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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour putting bins against our fence

232 replies

LouRidley · 31/01/2021 16:54

Hi MN,

First time house owner here and first neighbourly feud! (Lighthearted)

We moved into this house that has a shared path where neighbours all put their bins against their fence along the path. Except for our neighbour it seems who likes to put his bins against our fence, along with some other items such as bikes, old ironing boards, etc. I discovered the issue when our dog was digging in our garden persistently at this one spot and when I looked on the other side of the fence, some bin bags were just on the floor against our fence.
So I moved the bins across the path against his fence but realised earlier he moved them back against ours!
I went to knock on his door and while he was not that unfriendly, he basically explained to me in a very patronising way (repeating “do you understand?”all along) that he owned the path. I checked our title deeds after that and he definitely doesn’t, it’s unregistered land.
I therefore wrote a courteous letter and posted it at his door, saying that he got me curious about the ownership of the path and that actually, no one owned it, so that I kindly asked him to put his bins against his own fence.
Bit of a suspense what’s going to happen but my hunch is that he is going to do nothing and that his bins and rubbish will keep leaning on our fence.
Any clever plan of action you can advise here?
We all love a bit of lockdown drama!
Thanks
YABU- leave his bins against your fence
YANBU- and in this case what can I do not going OTT

OP posts:
Original poster
LouRidley · 31/01/2021 18:56

Omg @banivani thank you, it’s exactly this. I won’t lose sleep over it by no means hence my lighthearted disclaimer on the original post, it’s just like you said; burping loudly in a restaurant. Unlikely to cause any trauma, weird enough for you to comment on it and vent when there’s not much else to do. It’s actually quite amusing, i never saw myself as someone who would own a property let alone vent about this kind of stuff guess I’m becoming old and grumpy!! Grin I should have titled this: Menial and petty interaction between neighbours over bins. I actually decide I don’t give a crap. Voilà
He was wearing a sports pair of shorts with a short sleeved printed formal shirt, flip flop and socks which is the real story here as so offensive visually

OP posts:
LucilleBluth · 31/01/2021 18:57

This would push me right off...keep moving them and plant something on your side.

VinylDetective · 31/01/2021 19:00

@Seafog

What does it matter which side he puts it on, if it isn't causing any damage?
Exactly. But of course it’s a hanging offence on MN.
unmarkedbythat · 31/01/2021 19:05

I am a petty bitch and I would go out and put my bins on the path against his fence.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 31/01/2021 19:06

Op, just an idea. Google ladder planters. Some of these fix to your fence rather than taking up "ground space" and just protrude out a bit without creating an obstacle course. Should prevent him dumping his bins and stuff against your fence. Leave just enough room for your own bins. If he complains, mansplain back to him that you are decorating your own fence & garden "It is my fence to improve, you understand? Which is the boundary to my garden, you understand? . Big pitying smile as he struggles to comprehend that he is an inconsiderate idiot.
It will make the alleyway look nice and if you choose some scented plants it will smell nice as well.

Original poster
LouRidley · 31/01/2021 19:06

@VinylDetective it should be a hanging offence. No man in flip flops should explain to any of us why his rubbish belongs on our fence.

OP posts:
Seeingadistance · 31/01/2021 19:09

I used to live in a street of terraced houses. Everyone’s back garden had a gate that opened onto a lane. On the other side of the lane were the back gardens of the terraced houses in the street behind ours.

Is that the set-up, OP?

That’s how I’m picturing it, but some are struggling to picture it. You really should have provided a diagram!

Where I lived, everyone’s bins and various crap to be thrown out or other random stuff was kept along the lane side of their own garden wall/fence. Putting your bins against the opposite neighbour’s wall would be really bizarre. Putting it back there after neighbour had moved it to your side would be a hostile act!

And for those who say it doesn’t matter, the fact that the OP’s dog has noticed, means there are almost certainly rats enjoying the neighbour’s rubbish!

Arobase · 31/01/2021 19:10

Are you quite sure the land is unregistered? Have you checked with Land Registry records? Normally if you have a right of way over land, there would be something in the deeds saying who has to give you the right of way.

PurpleFlower1983 · 31/01/2021 19:13

Put your bins against his fence.

EKGEMS · 31/01/2021 19:18

You can do an old school prank of a paper bag with dog poop in it set on fire on his doorstep (but that's just a funny visual for cf neighbors driving you mad not real life)

Laufeythejust · 31/01/2021 19:22

It would annoy me too. Cheeky sod. Can you move it all back to his and then put something in it’s place so he can’t move it back?

Original poster
LouRidley · 31/01/2021 19:26

@Seeingadistance it’s exactly the setup! Apologies I can’t draw a diagram, you described it perfectly. And yes he moved it back in our plot right after I rightfully placed it in theirs which I found hostile. I was like ooooh drama!!

OP posts:
Original poster
LouRidley · 31/01/2021 19:27

@Laufeythejust well I could move it back to theirs but then he would probably move it back again to ours and it would be a weird vicious circle. I hope my note will make him realise he’s annoying. He can’t ignore that.

OP posts:
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 31/01/2021 19:29

Don't JUST put your bin against his fence...

  1. Let his tyres down,
  2. Should he ever stand as an MP add moustaches to his posters (if he already has a moustache add an eye patch and black out his teeth)
  3. Take his bin (once empty) and throw it in a canal.
  4. File the rubber wheels of his bin into a square to make it more difficult to move.
  5. Paint the number of a house several doors away on his bin so the Bin Men leave it in the wrong place.
  6. Super glue the lid down so it won't empty into the dust cart - ever.
  7. I'm sure that i'll think of some more, but just going to get another bottle of wine...
VinylDetective · 31/01/2021 19:30

[quote LouRidley]@Laufeythejust well I could move it back to theirs but then he would probably move it back again to ours and it would be a weird vicious circle. I hope my note will make him realise he’s annoying. He can’t ignore that.[/quote]
Bet he can!

icelollycraving · 31/01/2021 19:30

Can you buy that piece of land? Then you can rule the roost, bin wise.

RustyParker · 31/01/2021 19:32

Is this a gated entry? Usually what happens if the council install the gates is that the residents agree to maintain the entry (so the council won't remove any fly tipping). Maybe that's what he means when he owns it? He really just agreed to it's upkeep along with the other residents.

But yes, it's ok now but summer will bring smells and insects, especially if he doesn't do the bin bags up. Won't be nice if you are trying to enjoy your garden.

ancientgran · 31/01/2021 19:32

@cochineal7

The obvious but possibly slightly childish thing to is to to start using his side of the fence for your bins & bikes.
Yes I'm childish and that's what I'd do.
BewareTheBeardedDragon · 31/01/2021 19:33

I know you can't attach stuff to someone else's fence without their permission, is leaning heavy stuff against it allowed or not? It could be doing harm which just isn't currently apparent. Fences aren't that strong.

BlueTimes · 31/01/2021 19:33

Put your rubbish against his fence. I’m sure you’ve got a few ironing boards you don’t need and other rubbish that can sit there.

Wellpark · 31/01/2021 19:36

Put your bins against his fence

BewareTheBeardedDragon · 31/01/2021 19:36

Ooh - OP - apparently leaning things against a neighbours fence without permission may lead to collapse (dramatic) and as such can be viewed as criminal damage. Scroll down to 'Fence Support' FAQ. http://www.boundary-problems.co.uk/boundary-problems/fences.html

cabingirl · 31/01/2021 19:37

Is it like this OP?

For those who don't see a problem with this - would you be okay with someone crossing a pathway to stack all their old rubbish plus their bin against your backgarden fence instead of using their own like everyone else on the two streets of houses.

Neighbour putting bins against our fence
MisfitRightIn · 31/01/2021 19:37

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

Don't JUST put your bin against his fence...
  1. Let his tyres down,
  2. Should he ever stand as an MP add moustaches to his posters (if he already has a moustache add an eye patch and black out his teeth)
  3. Take his bin (once empty) and throw it in a canal.
  4. File the rubber wheels of his bin into a square to make it more difficult to move.
  5. Paint the number of a house several doors away on his bin so the Bin Men leave it in the wrong place.
  6. Super glue the lid down so it won't empty into the dust cart - ever.
  7. I'm sure that i'll think of some more, but just going to get another bottle of wine...
This does seem v.petty. And yet also horribly annoying. Therefore I’d do everything suggested in this thread to get even, especially twoleftsocks suggestions, in the hopes of feeling better and annoying the crap out of the fashion faux pas, mansplaining knob of a neighbour. As Nike like to say “Just do it”.
WeAreShiningStars · 31/01/2021 19:37

He's a dick, making you look like pigs and making you deal with his smelly bins while he gets to enjoy his garden.

I'd move them back against his fence or start putting your own bins against his fence.