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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU or are neighbours CFs?

81 replies

Treacletoots · 07/07/2018 11:08

We live in an old house, in a square shape with courtyard in the middle. We own the courtyard but have to allow access to neighbours over part of it to remove bins.

Historically we all share all the bins and take it in turns to put them out and bring in (some very much more than others...). They are stored, at the end of the courtyard in a separate area with sheds, in various states of disrepair.

Yesterday one neighbour has decided to claim back her bins, and put her number on etc. fair enough. This part we dont mind as she's always the one who doesn't pull her weight so this ownership is a positive step. However she's placed it in our garden, albeit, the part we allow access over.

I think she's being a CF and we need to tell her to put her bins back in the storage area. It's right in the sun all day, and as well as being our land, its directly next to another neighbours patio too. They don't own any outside space BTW, apart from the official bin store.

There's a tiny bit of history with this neighbour. They have previously wrote passivr aggressive notes to us all asking us to be a good neighbour when they deem the bins have been unfairly filled or if we park to close to their van ( parking is tight for all of us) and when we've tried to talk to them it has resulted in a "fuck off' from them.

So. Are we being unreasonable or if not, how do we approach this :/ help!

OP posts:
longwayoff · 07/07/2018 12:24

???

HeGotManFlu · 07/07/2018 12:25

If it's your land then she cannot store her bins without your permission, if it is just an access route to the storage area so she has to comply with that. Go and ask her to put the bins back in the storage area, if she gets arsey tell her you will seek legal action, she is being a C F. In this heat the bins will smell, get flies and I don't suppose the other neighbour wants her stinky bins by her patio. Do you hold residents meetings where this can be discussed.

notapizzaeater · 07/07/2018 12:26

Have you the plans showing it's your land ? I'd have it with me when I asked them to move them out of your space

Mummyoflittledragon · 07/07/2018 12:29

Put the bins back and a note through the door explaining they are not allowed to store items on your property. Next thing they’ll start drying washing there etc.

Is there any way of making the storage accessible from the outside? Are there any official rights of access ie an easement in the deeds?

hellohello12345 · 07/07/2018 12:32

Definitely push the buns back to the store. Then if they do it again put them back with a. Note saying they can't be stored anywhere other than the bin store

Treacletoots · 07/07/2018 12:34

There is an official right of access so sadly we can't just stop them, also there's really nowhere else the bins can go, the route is as wide as the bins! We own all the left and right side of the courtyard but fence it to stop dog doing a runner!

I think we'll move them, then leave her a note explaining why. She does know she shouldn't but it's good to clarify to her.

Argh. Almost as annoying as parking!!

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EggysMom · 07/07/2018 12:39

I'd just act as though she didn't know / has forgotten. Move the bin to the store, drop her a polite note pointing out that the courtyard belongs to you and is for access only, so please would they ensure their bin(s) are kept in the store in future.

At least then if it happens again within, say, a 6 month period, you can reference the fact that you've told her before and get appropriately shirty.

YearOfYouRemember · 07/07/2018 12:40

Lovely diagram.

Sounds like she wants to throw her weight around. I'd kill her with kindness.

pambeasley · 07/07/2018 12:42

I like mshomeslice's suggestion. Or you could chuck dog poo in it and when she complains say, 'yes that happens sometimes when the bins aren't in the bin store. People come in to use the bins'

Grin

I like the diagram.

Juells · 07/07/2018 12:44

I'd kill her with kindness

I'd piss on my boundaries Grin

FrancisCrawford · 07/07/2018 12:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BewareOfDragons · 07/07/2018 12:54

I would move the bins to their front door. Tell them they don't have to use the bin storage, obviously, as that's their choice. But you're certainly not housing them in your garden for them either.

Bibesia · 07/07/2018 13:06

Just say there may have been a misunderstanding and where she has left her bins is not shared land but part of your garden.

LuluJakey1 · 07/07/2018 14:47

Could the bin store be moved to where I have marked it in red. Then they would have no access beyond that to your courtyard/garden. You could build a fence and grow clematis up it - with a lockable gate for you to use.

AIBU or are neighbours CFs?
LuluJakey1 · 07/07/2018 14:54

Or could the access be from the outside .
where red mark is. Then current access becomes just yours to your garden.

AIBU or are neighbours CFs?
HeGotManFlu · 07/07/2018 15:47

Lulu, would moving them affect access, fire escapes, emergency access.

flumpybear · 07/07/2018 16:17

They've got the right to cross over the top of the land but not to leave any permanent or semi permanent fixtures etc there - they're in the wrong, YANBU

Hygge · 07/07/2018 21:22

If it is just a right of access in the way you have marked, why has she moved her bins to by be her own house?

Can she get into your courtyard directly from her house? Or does she have to walk around and into the courtyard from the marked route?

DartmoorDoughnut · 07/07/2018 21:26

It’s your land just move the bins

seven201 · 07/07/2018 21:31

Given her love of a pa note I'd move the bin back and write her a note. include mostly capitals and at least 10 exclamation marks.

beargrass · 07/07/2018 21:33

YANBU

Great diagrams

Great re-use of said diagrams

I vote for second of re-drawn diagrams

Treacletoots · 08/07/2018 08:02

@lulujakey1 sadly no. Top right hand corner is a boundary wall about 20 ft high and bottom right would be right outside our gate and block any movement. It's fair to say the plan looks a little more roomy than reality. Not an expert plan maker :)

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Treacletoots · 08/07/2018 08:05

@hygge sadly no. The problem neighbour has no outside space. The small patch outside her house actually belongs to the neighbour at the top right! The reality is, she has no land and is just being a CF by trying to store her bin on ours.

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Treacletoots · 08/07/2018 08:07

Sorry forgot. She can access the courtyard via her back door, she just has to walk over the neighbour's space too. Normally she just uses her front door so we don't have to deal with her.

OP posts:
Treacletoots · 08/07/2018 08:09

@beargrass thanks for the vote of confidence, however no opportunity to redraw :/ without tunnelling under the school (owns the boundary wall to the back) or widening our gennel we're stuck

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