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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours pressure washer

37 replies

Galaxy88 · 03/06/2019 09:44

Please help me with some suggestions and possibly grow a back bone Blush

My neighbours are outside currently pressure washing their drive. They do this frequently, at least every few months.
This in itself is not a problem, but the drive is shared and the mud and debris floods our side and down onto our patio and under the garage door (where we keep all our outdoor electrics and tools)

Everytime they do a wash, we spend ages cleaning out the flooded garage and all the rubbish off the patio.
I dont know how to approach or fix it, the drive is angled downwards and the drain at the end of the drive cant handle that much water in one burst, so floods a few inches into the garage.
Aibu to ask the neighbour to do this in small stages? I think I need to invest in sandbags. I hate getting this frustrated over a pressure washer, but it floods our garage that is on the end of the drive.

Generally they are lovely, but seem obvious to the hours of work they cause us in clean ups after each wash.

OP posts:
TwelveThirtyTwo · 03/06/2019 09:48

Well I expect they have no idea and am gobsmacked that you wouldn’t just politely let them know.

DaisiesAreOurSilver · 03/06/2019 09:49

Just tell them to stop it.

thecatneuterer · 03/06/2019 09:51

And you haven't spoken to them about it because ...??

chuttypicks · 03/06/2019 09:54

Have a conversation with them about it. Maybe they'll get some sandbags and block your garage door each time they use the pressure washer and save you the trouble of doing anything.

BooksAreMyOnlyFriends · 03/06/2019 09:59

Tell them! We pressure wash our patio every few months and would be mortified if it was causing our neighbours problems.

Original poster
Galaxy88 · 03/06/2019 10:02

I've been out and spoke to them and he had a bit of an attitude. He said he doesn't have sandbags or anything. This time they're using a company, and I asked if they had anything in the van and they didnt. Asked if he can do it in stages, said no, they have a other job on

OP posts:
Original poster
Galaxy88 · 03/06/2019 10:02

They said it floods their garage also 🤔

OP posts:
BuzzShitbagBobbly · 03/06/2019 10:04

Get your own jet wash?

thegreatcrestednewt · 03/06/2019 10:05

They pressure wash their drive every few months?? Bonkers. Especially if it floods their drive.

It's not fair damaging your property and causing you clean-up work. Say to the company that if they flood your garage they will have to clean it up and make good. Otherwise, contact the company and complain - is there a number on the side of the van?

GabriellaMontez · 03/06/2019 10:07

Go out. Video the conversation. Ask again politely and remind them that they're damaging your property. Video their van. Tell them you'll pursue them for any damage via small.claims. I can't believe they're just carrying on.

Original poster
Galaxy88 · 03/06/2019 10:07

There isn't, it's just plain transit style van. The employee couldn't care less to be honest.

OP posts:
Original poster
Galaxy88 · 03/06/2019 10:08

Stupidly, my husband took the extra set of garage keys to work by accident so I cant get in it to remove all the electrics we've got. So, will have to see the damage when hes home.

OP posts:
steppemum · 03/06/2019 10:14

Did you talk to the neighbour or the person doing the pressure washing?
You need to talk to neighbour.
Ask them to either stop, or to invest in sandbags so no dirt/water comes on your side.
If he says no, then

photograph the damage and the flood.
Put photos with a letter, and say that this is causing you damage and risking your electrics.
State again that they need to stop or use sandbags.
If they are not willing, then say you will ask your solicitor to send a cease and desist letter, and you will be asking them to pay for clean up and damage.

LittleLongDog · 03/06/2019 10:14

That’s so frustrating! Why do they even need to pressure wash that often?

Take photos and show them the damage. Try to be very understanding that they want to do this but explain again that it causes damage to you and that the drains can’t cope.

Original poster
Galaxy88 · 03/06/2019 10:19

I spoke to both. The neighbours and the company. NDN said it floods their garage and leaves sand deposits on their drive. I was thinking, yeah, but you've asked for this, we haven't! I've managed to find some old broken bricks and have put that in front of the garage door.

Neighbour also mentions that the company will clean up any mud on the patio, I told them last time they left it for us.

OP posts:
Idontwanttotalk · 03/06/2019 10:28

Cleaning a patio/drive does make an awful mess and huge volume of water and dirt. I can see why you are upset by this.

If the NDN's attitude isn't helpful then I can only suggest you buy some sandbags yourself as it appears this will be a regular situation. It isn't fair for you to have to do that but it doesn't sound as if NDN will do anything about it.

Re: the electricals
If your electrical items are at risk then they will also be so in any exceptional weather conditions. Perhaps you should address that issue to protect your electricals anyway?

Itssosunny · 03/06/2019 10:29

OP, you need to buy stormguard garage seal. I think Screwfix sell them. This will protect from water coming into the garage.

Itssosunny · 03/06/2019 10:33

There is also a different type of garage seal like this one www.garadry.com/complete-garage-door-threshold-buying-guide

HennyPennyHorror · 03/06/2019 10:36

For now, get some plastic crates and put your electrics on top of them.

TheOrigFV45 · 03/06/2019 10:36

YANBU.

When my neighbour's grandson was let loose with the pressure wash it completely mucked the car up (not such a big deal, it could be cleaned), got a fine mist between the double glazing, which never left and splattered gunk through the slats in the fence onto the washing on the line.

I asked them to give me a heads up when they were about to do it, which solved the car and laundry problem but it was too late for the windows.

Godawful things. They didn't have slippery paving, just wanted it looking like the slabs were new rather than...I don't know....outside? Bizarre.

ArcheryAnnie · 03/06/2019 10:48

Ring your council to find out if they offer a bad neighbour mediation service. If they don't, ask them for advice about what to do with a neighbour whose actions are impacting you and your belongings.

IrishGal21 · 03/06/2019 11:01

You could always film them during the whole operation....lol that might put them off and you would have your evidence

Original poster
Galaxy88 · 03/06/2019 11:09

Just been out and company said its ot their problem. Great!

OP posts:
Original poster
Galaxy88 · 03/06/2019 11:09

*not

OP posts:
ZippyBungleandGeorge · 03/06/2019 11:16

Does your garage also flood when there's heavy rain? We have one of the storm seals from screwfix that someone has linked above, it works well. I also wouldn't put electrical items on a garage floor. Your neighbours clearly aren't going to do anything so you need to, get some shelving/racking for the garage and keep your electrical items off the floor and install a storm guard