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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours put cable into their house from my side passage (pic)

119 replies

Neighbourscable · 03/02/2019 15:53

Detached house, with one side passage 3ft wide, so my side passage has neighbours sitting room, dining room and extension along one side, my own house on the other.

[Backstory] When neighbours put their extension up the builder encroached into our side by a couple of inches, put up capping stone which extends over a couple of inches more, plus they put a vent out of the dining room into our side passage without mentioning they were going to do this.
We let this go as we didn't want to fall out with them, although there was a sharp corner where the new extension began and we asked that this be cut back at an angle.

On Friday the neighbour asked my husband if we could leave the side gate open as the cable guy was coming to fix their internet and would need to work around the area above our side gate where the cable comes out from the ground. We said ok, both of us were out yesterday morning. Neighbour was a bit fudgy about what was going on, and what happened since has me very pissed off.

When I got back I realised the cable was going to be brought along the top bit of the brown area, and then above into the lighter area. I wasn't best pleased but asked the guy if he was going to chase the cable into the wall so it coudl be covered over. English wasn't his first language but I thought I was clear. He said yes and that he would be back.

A while later neighbour called to say all done, and I went with him to look and was not pleased to see what it looked like. Hope pic attaches ok. I mentioned to neighbour that cable guy was to come back to finish it, and he said no, that was it. I explained I wasn't happy about it protruding into our space, if we caught against it bringing bins or whatever out then we'd be taking out their internet. He said that would be their problem and I pointed out it would affect us too in terms of repairs having to be done and needing to take extra care in our own side passage.

Fact is, if we'd realised what they were planning we would have said they needed to find an alternative way. In our own case we had cables brought up over the roof rather than via the other neighbour's side passage.

I know it's their house and they have a right to tv and internet, but I don't see why they should be able to do it via our property, installing something permanently that we have to be careful about. Given what happened before, I feel like they're slowly spreading into our space.

I plan on going back and asking them to follow up to have cable chased into the wall.
Or am I being unreasonable?

Neighbours put cable into their house from my side passage (pic)
OP posts:
Ballbags · 03/02/2019 16:40

This is one of the pettiest things I've ever read. A tiny wire on their own wall? Have you even got windows overlooking it or is it just the horror of looking at it once a week when you do the bins. Of course you're not going to pull it out the wall moving the bins (unless you do it on purpose of course).
YABVU.

NicoAndTheNiners · 03/02/2019 16:42

Nope, I couldn't get worked up about this at all. I seriously doubt you'll damage it with a bin, etc but if you do it's their problem.

BIgBagofJelly · 03/02/2019 16:43

Like PP I'm bemused. How could you not complain about the extension encroaching onto your land but worry about a cable running along their own wall?

bluebeck · 03/02/2019 16:46

I feel so much better about myself after reading this thread.

OP - YUBVVU and petty.

SevenStones · 03/02/2019 16:47

Petty as it is, I would tell them it needs to be sorted.

They have form re: the extension, and know from past experience that they can do what they like and you might whinge but won't actually see anything through.

What happens btw when either of you tries to sell and potential buyers are told the extension has been partly built on someone else's property? I'd run a mile.

toach · 03/02/2019 16:48

I couldn't fall out with a neighbour over that, it's just not worth it. It really doesn't affect your quality of life at all.

Riotingbananas · 03/02/2019 16:48

I absolutely couldnt get worked up about that. Is it that you are still bothered by what has happened before perhaps, and this is one more thing on top? Really I'd leave it. And as for the bin - well if the alley is too narrow to get your bins down safely and you catch the cable, the only people being inconvenienced will be them, so best to let that go too. Whilst legally they might not be entitled to do it, it really doesnt affect your home in any way at all, and any discussions with them about it might have to be disclosed when you sell. Just not worth it.

SilverySurfer · 03/02/2019 16:49

YABU incredibly petty. I could understand if they put cable on your wall but they didn't. If they needed the cable for something in that room are you seriously suggesting they should install it on the other side and have to run yards of cable through the house?

Totally ridiculous.

Jaxhog · 03/02/2019 16:49

It's your space, so technically this is a trespass and a bloody cheek. But I'd probably let it go (afterr seething for a few weeks and an 'occasion' bump into the cable).

I'd also be more concerned about the extension though.

Crystalintheeyes · 03/02/2019 16:50

I can’t see a problem here..

Original poster
Neighbourscable · 03/02/2019 16:51

BigBagofJelly I think it's the cumulative effect that's upset me. We made it clear at the time that we weren't happy about the extension and reached a compromise. I think relations would have been very poor afterwards if we'd insisted on the wall being cut back 2 inches for the lenght of their 6-8ft extension.

OP posts:
whatacrapusername2306 · 03/02/2019 16:52

We have exactly the same situation only we look at their wall as that’s our patio area. Sky TV put cables in our neighbours wall and I have never seen such a bodge job. 4 large black cables running 3/4 of the way down the wall, then filled in with some sort of expanding foam. DH is a tradesman and said he would never leave a such a mess in someone’s property. Yes, I get it’s their wall, but to access it, they have to ask permission to come on to our property. We have never said anything, but if ever Sky return to do anymore work, I would definitely approach him and ask what they plan to do before we are left with our patio looking a mess.

Yabbers · 03/02/2019 16:55

So they had 3 sides to bring the cable in to their house but chose the one side where the only access is from our property.
They bring the cable in where the TV is. Or are you suggesting they should move their TV just so you can’t see a cable.

Very petty.

SingaporeSlinky · 03/02/2019 16:58

YABU
The cable is on their wall, going directly into their house at the most convenient spot for the installer. It’s pinned a few times to the wall, so it’s not likely to cause any issue when you walk down the side, even pushing big bins. They asked permission too. I’d be annoyed if they’d jumped over your gate or something without asking, but they’ve been reasonable with this.

newnameforthis7 · 03/02/2019 17:00

@neighbourscable

I am going against the grain here, and I have to say YANBU. That would irk me a bit too, and I would be a bit worried about damaging it, or if it got damaged, they may blame me. (Like how can you prove you didn't damage it?) That said, I don't think the NDNs have done anything wrong really... So I am on the fence tbh.

YANBU to be peeved. And I don't think anything is 'petty' if it's bothering someone!

Thing is, as a few posters have said, they asked permission, and you said yes, so I am really at odds here as to what to suggest. Not a lot you can do really.

Walkingdeadfangirl · 03/02/2019 17:00

You say they actually asked your permission to access the alley for this.
Shouldn't you have raised your concerns at that point?

Original poster
Neighbourscable · 03/02/2019 17:00

For 20 years the cable used to come in the front of the house, just a foot around the corner you can see in the pic. They haven't actually changed what room it comes into.

OP posts:
KitKat1985 · 03/02/2019 17:00

I think you are being petty sorry.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 03/02/2019 17:01

YABU although I must admit I wouldn't be careful if I was bringing the bins through the passage. If it got damaged it got damaged, tough luck.

I can't believe you let them get away with the extension or the vent though, that's ridiculous. What happens if you want to sell?

Original poster
Neighbourscable · 03/02/2019 17:02

Walkingdeadfangirl My husband was led to believe that because the cable guy needed to access the junction box on their house, the area below needed to be clear and that meant leaving our side gate open.

OP posts:
shortgreengiraffe · 03/02/2019 17:02

You're quite rightly upset over the extension and that should have been dealt with at the time rather than letting it simmer for years. Presumably their builder would have covered the costs or could have financially compensated you for moving the boundary.

The cable is a non-issue. If you are worried about catching it, ask your neighbour to peg it to the wall in more places. I don't know what covering it over would mean.

BoomBoomsCousin · 03/02/2019 17:06

I can understand why you're annoyed. I can see how, from your perspective, you did this hugely generous thing of not making them put the extension right and now they try and take more - even though it's just a tiny thing in comparison it must seem just so ungrateful.

So I get why it annoys you. It's also (from the sounds of it, I'm not a lawyer) not something they are entitled to do. But it's hard to navigate these sorts of neighbor disputes because it isn't just about applying the law, you have relationships in the place you live to think about.

The issue with the cable being there like that is the need to provide access if it ever needs moving or repairing and the problem with it making access down your path more difficult for you in some circumstances - in case you damage the cable but also in case you are carrying something that snags on it and your stuff gets damaged or is more difficult to move. That isn't going to happen often but it's still you that they are encroaching on for their benefit only.

YANBU. But because neighbor disputes are difficult and enforcing rights if they don't just acquiesce is expensive, I don't know about a way forward. You've already tried talking to them and they haven't really acknowledged that they shouldn't have done it, just told you not to worry. You could try telling them they have to move it, but will they or will that just lead to frosty relationships? Certainly, I don't think you should ever give them access to your side alley again.

TruculentandFarty · 03/02/2019 17:06

I used to own a house that had a similar path between houses, the wall like in your picture belonged to my neighbour but the path was completely in my back yard and was part of my back garden, it was how I accessed it from my house. I would have been pissed if our neighbours had done that and I had to look at it.

We had the opposite experience though, we asked if we could hang a hose reel and other stuff on their wall and they were happy to let us.

BookwormMe2 · 03/02/2019 17:08

If it was flapping free, you might have a point about catching it on bins etc, but it's been neatly secured to their wall. I think this is one of those "choose your battles wisely" scenarios – if you ask them to remove it and they get the hump, they could get all tit-for-tat and refuse to allow you to keep the frame of your gate against their wall. Then anyone could get down the side of your house...

Riotingbananas · 03/02/2019 17:12

Can I ask how many millimetres they are trespassing onto your property? That might help you get it back into perspective.

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