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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:
Thread gallery
10
HairyToity · 29/07/2018 10:30

Your garden sounds lovely

Trampire · 29/07/2018 10:30

OP your garden sounds amazing! (A bit like mine!)

Try and ignore the silly cow.
If she corners you again tell her you'll await her solicitors letter (no reputable solicitor would entertain such a sueing).

Also, I read somewhere recently that we should all encourage a bit more 'wildness' in our gardens to help wildlife and insects. I'll try and find a link....

SuitedandBooted · 29/07/2018 10:31

She can't sue, and tempting though it is to point out that her side is a nature-free rat haven, I would avoid speaking to her if you can. Keep a diary of any calls or notes, but otherwise ignore.

Maelstrop · 29/07/2018 10:31

Missed the bit about commenting on you being foreign. I would phone 101 and make a complaint about racially aggravated harassment. Police take this super seriously.

abilockhart · 29/07/2018 10:31

Chinnyreckoning Sun 29-Jul-18 10:06:38
actually I think you should ramp the rustic up.... get a scarecrow on the go. Preferably tall enough that she can see it.

Brilliant!

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 29/07/2018 10:31

Awwww, Juelles. You have fox cubs. They must be adorable. Im so Envy

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 29/07/2018 10:31

If she comes round again get your phone out and start recording in her face- she’ll soon bugger off

KC225 · 29/07/2018 10:32

First of all I don't think you can sue because you don't like the look of someone's garden. I think you could inform environmental health if there was a danger of rats or toxic chemicals etc. If it was a fly tipping spot. But your garden is clearly kept and rendered to - growing allotment takes more effort than you'd think.

I agree with the above posters, make a note of this incident. Time, date and conversation as it will unlikely end there. Who knocks on the door at 7am on a Sunday? I though you were going to say old car on bricks, couple of old mattresses rancid pond etc. She will be complaining about the dogs and kids next.

CottonSock · 29/07/2018 10:32

I can't believe her cheek. My neighbours garden is a rubbish tip, but I keep my mouth shut.
Report her for racism if she carries on. Banging on the door at 7am!

Trampire · 29/07/2018 10:32

OP your garden sounds amazing! (A bit like mine!)

Try and ignore the silly cow.
If she corners you again tell her you'll await her solicitors letter (no reputable solicitor would entertain such a sueing).

Also, I read somewhere recently that we should all encourage a bit more 'wildness' in our gardens to help wildlife and insects. I'll try and find a link....

Pippylou · 29/07/2018 10:33

I have the chooks. They are being a bit noisy in the heat, lovely neighbour worries about foxes & says she likes the noise.

Chooks would screw with her head.

On a serious note, keep a log & tell her if she complains, that will affect a sale. Caveat emptor when buying property in the UK and as it was open market, nothing was hidden unless she was daft & didn't view.

I had to move cos of shit neighbours, it sucks, don't entertain any shite off her.

I think this is more rascism tho...

ThePricklySheep · 29/07/2018 10:33

Sorry if I’ve missed it, but do you say whether this is your front garden or back one? If it’s your back garden then how on earth is it any of her business, if it isn’t full of rats and rotting bin bags (which it isn’t).

SuitedandBooted · 29/07/2018 10:33

This is hard to resist, though....!

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 29/07/2018 10:33

Your garden sounds amazing Smile I am very jealous.

In addition to the chickens may I suggest some particularly tinkly wind chimes, and a solar powered water feature?...

CruCru · 29/07/2018 10:34

Yes, keep a record of dates / times / what she says. Realistically telling her that if she bothers you any more, you’ll go to the police will make her go away.

ScrommidgeClaryAndSpunt · 29/07/2018 10:34

Mooning gnomes, OP. A whole regiment of the buggers, all with arses pointing towards her house.

lindalee3 · 29/07/2018 10:35

Silly cow. Unless you are presenting a HUGE health and safety/hygiene issue, you are not breaking the law.

AnnieAnoniMoose · 29/07/2018 10:35

Get yourself a new diary - you’re going to need it.

Put the details about when she bought the house house etc and record every single conversation you have had with her and continue to have with her. Take some photos today, with a time stamp if you can, to prove what your garden was like when she moved in.

She’s batshit and you are going to need this record of events. Unfortunately.

Your garden sounds like a fabulous family garden, it’s probably a little rustic for me, but it’s a million times preferable to her astro turfed/concrete/decked space. But even if it wasn’t, as long as it’s not a health hazard, then it’s nothing to do with her how you keep your garden. If it was, you could ask her to get rid of her fake garden!

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 29/07/2018 10:35

Hello OP
Your garden sounds lovely - don't change a single thing. There's lots other stuff you could add Smile. My neighbour has a "hogaloo" (hedgehog house) - well used. Also bee and butterfly homes. Birdbath. Bird-boxes.
She's only been there a few weeks. Think I'd start an accurate diary - begin with the 7am visit + racist remarks.
She's seriously deluded + has too much money if she thinks she can sue.
Hope you and your children continue to enjoy your garden Flowers

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 29/07/2018 10:36

I assume there's a fence and she doesnt have to look at the offending garden.

Let her sue you and hopefully some arsehole lawyer when drain her a few hundred.

Apehouse · 29/07/2018 10:36

Chickens sound like a decent idea. Also, can you teach your dogs to growl at her? Honestly, that kind of person will push as far as you let them. Maybe a registered letter reminding her that she moved in five minutes ago, that your garden is as it was when she bought her house, that there’s no abnormal nuisance on your side, and that her actions constitute harassment?

justpoppngby · 29/07/2018 10:36

Your garden sounds delightful OP. Ignore the twat next door.

MustBeThursday · 29/07/2018 10:37

Why would people be "aghast" at someone using a garden for its primary purpose of growing stuff?? She's being ridiculous.

I once lived in a flat where the downstairs neighbour (who had the garden) had a stone clown statue sitting on a bench. Now THAT was terrifying. Our bedroom overlooked it so I just didn't look out of the window. It's not like you're growing it in her garden. Next time she complains just tell her not to look in your garden if it bothers her so much.

DartmoorDoughnut · 29/07/2018 10:37

Your garden sounds gorgeous and she sounds like a bitch, ignore her who the fuck knocks on anyone’s door at 7am I’m a Sunday?!

BewareOfDragons · 29/07/2018 10:37

I know people hate people logging things with the police, but I'd consider it here: she came over to complain about your lovely, functional garden because she doesn't like it ... at 7am on a Sunday. And she decided to throw in personal insults about OP because she's foreign. That's not on. That would be very worrying, imo, and who knows what lengths she might go to if OP doesn't 'comply' with her ridiculous demands and bullying behaviour.