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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

My neighbour is painting my garden wall!

56 replies

viccat · 10/05/2019 14:36

Just looked out of the window to see my neighbour from two doors down painting my front garden wall! AIBU to think this is really weird? (Albeit probably done with the best of intentions...)

I live in a terraced Victorian house with a white painted front garden wall at the front. For what it's worth, I take care of the appearance of my house at the front with window boxes and plant pots, get windows cleaned, and had the wall and my window sills etc. re-painted 3 years ago so they are not exactly looking terrible. The paint has worn down a bit in the rain and London pollution but compared to some houses on the street was looking just fine.

This neighbour is generally obsessed with the appearance of our bit of the street - often sweeping the pavement, putting everyone's bins back into front gardens etc.

But surely you knock first before starting to paint a wall that doesn't belong to you?!

OP posts:

cheeseandcrackers · 10/05/2019 14:39

Very odd behaviour... but if it saves you doing it, I wouldn't make a fuss and would just leVe them to get on with it

cakeandchampagne · 10/05/2019 14:39

I wouldn’t let a neighbor do anything to my property.

Hisnamesblaine · 10/05/2019 14:39

W.t.f???? Go out and ask them what they think there doing?

Original poster

viccat · 10/05/2019 14:44

I mean, from what I can see he's doing a good job of it and it was kind of on my list of jobs to think about in the next year or so... I'm just amazed he would think it's acceptable to do something to my property and feel a bit judged! He must have thought it looked awful and needed doing.

OP posts:

Pinnacular · 10/05/2019 14:45

How odd. If it's just white paint on top of white paint and it saves you a job I'd ignore it. But I'd never mention it to them, and if they ever say anything I'd just act surprised as if you hadn't noticed, as I suspect they're the type to wallow in the attention and ignoring it would really irritate them

redhotchill · 10/05/2019 14:49

I'd make him a cuppa and a bacon sandwich and say thanks!!

onalongsabbatical · 10/05/2019 14:50

Maybe he was painting his own wall and had enough paint and just thought he might as well carry on, making both walls look nice and also evenly done and using up the paint? I can't think of another reason, but I can imagine doing that, to be honest. Ah - I see he's 2 doors down - so has he done the one between, too? I bet he has!

WeepingWillowWeepingWino · 10/05/2019 14:51

well - I guess as it's something you would have done sooner or later anyway, and he's doing it at his own expense I'd leave him to it.

(I bet he's about to put his house on the market and doesn't want your grubby wall reducing his market valuation )

toolazytothink · 10/05/2019 14:52

Maybe he was painting his own wall and had enough paint and just thought he might as well carry on,

True but doesn't a normal person just knock and quickly check first?

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 10/05/2019 14:54

thank him for prepping the wall and paint it bright pink this weekend

Hoppinggreen · 10/05/2019 14:55

Up here in Yorkshire the response would be to make him a cuppa

Eminybob · 10/05/2019 14:56

Just say thank you. He’s doing a nice thing.

pumpkinpie01 · 10/05/2019 14:57

Bit odd not to ask, but can you send him to mine after he's finished yours please ?

Original poster

viccat · 10/05/2019 14:57

onalongsabbatical The one in between is bare brick so he's not done that one.

I'll investigate if he's been painting his own house when I next walk past... Currently I'm pretending to not have noticed.

OP posts:

Ineedamanipedi · 10/05/2019 14:59

Either he’s very kind and thinks it’s a nice thing to do for his neighbour or he has some kind of ocd which has compelled him to do it whether you want it or not! If it’s the former I would probably let it go but I’d definitely have to go and speak to him to find out what led him to think it would be ok to do it without asking!

Aquamarine1029 · 10/05/2019 15:00

The risk of not speaking to him, though, is that next time he could do something you would be really upset about.

redhotchill · 10/05/2019 15:01

@Hoppinggreen Yorkshire too. Maybe it's just us?!

Jaxhog · 10/05/2019 15:02

Weird! But as long as he's doing a good job, I'd leave him too it. Although after you thank him, you might want to suggest gently that you'd prefer he asked first next time.

fruitbrewhaha · 10/05/2019 15:03

I'd pop out and say thanks, it was on my list of jobs, but you really dont have to.

He is definately painting it white? And not a cock and balls?

Mayalready · 10/05/2019 15:03

My ndn started knocking my wall down op!! Maybe run out and give yours a 'to do' list??

Original poster

viccat · 10/05/2019 15:04

It's hard to know how to say thanks so much, really appreciate that AND next time please ask me first before you start...

OP posts:

Noobcrumble · 10/05/2019 15:04

I would go out there looking very perplexed and asking him why he thought it would be appropriate to do anything to your property without your permission......but only when I was sure he was on the last brush stroke!

viques · 10/05/2019 15:05

Are you sure it's your neighbour and not some shortsighted workman who's got the house number wrong?

aprilshowers12 · 10/05/2019 15:05

I've got a neighbour who's like this. It's actually very controlling although on the face of it seems a nice neighbourly thing to do. Mine sent her wimpy husband around when I first moved in to ask me if she could come and cut back my hedge! It's like they think they know best and become terribly twitchy if any neighbours are not doing what they want them to do. Mine even suggested that I wasn't happy where I put my bin in my garden! I told her I was perfectly happy

Zakana · 10/05/2019 15:06

I would nip out and ask if he wants a cuppa or a cold drink whilst he works, would bother me slightly as in cheeky, but if it saves you a job and he’s doing it ok.....

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