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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Over grown garden

42 replies

UserInfinityplus1 · 27/05/2018 16:23

Neighbors garden backs on to ours (separated by a fence) and it is completely overgrown - like Day of the Triffids overgrown. It's blocking out all the light from our garden and one particular tree smells really strongly.

Some of the houses are Housing Authority and some are privately owned. I think the neighbour's house is Housing Authority because a couple of years ago their fence blew down and the Housing Authority came to repair it.

Would I be unreasonable to phone the Housing Authority and ask them to sort it out? Would they even do this?

I'm not going to go round to the neighbour and ask them to do it because a) I think it's gone way past that (it's a professional job now as way to overgrown) and b) I don't know them and wouldn't feel
Comfortable knocking on the door.

OP posts:
BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 27/05/2018 16:24

The HA will advise you to knock on their door so start there and stop being so lazy. Build up some good neighbourly relations.

Original poster
UserInfinityplus1 · 27/05/2018 16:27

Um yeah, I'm not being lazy but thank you so much for your helpful input. As the neighbours have not tended to their garden for the 7 years we live here I hardly think me knocking on the door and asking them to do their garden is going to make much of a difference.

OP posts:
Frillyfarmer · 27/05/2018 16:28

The HA won’t advise you to knock on a strangers door and request they do some gardening, what a ridiculous post Bump.

It will be in the terms of their tenancy agreement to maintain any garden so yes, ring them and complain.

Original poster
UserInfinityplus1 · 27/05/2018 16:28

*We have lived here

OP posts:
BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 27/05/2018 16:29

It might. A polite chat also may make you see they are elderly, infirm or disabled. But yknow why be nice and supportive of your neighbours when you can just report them and scare them witless when the HA come knocking on their door.

Original poster
UserInfinityplus1 · 27/05/2018 16:29

Thank you for that Frilly I will ring them as it is becoming unbearable

OP posts:
jaseyraex · 27/05/2018 16:29

Around here the HA cut all of their tennant's grass every so often. I don't know if it's the same everywhere, but could be that's it's been missed for whatever reason if they're meant to do it. I'd start by talking to the neighbours though, introduce yourself and let them know the issues it's causing for your garden as politely as you can. If they don't sort it then call the HA and see what they can do.

BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 27/05/2018 16:30

Why ask on here aibu when someone tells you you are you get arsey but someone agrees with you and you are all "yes you're right I'll do what I intended to do all along"

Hmm
UserInfinityplus1 · 27/05/2018 16:30

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 27/05/2018 16:31

I don't want to stop posting. Thanks all the same Grin

Original poster
UserInfinityplus1 · 27/05/2018 16:33

Ok to comtinue to make absolutely no sense and embarrass yourself.
Why ask on here aibu when someone tells you you are you get arsey
What does that even mean?

OP posts:
Suki51 · 27/05/2018 16:35

Hmm I sympathise issues with neighbour's you don't know can be minefields and I agree that your first port of call should be the HA they may be able to sort if for you. If I knew the person I would try and get a group of us garden lovers together to offer help, some people are garden phobic....they may even be someone in the area who doesn't already have a garden who'd love to have use of the garden to grow veggies or flowers....you'd need to make contact first though good luck

BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 27/05/2018 16:36

You asked a question, I gave an answer you didn't agree with. Someone agreed don't engage with the neighbour you then decide that irrespective of any views that are contrary to your own you will in fact do nothing other than report your neighbour. Why even post?

PotteringAlong · 27/05/2018 16:37

Why ask on here aibu when someone tells you you are you get arsey
What does that even mean?

It means why ask AIBU if you’re going to get stroppy when someone says actually, yes, YABU

MrsBartlettforthewin · 27/05/2018 16:40

Is this over grown stuff behind shed? And they possibly can't easily get at it or is it the whole garden? eyes backend of garden and the brambles over taking the shed

I think I'd try chatting to them first and if that doesn't get you anywhere then I'd contact HA.

Mammyofasuperbaby · 27/05/2018 16:42

Our local authority would tell you to go and ask them to sort it out first before they'd even consider sending a letter to address the issue. As far as they are concerned the garden is not Thier responsibility and they don't cut anyone's grass. We have to do it ourselves or hire a local gardener to do it. Each area is different so I'd call them and ask but be prepared to be told there is nothing they are going to do

Stompythedinosaur · 27/05/2018 16:44

Op, you aren't coming across very well, it's not necessary to resort to name calling if people give you an answer you don't like.

MereDintofPandiculation · 27/05/2018 16:51

People's perceptions differ. Our neighbour had a wonderful garden, totally impenetrable, but a riot of climbing roses, clematis etc.Not easy to walk down it, but once in you couldn't see any of the neighbouring houses at all. Another set of neighbours didn't like it at all "A jungle. A literal jungle". And a third neighbour was convinced that the Kiftsgate rose clambering through a mature tree was a bramble, and wouldn't be told different.

There isn't any requirement for neighbours to manage their garden in order to provide light to yours.

Original poster
UserInfinityplus1 · 27/05/2018 16:51

No im probably not coming across very well but I came on hoping for some helpful advice and get called lazy for not being willing to knock on the door of neighbours I have never met or even seen.

Thank for the replies. I guess the generally consensus is that I'm being unreasonable so I'll just put up with it

OP posts:
BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 27/05/2018 16:52

Everyone you know you didn't know before you met them. Knock on the door it may surprise you.

VioletCharlotte · 27/05/2018 21:03

I don't think you're being unreasonable. If they've not done anything did 7 years, it's unlikely they will now. However, for the sake of neighbourly relations, I would have a polite word before speaking to the HA - unless you think they're likely to be aggressive to you of course.

I used to work for a HA and they're used to calls like this. Keeping the garden tidy is a condition of their tenancy so they will speak to them. And if they're elderly/ disabled, they may well arrange to get it done for them.

iwanttoberich · 27/05/2018 21:07

You are not BU. Speak to the housing people for sure.

Thehop · 27/05/2018 21:07

I’d be afraid of causing trouble and would ring HA. Not popular here but I live in quite a rough area 😂

Urbanbeetler · 27/05/2018 21:09

Look very carefully for Japanese Knotweed - you can legally insist on that being removed. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone though.

Bluntness100 · 27/05/2018 21:12

To be fair here, if they haven't tended to their garden for seven years, they are hardly going to turn into alan titchmarch if she knocks on their door and asks.

Hi, you don't know me but I live next door,
Oh hello
I just noticed your garden is a bit over grown and it's impacting on ours, could you sort it?
Fuck me, is it? We will get right out there and get it done. We are so sorry, we just didn't notice.

🤣

Call the HA.