Anal Neighbour - what to do?

[Moonshine5]

Met new neighbours exchanged numbers. They asked for the shed, we said fine. Getting some work done, 2 weeks later he's sent letters to the surveyors making a litany of complaints. Went to see him today for an amicable discussion. He said he's written to planning to complain citing ancient bylaws things like tiles don't match (his are old, ours are new) and theres wood sticking up on skip, on our driveway. Really upset, wanted to move with good vibes. He seems intent on fighting. They told us they never visited the previous owner (80 year old) or went inside his house. He's measured everything and refused to talk.
Go on defence (yanbu) be zen? or attack mode (yabu) solicitors?

Why did they ask for your she'd? We're you giving it away and offered?

I would personally ignore the other stuff (unless your new tiles are pink and fluffy or something), it doesn't sound like there is much he has to complain about. I really can't imagine anyone taking his complaints seriously.

I would be inclined to ask for the shed back though, but that's because I'm petty

Let planning deal with it. Limit dealings with the neighbour, just breezy good mornings and say its all in hand with planning.

He asked my husband, the first day we met and it seemed neighbourly to agree as we knew we would be doing garden up at some point.

I’d second let Planning deal with it all. That way you don’t need to fall out with anyone.

I don’t understand what you meant about a shed by the way.

Ignore ignore ignore. If he wants to go to planning, let him crack on

We still have shed

I'd just be all business and say you are happy to let planning deal with any issue and then ignore him.

How weird that he asked for your shed, even weirder that you said yes!

@elieza, they asked for the shed in our garden.
Never wanted to fall out but he doesn't want to talk to us. Happy to go through planning everything is legit.

Don't give him your shed

@Moonshine5

We still have shed

Then smash it up for the skip. If he enquires about it, tinkly laugh and ask why on Earth would you when he's been nothing but a pain in your arse complaining about things that have nothing to do with him? (Seriously, complaining about wood sticking up in your own skip on your own land???)

Shit in the shed

I would just ignore him, he sounds like a total nutter. If he writes to Planning about wood in a skip, they will laugh at him, and you probably should as well.

Do NOT give him your old shed, on principle.

• sorry that was meant to say let planning deal with it

@JudgeRindersMinder
@NothingIsWrong
I agree just seems not the best way to start off.
On plus side I guess he will monitor the builders closer than we could!!

Put shed in skip one skip at a time with wood sticking out!

Thank you all. You've made me smile. You are wise!! I heart the Mumsnetters' Community x

Don't engage. Don't give him any head space. Ignore, ignore, ignore.

Ignore him.
And don't give him your shed

Make sure you follow all the building rules and then don’t worry about it beyond that. Don’t be adversarial, adjust if the complaints are legitimate and you have somehow broken the rules, ignore illegitimate complaints.

So he doesn’t like change, doesn’t like living next door to the disruption and noise of building work? That’s all fine, he can feel that way... but it’s not your problem. You can’t help him with that - you can minimise things that’ll stress him out (eg parking by builders) but if work is to be done on the house, then you’ll just need to get it done.

Unmumsnetty, but if you don’t want the shed then great that you’ll let him have it when you’ve finished with it.

These are valid points.
Happy to address anything that is incorrect building wise. Mess, regulations etc.
This will be out home we come in peace.
They have behaved so adversarial and aggressive.

Funny as he had the works done to his place. Loft, wrap around, double storey, etc

That’s beyond weird to ask for your shed. The planning stuff, just ignore him. The planning department will sort it out, and he’s just making himself sound crazy to them so they’ll probably ignore him too.

100% ignore them from now on