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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
wheezing · 29/07/2018 10:15

Your garden sounds great and hers just plastic and fake.

QueenOfMyWorld · 29/07/2018 10:15

I think you should buy garden gnomes like this 😁

Neighbour does not like the look of my garden - threatening to sue
longwayoff · 29/07/2018 10:16

Hilarious. I dont like the sound of her at all and am consulting a solicitor about her destroying my enjoyment of a relaxed sunday morning Grin

BigSandyBalls2015 · 29/07/2018 10:16

This would worry me actually as she sounds unhinged and foul. I'm concerned this is the start of problems with her.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 29/07/2018 10:16

Oh, but show us a picture of your garden though!

chatwoo · 29/07/2018 10:16

What is wrong with people?!?!

Your garden sounds amazing and hers just sounds like a glorified car park.

flumpybear · 29/07/2018 10:16

I imagined Olslow's garden from Keeping Up Apprarences lol
Perhaps call her Mrs Bucket from now
On 🤣

Waffles80 · 29/07/2018 10:16

I think you need to report her racism though, as soon as possible.

John4703 · 29/07/2018 10:17

Your garden sounds like a tidy version of mine. How can she sue as it is your garden and it was like that when she bought the house. I hope her posh parties are not noisy and disturbing for your children.

yoyo1234 · 29/07/2018 10:17

Your garden sounds lovely ☺️. There is nothing she can sue for.
I would think the only things that could have legal consequences are: noise, allowing certain plants to spread ( eg knotweed), trespass, damage to property, building over someone's land/not getting third party agreements etc..).
Her racist comments and harassing you at 7am Sunday morning ( esp if she keeps up that behaviour ) are completely different matters. Flowerssorry you are having such an appaling time with your new neighbour.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 29/07/2018 10:17

OP, you HAVE to put up a scarecrow, and make it look as much like her as possible.

LimboLuna · 29/07/2018 10:17

Good job you’ve left somewhere for wildlife.

If I remember correctly part of the reason 1930’s houses had such big gardens was so the owners could grow veg and fruit. Which was a blessing given the war. (She would be the first nicking your berries if brexit means no food)

She’s a twat. Tell her to sue and enjoy going to court with some fruit and veg for the judge. What a dick.

qwerty2018 · 29/07/2018 10:18

You sound like my perfect neighbour. She sounds like a Chavvy twat. I hate decking it looks shite and attracts rats. Ignore her

Readyfortheschoolhols · 29/07/2018 10:18

Hope you have some wind-chimes....

DownstairsMixUp · 29/07/2018 10:19

Let her try and sue and report back, I could do with a laugh

BounceAndJump · 29/07/2018 10:19

That sounds lovely, id much rather have an allotment to look at and see different things growing than just more boring grass, can you counter complain looking at all the green plastic in her garden is ruining your view!

RaininSummer · 29/07/2018 10:20

Your garden sounds magnificent and what gardens are for. She, apart from being rude and a lazy gardener, is an environmental vandal. I would be upset living next door to astrorturf.

Bibesia · 29/07/2018 10:20

Point out that real plants look a thousand times better than astroturf.

Timeisslippingaway · 29/07/2018 10:20

Tell her to fuck off! She can't do anything about your garden. Why anyone would get that fake grass is beyond me, I would text her have patchy natural grass than that horrendous stuff.

gamerchick · 29/07/2018 10:20

I really love the sound of your garden. I'm aiming for for that sort of thing Grin

BMW6 · 29/07/2018 10:21

OMG what a loon! Tell her to crack on with suing you and if she knocks again to complain tell her to Fuck Off!

IamaBluebird · 29/07/2018 10:21

Wind chimes those hollow wooden ones.
Perfect. Maybe a trampoline as well.

longwayoff · 29/07/2018 10:21

Please just leave her to gnaw her own arm off and don't get involved in a neighbour dispute in case you want to sell.

happypoobum · 29/07/2018 10:22

Please don't worry about this OP. She genuinely has no hope whatsoever of suing you.

However, if she is racially abusing you, you may want to point out to her that that is illegal.

If she comes round again don't answer the door. Or tell her to fuck off you racist cunt

DianaPrincessOfThemyscira · 29/07/2018 10:22

Well she’s welcome to spend her money however she wants but she’s actually an idiot if she thinks she’ll get anywhere!

If she knocks again I’d tell her to get a hobby and leave you alone - you’re not changing your garden because her and her friends have no life.

Actually I wouldn’t because I’m all mouth not trousers but I’d think it while telling her no i don’t think I’ll change my property on her say so! Grin

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