To be disgusted at neighbours storing full dog poo bags in shared alleyway

[BrokeBaroness]

I've just moved in and already got off to a bad start with next door neighbour as she was outraged at me pressure washing the filthy decking in my garden. Water trickled into her garden and she was fuming and actually came to my property to confront me and then stormed off when I offered to sweep any dirt once the water had naturally evaporated. Turns out she has sealed her drain so only gutter water can go down it and surface water has nowhere to go!

Anyway, NDN has a very yappy dog. It yaps at any slight noise from our side. Full bags of its stinking excrement are thrown over the top of their garden gate several
times a day. There is now a pile of about 8 filled dog poo bags right outside their gate in the alleyway between our respective houses. My garden gate is adjacent to hers so I have to walk within mere cm of the stinking mass to access my garden. Alleyway is 180cm (I measured it in preparation for fence).

NDNs also store various items of rubble in this alleyway including 2m high door frames (for their business) and bags of rubble. My children have to pass all this crap and I do worry they could be injured by it.

Would you bother speaking to them about it, given the tirade from her about pressure washing, or go straight to putting a note through the door? Would all this bother you? My plan is speak or note and then resort to council if need be.

I fully intend to erect a 2m fence right down the alley as soon as funds permit. This has tainted the move for me a bit. It's my first home post-divorce and wanted it to feel like a happy and peaceful sanctuary. I was left quite shaken by the confrontation the other day and it's been on my mind since. TIA.

OP,
First off take photos.

The dog poo is absolutely disgusting and of course it is a health hazzard.

Would you use the alleyway to exit in the event of a fire?

Alleyways that are shared are NOT dumping grounds.

If they are filling up their side with rubbish and using your half to access, you have every right to ask them to clear it.

Interesting that this wasn't the case when you viewed the house?

Is it a new thing I would be wondering.

Fences make good neighbours and I would be getting that priced up asap.

Hopefully if they see that you are prepared to do that, they might be more likely to keep the space clear.

Very annoying.

The stench of dog poo in good weather would be horrendous.

My daughter had problems with her neighbour leaving bin bags of rubbish out the front, which were scavenged by seagulls and foxes This was on her side of a shared frontage. Their front doors were adjacent to each other. I solved the problem when I was baby sitting and the neighbours were out. I left them a note telling them I'd seen a rat run out from their rubbish bags and enter their integral garage.....

@billy1966

OP, First off take photos.

The dog poo is absolutely disgusting and of course it is a health hazzard.

Would you use the alleyway to exit in the event of a fire?

Alleyways that are shared are NOT dumping grounds.

If they are filling up their side with rubbish and using your half to access, you have every right to ask them to clear it.

Interesting that this wasn't the case when you viewed the house?

Is it a new thing I would be wondering.

Fences make good neighbours and I would be getting that priced up asap.

Hopefully if they see that you are prepared to do that, they might be more likely to keep the space clear.

Very annoying.

The stench of dog poo in good weather would be horrendous.

Thank you. Yes I will take photos. I'm just going to speak to them today as this is stressing me out! I hate confrontation but not as much as I hate piles of shite and inconsiderate neighbours!

@81Byerley

My daughter had problems with her neighbour leaving bin bags of rubbish out the front, which were scavenged by seagulls and foxes This was on her side of a shared frontage. Their front doors were adjacent to each other. I solved the problem when I was baby sitting and the neighbours were out. I left them a note telling them I'd seen a rat run out from their rubbish bags and enter their integral garage.....

Revolting! I was going to say I had seen a rat too! Apparently they love to eat dog poo.

I should add that I have a dog of my own. Her poo goes straight in the wheelie bin or a steel lidded bucket It's not difficult.

What is it with dog owners and poo bags, it's one of the grossest things about modern living

She seems like a nightmare.
I'm sorry your new home is ruined by this nasty neighbours.

@EmeraldShamrock

She seems like a nightmare. I'm sorry your new home is ruined by this nasty neighbours.

Thank you. I really hope it won't ruin things.

I have the same scenario as you. Next door neighbours dog never goes out of the garden( Small patio courtyard) over the winter poo was allowed to build up in their garden (this is a big dog) until the landlord did an inspection and asked them to clear it. They did this and store it all in a dustbin at the end of the garden right next to the alleyway. They did store it in the alleyway once till I asked them to move it which they did, I think they have stored it in the garage in the block at the back. Nice for next lot of tenants to find. I dont know what they are keeping it for. I have a dog who gets walked twice a day, but when she goes in the garden I bag it an put it in the household waste as we are allowed to do. Its all; building up in the garden again, the flies are getting bad.

@thereisonlyoneofme

I have the same scenario as you. Next door neighbours dog never goes out of the garden( Small patio courtyard) over the winter poo was allowed to build up in their garden (this is a big dog) until the landlord did an inspection and asked them to clear it. They did this and store it all in a dustbin at the end of the garden right next to the alleyway. They did store it in the alleyway once till I asked them to move it which they did, I think they have stored it in the garage in the block at the back. Nice for next lot of tenants to find. I dont know what they are keeping it for. I have a dog who gets walked twice a day, but when she goes in the garden I bag it an put it in the household waste as we are allowed to do. Its all; building up in the garden again, the flies are getting bad.

I'm sorry you have similarly inconsiderate neighbours. It's very unpleasant. Any can't people just follow the one rule Don't Be A Dick?

At least mine bag their's up I suppose but that doesn't stop the smell or unsightliness.

@siblingrevelryagain

Just a thought, but I’d give her the benefit of the doubt and approach her again in the spirit of friendship. It could be that something happened or she had had a shitty day, and from this you might have got off on the wrong foot but still be able to forge a harmonious relationship going forward.

There’s more than one way to skin a cat, and although your hackles are rightly up due to how she behaved, give her the benefit of the doubt. If she’s an arsehole again, then that determines the relationship going forward.

This. You two started off on the wrong foot and it might not be salvagrable but if you go in all guns blazing you can't back away, whereas if you go in and say 'i think we started off on the wrong foot, can we try again' then you still have the option of escalating if that doesn't work.

I would contact the water board if she has blocked her drains. Surface water needs to go somewhere.

She is a bully. Report her drain and dog poo bags to environmental health.
Hopefully once she learns you won't be bullied she'll quietly feck off.
Bad neighbours ruin your life.

On my evening walk last night, I counted 36 poo bags strewn around. It is disgusting and even more so next to your house.
YADNBU but I would agree with PP and suggest you try a friendly approach one last time.
Totally agree with the fence idea though.

I went round and politely requested that she move the shite. She was kind of non-committal and still rather sour-faced. That was an hour ago. Shite is still there. I wonder how long she will leave it for now .

I wouldn't hesitate to say that you have seen a rat, when you speak to them today and tell them that you will report it for them.
Clearly the stench is attracting them.

You can say this in a pleasant voice and then ask about them not leaving items as it is a shared alley and that if anything was to fall on your children it would be a very serious matter.

Take loads of photos.

Building materials are a danger to your children so you have every right.
Doors are heavy objects.

Be firm but pleasant, but you will be reporting the rats!

I wouldn't give a damn about embellishment.
Get back on to the EA and see if he can find out if it's a new thing.
Sometimes when houses are being sold neighbours can take advantage.

I would be very firm.
Are you sure there wasn't any problems with the neighbours that you weren't informed of.
It all strikes me as a bit change.
Again, double check with the EA that there was full disclosure.

If it is still there this evening, stick a note in their door about the rat and tell them that you will contact environmental services as it will impact your home.

Urgh I hate people who can’t clean up after their pets properly. A few years ago we had a young couple living next door to us (thankfully they’ve gone now) but one summer they let their rather large dogs coat their back garden in excrement. It was a hot summer too so you can imagine the sour smell and the giant flies! 🤢 I even bought them a bin and still no clean up from them. In the end I called the council and they had a word and no more poop. They moved out a few months later thank god!

I also once phoned environmental health on a neighbour (when I was living in a previous house to the one we currently own). She’d let her rubbish grow to 3 large skipfulls. She had rats, birds and foxes getting at it. It was rank.

I just don’t tolerate stuff like that. It’s gross, rude and causes problems for everyone.

@billy1966

I wouldn't hesitate to say that you have seen a rat, when you speak to them today and tell them that you will report it for them. Clearly the stench is attracting them.

You can say this in a pleasant voice and then ask about them not leaving items as it is a shared alley and that if anything was to fall on your children it would be a very serious matter.

Take loads of photos.

Building materials are a danger to your children so you have every right.
Doors are heavy objects.

Be firm but pleasant, but you will be reporting the rats!

I wouldn't give a damn about embellishment.
Get back on to the EA and see if he can find out if it's a new thing.
Sometimes when houses are being sold neighbours can take advantage.

I would be very firm.
Are you sure there wasn't any problems with the neighbours that you weren't informed of.
It all strikes me as a bit change.
Again, double check with the EA that there was full disclosure.

I did tell her I saw a rat. I also stated that I am concerned about the building rubble falling and told her I want to fence my side off. To my surprise, she seems keen on the fence idea. At least for now.

I have taken a photo of all the rubbish. If the shit is not gone by Monday, I'll send a note and then next step will be council.

Good for you OP.
Start as you mean to go.

Unfortunately with some people they will take any sign of weakness and run with it.

Get on to the council and tell them you will be onto them twice a day because of the stench of poo and rats, and it being a danger to your children.

Following up with an email, to the person also creates a paper trail.

@billy1966

Good for you OP. Start as you mean to go.

Unfortunately with some people they will take any sign of weakness and run with it.

Get on to the council and tell them you will be onto them twice a day because of the stench of poo and rats, and it being a danger to your children.

Following up with an email, to the person also creates a paper trail.

Thanks for the support. I've been really wound up about this. Can you tell?

She sounds like an awful neighbour. Imagine flinging bags of pop over a gate without even checking if someone is there and then leaving them to pile up 🤢

I hope you don't have to wait too long for your fence OP. They'd have to clear it a bit then unless then want to tread on poo bags to get down their side!

Thank you.

Does anyone know if it is illegal for them to be storing building rubble/door frames related to their business in the alleyway? It's certainly a health hazard and can only guess they are leaving it there as he wants to take it to the top one day as domestic waste rather than commercial to avoid charges. This stuff has been there for since April. Two door frames. One full door. Five bags of building waste.

Is this one for the council?

Tip, not top

Oh and window frames