To not understand his point of view at all?

[MmmWhatchaSay]

Neighbours child entered our backyard looking for his drone. He found it and upon leaving tripped over a wobbly slab in our garden. Scuffed his knee and broke his drone. Very sad for child.

His father has just been at the door saying it was our responsibility to replace the drone as we had a wobbly slab in our garden which is dangerous

I explained that actually his child had entered our garden without permission, and accidents do happen. He said we weren’t home, to which I replied that they should have waited - we were out for 20 minutes.

Anyway, neighbour gets angry and says if we don’t replace it he’s going to sue, I told him he’d been watching too much American TV and shut the door.

Now I’m not stupid. I know I’m not unreasonable or responsible for the drone my question is how can he think I am?! Does he really, or is he just trying his luck?

In terms of registering and passing a theory test, I'm pretty sure the child won't have done that. DH has a drone licence as he uses it for work and the theory test is not simple. A lot of the regulations only apply to larger drones though - and people often ignore them which really annoys DH.

He's trying his luck because his kid's expensive toy got broken and he's got the arse about it.
Hopefully he comes to his senses soon.
He hasn't got a leg to stand on anyway, so hopefully he doesn't waste any time or money actually trying it.

Check your home insurance policy and let him crack on. Most buildings policies (assuming you are an owner) have owners liabilty up to 2mil included within the policy. I'm guessing he probably wont take it further and was just trying to get you to fork out cash to make it easier but chances are you will be covered anyway.

The new drone rules apply to those which weigh 250 g or more. Hence the introduction of the 249 g 'travel drone' I read about in the weekend papers.

If the drone crashed in the OPs garden, that would indicate that it was being flown illegally. If they take legal action, I'd look at your house insurance to see if you have legal cover. Hopefully that can get you a solicitor's letter written that will politely tell them to FO or else you will countersue for invasion of privacy or somesuch.

“The new regulations apply to drones and model aircraft from 250g to 20kg that are used outdoors

There will be two elements to the system.

Anyone responsible for a drone or unmanned aircraft (including model aircraft) weighing between 250g and 20kg will need to register as an operator. The cost for this will be £9 renewable annually.”

So if it weighs over 250g (which isn’t impossible - my friend bought her son one which is less than 100g) then he may have been flying illegally anyway.

If the drone crashed in the OPs garden, that would indicate that it was being flown illegally.

Why? The crash has zero bearing on whether the drone is registered/licenced or not. It's just jumping to conclusions.

You're not allowed to fly them within 50 metres of property.

Unless the OP has an absolutely massive garden, it must have been within 50 metres of her house, ie breaking the law, to land in her garden.

He’s just a cf, even claiming against you for injuries occurred on the property I’m pretty sure they’d need to be substantial not a skinned knee..

There’s also no saying the drone was still working after it’s crash.. maybe hadn’t snapped/visibly broke but a 7/8 year olds hardly going to admit he broke it unless it’s obvious.

maybe you could agree to find a way to buy a new drone by him doing age appropriate chores for a time period and then you will contribute £X towards his dad getting him a new drone.

Are you having a laugh? Why on earth should the op offer to help fund a new drone? It is in no way her responsibility.

Some people get all their viewpoints from tv!! What an idiot!

Anyone that is going to fly a drone must take a theory test online and if they're under 13, they have to register with a parent or carer and they must supervise them the whole time they are using it.

Only for a drone which weighs more than 250g. The overwhelming majority of "toy" drones are much smaller than this.

register-drones.caa.co.uk/

However OP, you are not in the wrong here and there is no reason why it's your responsibility to replace or contribute. He shouldn't have been in your garden without permission. And it's a loose paving slab and a trip, not some massive hazard.

Well his train of thought is probably that he’s vaguely aware that property owners can be liable if trespassers are injured.

That law makes sense really - imagine a property owner puts up a large playground on their front garden, no fencing. Reality is young children will trespass without realising its wrong. If a child is injured by faulty playground equipment in those circumstances the landowner is likely to be liable.

So that’s his train of thought, if that helps.

However I don’t believe a scuffed knee would get him much in the way of damages, and I don’t think property damage is covered.

If he bothers you about it again, tell him to claim on his contents insurance, it’s really not your problem.

SmudgeButt One of the most ridiculous comments I've read on MN and there's some stiff competition.

I'd completely ignore him.

Oh FFS, no don’t follow smudgebutt’s suggestion to approach an 8 yr old you don’t know then offer to pay them to work for you. You will at best sound like a loon to all your neighbours. It’s not appropriate at all these days.

Definitely don't do what @SmudgeButt suggested!!! How bizarre.

Just ignore him, he must have been angry. I bet he's embarrassed now!

Tell him that you are going to sue for trespass if he starts this shire again. Otherwise ignore.

The kid probably crashed it into your back and thats how it broke.

Blimey, I've seen stories of kids being injured and losing an eye to those drone things. Think if he'd been flying it when you were in the garden and it crashed into you :/ Very irresponsible of the parent letting him fly it and crash it into your property, he's the one should be paying up!

@NaughtyLittleElf - well then you're an idiot. my suggestion is one that would keep peace between neighbours. obviously not required by the OP of course but in my experience keeping a youngster on your side keeps things peaceful. not sure what world you live it where antagonising things helps in the long run.

smudgebutt Not sure where you read me suggesting antagonising anyone. My child safeguarding training would suggest that private chats with 8 year olds to get them on side against their parent isn't a good idea.

The child trespassed and there were consequences, I would leave it at that.

@NaughtyLittleElf

I wasn't suggesting anything about getting a child on side against their parent. I was suggesting there was a better way than dealing with a shouty twonk of an adult who clearly was out of line. Getting a child to understand things is part of getting them to grow up into a sensible individual. We had kids vandalising cars and throwing eggs at houses - ask them to wash your car for a small amount of money and suddenly our car and house was immune from it all.

And while I would love to tell a lot of adults to shove it when they get all shouty if I'm going to continue living in the neighbourhood I think it's best to try and find a middle way.

Sorry for calling you an idiot - I was out of line there, even if I didn't thing your comments quite cut it.

Absolutely ridiculous.