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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To report my neighbour

39 replies

Loulou87 · 28/04/2018 19:22

Hi all,
This might be a long one so I apologise now.
My next door neighbours and I get on well they’re a family in their twenty’s with two young daughters.
Over the past few months I’ve noticed quite a vast number of rubbish bags building up in their garden. I’ve recently had a clear out and even offered to give her a lift to the tip to get rid of some. She’s declined as apparently they’ve got a skip coming.
Anyhow no skip has come and the bags have built up, our fence is only about 4ft so I can see straight into their back garden. Last week when we had I nice spell of weather I decided to do some gardening, I went into my garden shed for the lawnmower to find the floor covered in rat poo! There’s only a bike, a lawnmower and bbq in my shed so there’s nothing for them to nest/eat. I’m positive they’re coming from the rubbish next door.
I’ve had a word with her but a week later she’s done nothing!
I’ve returned from shopping earlier and a rat literally ran past my front door. It’s petrified me!
I don’t want to ruin my relationship with my neighbour but I’m at my wits end now.
If I report her she will know it’s me but I really don’t think I have any other option now.

OP posts:

greathat · 28/04/2018 19:23

Eurgh sounds awful? Is it a rented house?

Original poster

Loulou87 · 28/04/2018 19:27

Yes it’s a council property. I think I’m going to have to give them a call Monday morning. I scared to walk out of my door in case I see another one.

OP posts:

AintNobodyHereButUsChickens · 28/04/2018 19:27

Eurgh, definitely report to environmental health! That’s disgusting! Are you sure she’d know it was you? Do any other neighbours overlook her garden?

Queenoftheblitz · 28/04/2018 19:28

Is it building rubbish or food rubbish? If food, then it's attracting rats. If it's rubble etc then you might be jumping the gun in blaming her.

Landed · 28/04/2018 19:28

Report to council it's an environmental health hazard whatever surely. Then act surprised no need to deny you spoke to her directly if she asks. What are others doing or saying?

MikeUniformMike · 28/04/2018 19:28

Report them

SluttyButty · 28/04/2018 19:34

Or how about discussing it with them first? They may not be aware it's got so bad. And none of us really know what's going on in our neighbours houses, they could be really struggling with something. I'd give to them another shot first.

Original poster

Loulou87 · 28/04/2018 19:40

It’s household waste, I’ve asked her what it was and she said it’s what she couldn’t fit in her black bin. That’s when I offered her to throw some of it in whilst I was going to the tip. She said no as she’s got a skip coming. There’s no skip and the pile is getting bigger. There’s only my garden that looks into hers. The house on the other side has a high fence.

OP posts:

sleep5 · 28/04/2018 19:41

I'd definitely report it to environmental health and complain about the rats. Ask them to not mention that it was you.

Twounder1 · 28/04/2018 19:43

Ah I kinda feel for this girl. I have no car and the tip is miles away and the council won't give me a bigger black bin. I have two kids, a messy dp and a cat who's a house cat. There's a lot of waste. Whilst I've managed to get most of it in the bin that's waste, we've been decorating and this house was a state. I shamefully have bags in the back garden full of old wallpaper etc. Waste from previous owners that seems to be endless. I can't get rid of it and it makes me so depressed to look at.
I'd wait another week. If there's no skip, I'd confront her again before reporting her

Original poster

Loulou87 · 28/04/2018 19:45

I’ve tried talking to her many times, I was nearly in tears when I found the rat droppings, I offered to help her move it a few weeks back, but I’m not willing to even go near it now. They could be nesting in there.
It’s a shame cos we really do get on well but i don’t know what else to do.
I’ve been sympathetic, offered to help and was quite firm with her today after one shot past me.
She insists they’re getting a skip but if she doesn’t were going to be over run with them soon.

OP posts:

OhWotIsItThisTime · 28/04/2018 19:47

Report. She’s not on top of it, you offered to help and she refused. Rats are a huge health hazard.

Twounder1 · 28/04/2018 19:48

She sounds a bit embarrassed but I didnt see the rat issue, tired haha!
The rat issue isn't ideal. My mom had rats living in her cupboard and it was disgusting. I moved out into DP's families home and refused to go back until she got rid of them.
I'd phone about that. If she's in council and on benefits perhaps, they can get rid of rats for free

SluttyButty · 28/04/2018 19:48

Can you not speak to her Housing officer so they can go in and investigate? They might be able to pass it off as rats being seen in the area so they're speaking to tenants? Maybe better than going straight to EH if you can no longer deal with it.

thatsmyjoomper · 28/04/2018 19:49

I think you've done the supportive neighbour bit. Maybe give her one final strike 'if it's not moved by after the bank holiday I'll be reporting it'. It's no longer just impacting her and it must be sorted before the problem escalates.

Eliza9917 · 28/04/2018 19:49

I wouldn't wait to talk to her now there's vermin running around. What if one ran in to your house? I'd report ASAP.

Original poster

Loulou87 · 28/04/2018 19:49

Her oh has a car but says she says he won’t put any black bags in it cos he doesn’t want to mess it up! I’ve been round her house often and she doesn’t seem to be struggling, her house is tidy it’s just her garden. Her oh works and is a nice bloke that’s why I’d feel bad reporting them.

OP posts:

FrancisCrawford · 28/04/2018 19:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ihatebuildabear · 28/04/2018 19:53

I reported my neighbour for this. 7 months ago. Apparently services are involved but nothing has been cleared. So pissed off. We have sheds full of rat shit too. All stuff in there is ruined. Definitely report her.

greathat · 28/04/2018 19:56

Report it and get the ball rolling! Otherwise it sounds like it will just get worse and worse

WomaninGreen · 28/04/2018 19:56

of course you should report. don't feel bad about it.

SaltireSaltire · 28/04/2018 20:00

At the rate rats reproduce, you need to contact Council/Environmental Health urgently.

AJPTaylor · 28/04/2018 20:01

You arent reporting them .You are reporting an infestation of rats that is affecting your property.
If you get on, genuinely go round and say you have reported the rat problem so it can be solved.
Rats are a public health issue. Its your duty to do it i reckon.

Avasarala · 28/04/2018 20:04

If there’s another cold snap, the rats will start coming inside through a vent or something, and nest in the walls. They through everything - piles, wires... you could end up with a big repair bill as well as the job of getting rid of them.

She’s had plenty of chances, but has chosen to leave rotting food in her garden for weeks. Report her on Monday. I’d even go round again with a pair of rubber gloves as say “I’ve seen another rat - you need to start moving that rubbish, it is disgusting” and give her the gloves and a number for a rubbish clearing company.

NapQueen · 28/04/2018 20:07

Definetly report it. If her council has a garden policy then she will be in breach of her tenancy. They will request she moves it and if she doesnt they will and bill her for it.

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