you had opened your door and the dog wandered in? Or someone opened the door downstairs and it went out there?

harrietsoton · 26/12/2017 16:32

You weren’t there, but logically he should have been able to stop the dog before this happened. It sounds like the dog was unsupervised for longer than the neighbors is letting on.

cathyclown · 26/12/2017 16:33

HiyaMummy,

You are truly blessed. Sounds lovely.

StaplesCorner · 26/12/2017 16:33

How on earth did this happen? This isn't ringing true OP. To knock over a crate of beer and drink some it- the dog would have been at risk from serious cuts, swallowing glass etc. and chocolates, what exactly are you missing? did you find all the debris? When did you realise all this had happened?

onalongsabbatical · 26/12/2017 16:34

I agree with everyone else it's entirely his responsibility. One thing puzzles me - you say the dog knocked over a crate of beer bottles, was there not broken glass in the beer that got lapped up? No glass injuries to dog's mouth or feet? Were you there, did you see what happened? I'm a bit suspicious you're being spun a yarn.

PavlovianLunge · 26/12/2017 16:34

He lost control of the dog, he’s responsible for the consequences, and he should count himself lucky that you’re not demanding the cost of the beer and chocolate from him.

harrietsoton · 26/12/2017 16:35

Also nothing in your contract or any legal decree states that ‘one must dog proof the alcove’ - he’s being cheeky and has no legal recourse.

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