Page 10 | Fed up with neighbours

Homeontherangeuk · 2021-08-27T14:14:49+00:00

Bit of a back story, we live in a new development... Here 6 years, we signed a clause to say we wouldn't change door colour, fence height etc... However neighbour has raised the shared boundary fence to 2.5m (terrace house) & its so ugly.. We told them we hate it & they flipped.. We told them its too high, werw told fuck off, now anytime we try to use our garden they play banging house music... Today they put the speakers on full blast & have gone out for the day.. Beautiful day but my kids can't enjoy the sun... I'm at my wits end, hubby is sick of the childish antics.... Last night I was sitting out reading my book quietly with a glass of wine, at 10 ó clock I was drenched by a hose over the fence... They claimed it was their 2 year old when hubby rang in a fit.. No way would a 2 year old have the motor skills to control a hose, drench me, our patio & proceed to drench the clothes line... Bawling here, our dream home is turning into a nightmare... What can we do? They have blocked us from messaging, hung up on DH, blank us... Our home is in such an ideal location, we don't want to or aren't in the position to sell... No cctv so can't prove who drenched me... DH was working last night, I felt very shaken & worried afterwards but held my ground & stayed out listening to them bitching about us... Before the fence we had a great relationship with them.... I regret saying anything now...

ponyexpress22 · 29/08/2021 07:03

If you do manage to get back on reasonable terms Op, perhaps slip it in that it's in all your interests to be nice, mentioning that any dispute that gets reported could go against them if ever they want to sell. I bet this has never occurred to them. Anyway hope things continue to improve now.

MadameMonk · 29/08/2021 07:10

As another MNer has been known to suggest in these situations: buy some Liquid Ass. Use strategically, deny all knowledge. Or blame their toddler.

Also, while I’d be turning the music off with said stick every time (and denying all knowledge), I’d also start disabling the electronics/speaker. It’s warm weather, surely giving it a good soaking over the fence would leave no evidence?

They think they’re being so very clever. I wouldn’t be able to resist demonstrating they are really messing about out of their league.

Original poster

Homeontherangeuk · 29/08/2021 07:17

Thanks everyone, I feel a bit more in control today & last night showed signs of a bit of a cease fire but I'm expecting it to kick off again at any stage... My other fear is that they will also blacken our name to mutual connections & neighbours... They had a dispute before with someone we know of & they dragged the families name through the mud so that's another worry...

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3Br1tnee · 29/08/2021 07:46

Tell everyone what they've been doing first

Original poster

Homeontherangeuk · 29/08/2021 08:05

No I wouldn't want to, we're very private & tend only to discuss that sort of thing with our very closest... also it will give them more ammunition... In the text message in which we were accused of smoking weed 🙄 (neither of us even some cigarettes!), she said that they heard we were "talking around" about they & they heard it back... I haven't even discussed with my mother as I know how upset she would get..

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bellabasset · 29/08/2021 08:06

I must go out and start my painting outside tempted though I am to read all the answers in one go! I thought that you needed permission for fences over 1.8 metres.

Photinia, ragged Robin, would make a very pretty pleached hedge

DrNo007 · 29/08/2021 08:54

OP I am giving you the same advice as I give all in similar situations—it is advice that worked for me at a time I had neighbours from hell. For two weeks document everything: the nature of the nuisance/abuse. Times, dates, effect on you. Take pictures or videos if applicable. Report to council environmental health. Some councils are crap, others excellent, and still others in between.

If no resolution in 2-3 weeks and council is dragging its feet, contact a firm of former enviro health officers, sanctum consultants—they have a website. They will advise you on the best course of action. They are not expensive. They are effective, in my experience.

Note that if you end up taking the legal route, as I did (it never got as far as court as the letter I sent threatening legal action worked like a dream), you may need to prove you tried just complaining to the council and it did not work, so you do need to start with this.

It takes persistence and a strong sense that you have a right to peaceful enjoyment of your property—but you can succeed.

DrNo007 · 29/08/2021 09:11

I should add, pls ignore anyone who suggests you indulge in ‘revenge noise/action’. This can easily result in neighbours lodging complaints or lawsuits against you and will nullify your grounds for complaint. But I agree with the poster who said stop pussyfooting around. People get away with terrible behaviour in this country because too many folk let them.

teaandpastries · 29/08/2021 10:39

@DrNo007

OP I am giving you the same advice as I give all in similar situations—it is advice that worked for me at a time I had neighbours from hell. For two weeks document everything: the nature of the nuisance/abuse. Times, dates, effect on you. Take pictures or videos if applicable. Report to council environmental health. Some councils are crap, others excellent, and still others in between.

If no resolution in 2-3 weeks and council is dragging its feet, contact a firm of former enviro health officers, sanctum consultants—they have a website. They will advise you on the best course of action. They are not expensive. They are effective, in my experience.

Note that if you end up taking the legal route, as I did (it never got as far as court as the letter I sent threatening legal action worked like a dream), you may need to prove you tried just complaining to the council and it did not work, so you do need to start with this.

It takes persistence and a strong sense that you have a right to peaceful enjoyment of your property—but you can succeed.

This is the best advice I have seen on this thread.

Original poster

Homeontherangeuk · 29/08/2021 10:50

Thanks, yes documenting everything & cctv is ordered & going up this week. Even the loud mention of it last night & the chat about where we'd place it so we would have no blind spots etc seems to have stopped them in their tracks.... Here having a cup of tea on my patio, I can hear them in their kitchen but they haven't come out & the loud music hasn't kicked off at the fence😁

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bluebell34567 · 29/08/2021 10:55

@MilesOfSand

Ring cameras are easy to set up and use. I’d also have quiet conversations about ‘not doing that because they can’t find out who we are’ and ‘I’m not risking our current placement by doing that’ and ‘yes we could, but staying undercover matters more.’ At least have a bit of fun with it 🤣

MumUndone · 29/08/2021 10:56

Is the height of the fence 2.5m on their side as well as yours? Or is there a slant to the ground so it's higher in their garden? 2m from the ground is the maximum legal height of fencing, so if it is above this on their side, you can legitimately complain to the council, if the height bothers you.

Original poster

Homeontherangeuk · 29/08/2021 11:02

The height when we bought was 1.8m, they attached a wooden panel to bring it up to 2.5 their side, no slant. Ours looks awful. The panel is completely different to our slats.

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bluebell34567 · 29/08/2021 11:09

@DrNo007

I should add, pls ignore anyone who suggests you indulge in ‘revenge noise/action’. This can easily result in neighbours lodging complaints or lawsuits against you and will nullify your grounds for complaint. But I agree with the poster who said stop pussyfooting around. People get away with terrible behaviour in this country because too many folk let them.

so true.

Nanny0gg · 29/08/2021 11:09

@Homeontherangeuk

We're just not in a position to sell & we love our home... I put my head up & ignored but I just don't know what else we can do, it's horrific...

Council Environmental Health dept.

And the noise must bother other neighbours

greenalltheway · 29/08/2021 11:17

I can't believe no one has asked if the speaker is a bluetooth speaker!

Hopefully all will be quiet from now on but if they pull that stunt again and it's close to the fence, switch your Bluetooth on and try to connect to it. You'll be able to change the tunes, lower the volume etc from your phone :)

If they are still home you could play fuck you by Lily Allen, baby shark on repeat or the good old MN favourite :

TopBlogger · 29/08/2021 13:51

@greenalltheway

I can't believe no one has asked if the speaker is a bluetooth speaker!

Hopefully all will be quiet from now on but if they pull that stunt again and it's close to the fence, switch your Bluetooth on and try to connect to it. You'll be able to change the tunes, lower the volume etc from your phone :)

If they are still home you could play fuck you by Lily Allen, baby shark on repeat or the good old MN favourite :

Now THIS is brilliant!!!

Welshiefluff · 29/08/2021 20:41

My dogs are a worry for me, they can't complain about them as they don't bark too much

Just be mindful that this is very subjective. If you have dogs you are not going to be bothered by their barks. If you do not have dogs even a few barks late at night may be really annoying.

Original poster

Homeontherangeuk · 29/08/2021 20:47

@Welshiefluff

My dogs are a worry for me, they can't complain about them as they don't bark too much

Just be mindful that this is very subjective. If you have dogs you are not going to be bothered by their barks. If you do not have dogs even a few barks late at night may be really annoying.

I understand that but my three dogs are quite old now 8, 9 & 11 just couldn't be bothered! They play indoors mostly with each other & neighbours have often said in the past if they were ever to get a dog they would like would like one of ours as they very rarely hear them....

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Thevoiceofreason2021 · 29/08/2021 20:51

CCTV, log everything and report to the police

Original poster

Homeontherangeuk · 29/08/2021 21:07

All quiet today, nothing to log & didn't run into either of them☺️ going out now to read my book & I hope the peace continues 🙏

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Monstertrucks · 30/08/2021 14:28

Hope today remains nice and quiet for you OP

Rosiiiiie · 30/08/2021 14:45

Such great news!! Hopefully having cctv will stop any hostilities!

ChilliChoco · 31/08/2021 23:43

How has today been OP?

dandeliondid · 01/09/2021 07:51

@Homeontherangeuk

In tears here, ran into him leaving the house & he stopped dead watching me walk past him with a big smirk on his face... I have time logged.. Cctv ordered... DH thinks maybe we wait for another few incidences before police to just add to our campaign? It's very intimidating... This also happened Thurs night, I was out watering my plants in the front garden & he was just staring at me beside the fence.. I didn't take any notice at the time I just thought how odd but shook it off as his dc were playing on the road behind me but it was the exact same stance as today...

You need to stand tall and call over "good morning" and smile. Walk past and say hello. Be the bigger person. Sorry, but you shouldn't let them walk all over you. Where are the speakers that they leave on? Are they outside or inside? Call social services over concern for child's welfare?