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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Neighbour does not like the look of my garden - threatening to sue

566 replies

craxmum · 29/07/2018 10:03

A new neighbour has moved in last month (we are sharing a wall in a semi-detached property). She seems to have a major issue with the way my garden looks (just paid me a visit at 7am on Sunday to inform me that she hasn't slept properly since she had a party last night and her guests were apparently "aghast"). First thing she did after moving in was decking and astroturfing her back garden fence to fence (the bits that weren't already covered in concrete).

She did mention it a couple of times before, but I never thought it bothers her that much. Now she made a vague threat of suing me for damage to her assets, as apparently her house value and enjoyment of her property is impacted. I mean, she bought it a couple of weeks ago (at the normal market value as far as I can see from the open sources), surely she made the decision with full awareness of what my garden looks like? She added a couple of personal insults (about me being foreign etc) as well.

My garden is a bit informal allotment style. We grow berries, tomatoes, courgettes, peppers, beans, herbs - stuff like that, also have a couple of dwarf fruit trees. Sunflowers all over the place at the moment. I have two small children (3 and 5), they absolutely love it and they have their own little experimentation areas. There is a bit of lawn, but with two dogs it is not in great shape - trimmed, but with some bald patches. There is an occasional weed or two, or maybe ten. Plenty of butterflies and bees. A composter (of a posh type, fully closed and maintained, not leftovers rotting in a bin). There is a water butt and sometimes watering cans / other gardening equipment lying around. I mean, it is by no means perfect, and can sometimes be messy and looks quite rustic, but I absolutely cannot see what I can do to comfort her apart from ripping all vegetation out and paving over.
AIBU?

OP posts:
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10
RebootYourEngine · 29/07/2018 10:11

The only thing i would have done is laughed in her face.

IceCreamFace · 29/07/2018 10:11

I can't believe you're even entertaining her irrelevant thoughts about your garden (which sounds ways nicer than hers). Tell her to stop bothering you (7am in the morning?!). Obviously she can't sue you.

AlonsoTigerHeart · 29/07/2018 10:11

Yes to the scarecrow
One like this facing her garden

Neighbour does not like the look of my garden - threatening to sue
LeroyJenkins · 29/07/2018 10:11

tell her to get on with it..... knock herself out

Urbanbeetler · 29/07/2018 10:11

I love the sound of your garden.

She came round at 7am - this tells you everything you need to know about this appalling neighbour. Don’t give her another thought. You can do what you like with your garden provided you aren’t harbouring a shesload of Japanese Knot Weed.

AnnaMagnani · 29/07/2018 10:11
  1. I would think she was devaluing my house by her astroturf and decking
  1. It doesn't matter unless she is imminently planning to sell - plus she bought it at the value with you your garden already present
  1. What will really devalue her house is her entering into a neighbour dispute. You might wish to point this out to her
  1. She is a fucking racist.
Bluntness100 · 29/07/2018 10:11

Can you post a picture?

The way you describe it sounds lovely. So unless she's a total nutter she's seeing something else. Clearly she sees something unkempt and messy,

Maybe post an image of it?

MarsBarsAreShrinking · 29/07/2018 10:11

I would always generally recommend trying to talk things over before resorting to bad language but she's clearly absolutely bat shit so I would go quite simply with "fuck off".

I too would love to see a photo of your garden, it sounds marvellous!

Singlenotsingle · 29/07/2018 10:11

There's nothing she can sue you for, silly woman, just because she doesn't like it?. Your garden sounds lovely. She needs to back off or you might have to consider reporting her for harrassment and racism

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 29/07/2018 10:11

Ignore her. Don’t let her bully you. Smile. Say nothing. I love the sound of your garden!

BotanicalGin · 29/07/2018 10:12

Your garden sounds wonderful. She sounds like a control freak and completely nuts. How dare she come round to yours at 7 am on a Sunday uninvited. Keep going going with your amazing child friendly and nature friendly garden.

Spicylolly · 29/07/2018 10:12

Her garden sounds hideous, yours is my idea of heaven x what an astro- twat she is 😆

PintOfMineralWater · 29/07/2018 10:12

There is only one solution and that is an offensive garden gnome.

Seriously though, she can say whatever she likes, she can’t sue you. What a knob.

sunshinesupermum · 29/07/2018 10:13

You don't need to do anything to comfort the CFer! Let her sue - she'll be laughed out of court.

deenagh · 29/07/2018 10:13

This is really quite sad, I hope you have no further run ins with this neighbour but if she's already knocking your door at 7am because your garden is a garden, she'll probably find more to complain about.

Keep a record of these "personal insults", because racism is illegal, if it even happens once more, report her for harassment.

missbattenburg · 29/07/2018 10:13

get a scarecrow on the go

Do this.

Also, tell her the 90s called and want their decking back

(disclaimer, I have decking so feel ok making fun)

PhilODox · 29/07/2018 10:13

Hey- this is just a stealth boast about how gorgeous your garden is, isn't it?
Grin

She sounds unhinged, I'm afraid. I doubt this will be the last you hear from her.

rainbowruthie · 29/07/2018 10:14

You have a 'proper' garden
Hmm hers not so much
Ignore her, very silly woman

AtSea1979 · 29/07/2018 10:14

OP your garden sounds lovely. Poor you having to live next to this daft women. I hope she loses interest soon.

Theweasleytwins · 29/07/2018 10:14

We moved into a house, next door had an awful garden- lots of dog poo- junk etc. Never thought to sue them because that's just silly (they have sorted it now)

Your garden sounds lovely- your neighbour is batshit (please update if she comes out with anymore gems)

HolyMountain · 29/07/2018 10:14

I like ‘off you fuck cunty chops’.

Grin. Honestly she hasn’t got a leg to stand on, she’s just being a twat.

QueenAravisOfArchenland · 29/07/2018 10:15

I'd laugh in her face and invite her to proceed with her lawsuit, because the courts will piss themselves and then throw her out.

I'd also stop answering the door to her.

WeShouldOpenABar · 29/07/2018 10:15

Don't even pretend to consider the crazy ladies position, this is not going to be her only complaint with you and you'll do well to get off on the right foot by refusing to acknowledge her insanity.

WattdeEll · 29/07/2018 10:15

Vote Scarecrow! Or a family of scarecrows. Ooh and a totem pole, made out of plastic milk bottles, paint with acrylic paint and stand up with a cane through the middle. The kids will love making those.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 29/07/2018 10:15

She sounds deranged and I think you will need to be quite blunt, as in: "You are being ridiculous. I will not be changing my garden."