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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Neighbours and the fire pit!

134 replies

Fresta · 24/08/2019 23:28

Returned home from an evening out, got out of the car on the front drive to the smell of burning wood like a bonfire. Looked around and no sign of anyone having a bonfire, go round to the back of house and the neighbour has a fire pit burning on the patio- she's gone to bed and left it smoking- the washing on the line stinks, the house stinks, had to close all the windows! It's been 25 degrees all day here and it was warm enough to sit out until well after dark tonight so what is the point of a stupid fire pit? And why would you light one on the first night in weeks that it's been nice enough to sit out! It must have made everyone else's gardens unpleasant to sit in! Luckily I was out sitting in my brothers garden tonight so that bit din't affect us- but if we had been in I'd've been even more livid! I know people like BBqs when it's warm but they only smoke whilst they are being used which is just the time it takes to cook the food- the fire pit thing is still smoking now and it's 11.30pm! Neighbour has form for being a pyromaniac!

OP posts:
BookwormMe2 · 25/08/2019 07:45

Why do people immediately want to press the nuclear option? Don't get angry, handle it in a friendly way. Invite them in this morning so they can experience how much your house stinks – they might not realise how much smell the fire pit creates and have probably angled it so it doesn't blow smoke into their house. Then ask them to move it away from your side and to douse it with water before they go to bed. If they react badly to that polite request, next time use the hose pipe and douse it yourself.

BeanBag7 · 25/08/2019 07:59

It's a one off, I wouldnt get too bothered.

Choice4567 · 25/08/2019 08:10

It’s annoying when washing gets smoked. But doesn’t mean your neighbour is never allowed fire pit or bbq in her garden because your washing may be out

SoupDragon · 25/08/2019 08:12

You went out for the whole day and left your windows open?

user1474894224 · 25/08/2019 08:14

I love a fire pit. We don't have one - but I did light one last week. I love the smell of burning wood. The kids toasted marshmallows. My friends were warm. It's lovely. I did put water on it before bed (and had to clean up the sooty mess the next day). I would be concerned she leaves fires smoking - not that she has a bonfire a few times a year.

mysweetlove · 25/08/2019 08:16

Is this a reverse and you're my neighbour?? Confused seriously though...their garden is huge. Think rural huge and they built it at the boundary fence Hmm we had visitors round last night and had to go inside because of it.

EdWinchester · 25/08/2019 08:17

Bonfires/fire pits are so anti social if you have close neighbours . I can’t fathom how people are so selfish.

NeatFreakMama · 25/08/2019 08:19

The smell is nice and it's not up to you what they do in their garden.

shrunkenhead · 25/08/2019 08:19

It will have been darked on by 10pm so I think the fire is the least of your worries.....Wink

Fresta · 25/08/2019 08:21

It was a hot day yesterday- we went out at 4pm- you should be able to leave washing out and windows open.

OP posts:
FudgeBrownie2019 · 25/08/2019 08:23

Surely if you leave windows open when you go out it invalidates your house insurance?

I wouldn't go mad or point the hose over the fence; speak to her and be civil. The whole "I'd go nuts and do x" type of response you see on here is exactly why there are so many neighbour feuds. Just speak to her and ask if she's putting on a fire to pre-warn you next time so you can get the washing in.

lorafedupwithjonny · 25/08/2019 08:24

What about barbecues? They smell and yesterday everyone near us had one going on for most of the day.

stucknoue · 25/08/2019 08:26

My fire pit has a grill for cooking. It's perfectly normal to have a fire pit

TriciaMcMillan · 25/08/2019 08:27

@gideonsmideon '...and finally today, the source of global warming has been traced to the garden of Beryl Jenkins in Chesterfield...'

stucknoue · 25/08/2019 08:28

Ps if you left windows open you have invalidated your house insurance!

Fresta · 25/08/2019 08:32

NeatFreakMama People can't just do what they like in their gardens- there are laws about anti-social behaviour! So it is up to me to some degree what the neighbours do in their garden.

I wouldn't light a fire right next to the boundary fence and close to the house, I wouldn't play loud music outside regularly, I wouldn't let my dog bark all day, I wouldn't let my kids scream and shout for long periods every day, I wouldn't have bright lights lit all night which shine into neighbours windows, etc. Neighbours need to be mindful of each others enjoyment. Yes, sit outside and enjoy the warm weather, have a Bbq but build it away from the house (the garden is really long!), let the kids play in the paddling pool etc. Do things which don't bother anyone else- it's not that difficult!

OP posts:
daisychain01 · 25/08/2019 08:32

OP this is classed as an environmental hazard, no different to a regular bonfire. Check your local authority website, they have guidelines on what is acceptable including restrictions on times of day. It's all about what is reasonable, and it sounds like your NDN are not.

We left our washing outside last night because we did 3 loads through the day as it was good drying weather. I'd be mighty pissed off if I had to rewash it because of selfish NDNs!

Where's the voting button, yanbu!

twolobsters · 25/08/2019 08:35

Classic MN ridiculousness.

Using a fire pit in the garden is 'selfish fuckery' Hmm. How are chimneas, bbqs etc any different?

Get a grip

SoupDragon · 25/08/2019 08:37

you should be able to leave washing out and windows open.

Well, burglars love you if you do the latter.

kaytee87 · 25/08/2019 08:40

Fucking hell, some people need to live on the moon.

Fresta · 25/08/2019 08:41

The windows were upstairs attic windows and far too high for burglar to access- anyway that risk is our choice and unrelated to the smoke pollution as it doesn't affect anyone else but us. The smoke affects other people! We shouldn't need to close all the windows on a summers evening!

OP posts:
Choice4567 · 25/08/2019 08:42

Of course you’re allowed to leave you’re washing out. It may rain or someone might have a bbq but you’re perfectly entitled to leave it out

Catsandchardonnay · 25/08/2019 08:43

Ooh I love a fire pit. If this is the worst thing you have to worry about OP then you have a very fortunate life. Perhaps you need to get a grip.

HJWT · 25/08/2019 08:43

GOD Op! Get a grip, 1 fire pit the WHOLE summer 😱 my neighbour has a BONFIRE twice a week and his smelly log burner on through winter! Smells like horse SHIT!! Nothing you can do about it! Council will send a letter if it becomes a REGULAR thing and thats about it 🤷🏻‍♀️

Fire pits are becoming VERY popular, you can even get garden furniture with them built into the table.

northernlites · 25/08/2019 08:44

Maybe neighbour was concerned your washing was going to get darked on so lit the fire pit to scare the spiders away