To ask neighbours to take their flag down

[Amatteroftime]

I live in a small estate. The garden that backs on to mine has a fort type thing in a tree, the kids made it in the summer with a big flag on it, I think it is a paw patrol one so I assume they are young. I don't want to upset them.

In the summer there were no issues but we now have winter weather so the wind has picked up. On bad nights it sets off my security light which can wake me up but normally always wakes the dog who seems to think somebody's in the garden.

I know it's my issue (the light/dog) but they haven't been out playing there since August. Wibu to ask them to take the flag down during windier months?

I would rather not unplug the light as last year somebody down the road was burgled.

What would be unreasonable about having a conversation about it?

YABU.
Do you really think the flag is setting it off?
Also unless you always listen/watch what NDN's do you can't be sure they don't use their fort.

Yanbu, just ask politely.

Do you just have a motion detector rather than an infra-red PIR? If so I'd change it for infra-red so that it only goes off when the heat of a body is sensed. A flag shouldn't be setting off a light.

I wouldn't ask neighbours to take down a flag for that reason.

It never used to go off before the flag was up and when I look outside it is flapping around.

It is going a bit mouldy (fort) and the garden is becoming a bit overgrown as they haven't been outside for a while so I assume they haven't used it. I think I would hear them as I am home a lot.

YANBU. They won’t have a clue that their flag is impacting your life. Go and talk to them. You can but ask.

Do you just have a motion detector rather than an infra-red PIR? If so I'd change it for infra-red so that it only goes off when the heat of a body is sensed. A flag shouldn't be setting off a light.

I didn't even know you could get those. I think it is just a motion sensor. If they aren't expensive I will have a look at switching it. Do you know if they go in like a normal bulb or do I need to change the whole thing?

Adjust the angle of the light so it isn’t picking up motion in other peoples property.

Just go speak to them.

Can you adjust the direction of your motion sensor down a bit?

Yes, of course you can ask them, but they might say no. It depends on how they are feeling.

My security lights are on the edge of the roof, I doubt infra red body warmth would be much good! They’re definitely motion sensors, mine, the dogs set them off going into the garden.

Asked DH to adjust it which he did. I'm not sure if it is super sensitive or maybe not done as much as it could be...will take another look.

Part of me hopes the flag blows away to save the awkward conversation but they've tied it on to the tree well 😂

You must have your sensor angled rather strangely if a flag in your neighbour's garden us setting the light off? How do you know a cat or fox or something isn't setting it off? I think you would be unreasonable to expect neighbours to change their garden because you have your security light trained on it to be honest.

I would just go and ask very politely making it clear it would be a nice gesture on their part and only if they're not still using the flag. Most neighbours just want to get along so as long as you don't make them defensive by being demanding or critical it will be fine.

Amatteroftime you’d need to change the unit not just the bulb. As you already have the wiring in place I think it’s a straightforward job for an electrician to swap them over.
You can tilt them to cover a wider or smaller area as needed so make sure you test it after installation so you cover as wide an area as you can for security. They come with different ranges so choose one that would cover the proper area in your garden. Dogs, foxes, people would set it off but a flag won’t have any effect on the sensor.

Just ask them nicely and explain why.

You must have your sensor angled rather strangely if a flag in your neighbour's garden us setting the light off?

It backs on to our fence so the wind only needs to be blowing in the right direction for it to go off.

Just cut the flag on a windy night. They won’t know 😉

Motion sensor security lights are the work of the devil😊. So many neighbour rows over them.

I bet lots of now really dissapointed Daily Mail readers opened this thread

I'd mention the issue to them and see what they say. If it were me, I'd be fine taking the flag down to see whether it makes any difference.

As you say, it's going mouldy sitting out there in the winter anyway!

Go talk to them about it. Maybe they can pin it down so that it doesn't flap around so much if they don't want to take it down.

It is either flaming arrows or asking them to please take it down.

@Patroclus
I bet lots of now really dissapointed Daily Mail readers opened this thread

Ha, I opened it expecting a Union Jack type thang and was about to settle down to read the ensuing bunfight

Just ask. These things generally aren’t a big deal, but they won’t know it’s bothering you if you don’t tell them ‍🤷🏻‍♀️

I’m a VERY light sleeper, so the flapping would probably keep me awake & I’d ask them if they’d be able to take it down.