Neighbour moving flower pot in my garden

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Hi all
I’ve lived at my home for the past year or so and so far no problems with my neighbour. They keep themselves to themselves and same for myself but we do say hi on the occasion and they collect my parcels if I’m not home and vice versa.

Anyway I live in a maisonette (upstairs) and have a small garden area in the front of my home with a small back gate that leads to the public road.
My neighbour below has a back garden exclusive to them and has a back gate against thier garden leading to again the same footpath.
In the front of our home we have a front garden which I assume is a communal space between us both as we both have access to - however the flat downstairs has a front door which leads directly to this space, however it’s currently overgrown with bushes and we have no need to use it so neither I or the neighbour use it.

Often I see my neighbour passing out his back door and walking around his garden to come to my ‘garden’ and walk around to the front of the house. This I have found strange as like I mentioned, his front door leads directly to the front of the house so I feel there’s no need to keep passing my garden space to get to the front. But it doesn’t affect me and I don’t want to disrupt the neighbourly ‘friendship’ so to speak to I haven’t bought it up.

In my garden area I have put out a potted plant in the front of my home for decorative purposes and noticed yesterday it was moved. I assumed mabey it was an accident so put it back this morning in the original spot and went for a day out with my family.
I’ve come back home about 20 mins ago and again I’ve noticed my plant pot has again been moved - this time further opposite the original spot near my door.

Now I know it wouldn’t be anyone else but the neighbour downstairs as it’s a very quiet cul de sac and the only people to pass here are the residents. Also my house is ‘hidden’ behind the main houses so nobody ever passes there but me and my neighbour.

We also have large bins and again they store thier bins in my garden. Now before it didn’t bother me as in the cul de sac other houses have the same layout and I didn’t pay attention to where the bins were being stored. But after having a walk to another neighbour earlier on in the week I’ve noticed the bottom houses store thier bins in the front garden of thier home - so now this has started to make me feel I should mention that I would like them to store thier bins there also as I think it’s fair.

AIBU to have a word with them tomorrow about moving thier bins to thier front garden and telling them to stop moving my flower pots !?!

It seems silly issue but I don’t want to end up living next to a nightmare neighbour - and at the same time I think some boundaries are being crossed here and I don’t want to keep quiet and let them feel is OK ?

Thank you guys. I knew I was right about this but I just needed a second opinion. I’m the calmest person but honestly the plant pot just snapped me like a twig!
I can justify the use of my garden if it was obviously the only way they can get into their home but they have TWO entrances - I have one and it’s extremely clear it’s my garden so I shall definitely be having a word and speaking to whoever I need to to ensure this is even more crystal clear to my neighbours!

I just honestly can’t believe the cheek of it.

I’ve been here mabey say just under a year and I spend a lot of time between my home and my family home for work and also as I help care for my elderly father between my shifts and looking after my family so honestly the bins in my area were such minuscule issues I didn’t feel the need to ever point it out or bring it up. But I think the plant pot just bought it all to light that actually this is out of order. How would they like it if I went round to thier garden and arranged things how they liked ?
How would they like it if I was to keep my bins in the front of thier house outside thier door ?

I’m not taking this laying down at all.

I wouldn’t go from ‘meh’ to confrontational as you are suggesting.

Just get the paper copy of the property, and go and have a smiley chat with the neighbour. Say you were a bit confused and wondered if they were too. Then say, ‘it’s best to get these things sorted early on, since good relationships with neighbours are so important, aren’t they.’
Leave them a copy, mark it (not in red) if you like, for clarity.

They may or may not be taking the piss- it could be ignorance, unthinking habit or 10 other reasons. Don’t go in guns blazing until you’ve ‘had the chat’ and they ignore you. Then, by all means.

But it really is a big drag to be on bad terms with people you live so close to. Can lead to years of passive-aggressive nonsense. Stand up for your rights, but do it with a smile.

They are obviously confused and think it is their property. I think you should get a copy of the land registry document before approaching them. If you allow them to continue to use your garden as a storage place and a walkway in time they will eventually have a legal right to do so. This will then devalue your property.

we have a front garden which I assume is a communal space between us both

what do you mean, "assume?"

The pictures don’t really help in making it clearer which bit of the garden is yours, which bit is your neighbours and which bit is communal.
Any chance of a diagram/plan view?

some people are just really weird. Reminds me of when i lived in a flat and a neighbour from 3 doors away would come down to my front door and hang her washing outside my door, leaving her own one empty! I would try to fence it off if possible so they have no access!

I think you need to make absolutely sure who owns what areas. You cant just assume. If you can prove these areas are yours, then have a friendly chat with the neighbor and show them the plans. If you go in all angry and it turns out they actually own all the gardens, you’ll make a tit of yourself.

I still have no idea what's what!

Land Registry is a great idea as they may be totally confused too or may be CFs. Either way it will show what should be happening.

Personally bins outside my house would bother me loads less than a war with neighbours, but that doesn't mean not to have a friendly chat.

Check your lease.

We used to live in a maisonette which was a converted house. The from garden we assumed belong to downstairs but actually it wasn’t that straight forward - there was shared land as well!

Even if they know the side garden is yours they may be asserting their right of way if your flower pot is on the path (ie a potential block).
Land Registry diagram in hand; make sure you know exactly who is responsible for which bit, and talk to them.

if you are certain re what part of the garden is yours.
I would knock on the door, & say something firm, like
"Hello, Just to let you know that this area is officially my garden as per my lease (wave papers about) , so please stop moving my pot in my garden, also, you can keep your bins in your area, you have the whole front area to do this"

It's easier to see the distinction with your neighbour's garden because it's tidier. What if you mowed your part of the garden so there's an obvious visual clue about the difference between the gardens.
As for the plant pot, I'd keep putting it back and just say to the neighbour 'It's so odd. Someone keeps moving my plant pot in my garden. I don't suppose you've noticed who?' It could be a postman rather than your neighbour so it gives them the chance to admit it or/and stop it without admitting it

Check the land registry documents to make sure who owns what.
Check that there isn't a right of access through the side garden for other residents.
If all is as you assume it is, fence your garden and put a bolt/lock on your gate.

Is your garden what would be a drive at the side if it was all one house?

Your descriptions aren't really clear at all.

Is the neighbour using a gate to access your garden?...if so just put padlocks on your gate,

And use that as an excuse for the bins, you are locking your garden up and may not always be available to open the padlocks for them to get their bins/store their bins, so they need to.store them in the front of their gardens like the rest of the street ...if they ask why you are putting padlocks on, say you are upping your security as you have noticed things in your garden being moved around

Problem solved