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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour wants to sit in my garden

90 replies

mackthepony · 19/08/2022 17:02

Not sure if IABU or just curmudgeonly.

Neighbour is selling her house. Has a visit this afternoon. Wants to sit in our garden in the shade (hot here today) for one hour with her dog whilst the estate agent shows the house.

We live near a huge, leafy park with benches.

Not sure why this has pissed me off really as it doesn't affect me, but why can't she just sit in the park for an hour?

Aibu?

OP posts:
HikingforScenery · 20/08/2022 07:20

Neighbour on her own? Fine. With her dog? Certainly not.

Penguinsaregreat · 20/08/2022 07:24

Why is she not asking her next door neighbour? Why you?
I would find it very odd but then again I sit in my garden and use it as a peaceful retreat so I don’t want randomers in there.
I also have a cat who sits in the best chair in my garden!
Sounds like she wants somewhere to take the dog.

Hobele · 20/08/2022 07:34

Mwhah, I'd say no. It'd be totally awkward or I'd feel compelled to talk to them etc. How many viewings will the house get before it gets sold?

redfairy · 20/08/2022 08:46

I'd be fine with this. In her shoes, if she is close to her house she wom't need to be out of it for any longer than she needs. I don"t think it's a big ask.

onlythreenow · 20/08/2022 08:48

I would find it very odd but then again I sit in my garden and use it as a peaceful retreat so I don’t want randomers in there.

It never ceases to amaze me, the things people on MN find "very odd".

WhackingPhoenix · 20/08/2022 08:52

How mean! Of course I’d let her. Why wouldn’t you?

Tiani4 · 20/08/2022 09:07

I'm selling my house

You have to go out for lots of viewings sometimes 3-6 hours at a time. Or it could be multiple lots of 60-90mins most evenings until it's sold.

She has a dog she wants to bring round!? , you'll definitely have your garden ruined as dog will dog, poop and wee on your grass and flowerbeds.

Now all of that is great if she's your best friend and her dog usually is welcome in your back garden. But If this is new then , absolutely not!

She'll have to do what we do- which is go out for a walk (with her dog) and arrange open day viewings that she takes her dog out for the day for.
She can go sit in the park just as easily as your back garden

It's such a bizarre thing to ask of a neighbour a few doors up

QueSyrahSyrah · 20/08/2022 09:16

Unless it was a neighbour I actively didn't get on with I just can't imagine it crossing my mind to have a problem with this, even if it was every viewing until her place is sold.

I'm baffled by some of the mean-spiritedness on here sometimes. God forbid some of you go so much as a millimetre out of your way to make someone else's life a bit easier.

QueSyrahSyrah · 20/08/2022 09:24

@Tiani4 Your experience isn't everyone's experience though.

We're currently selling our (admittedly small) place, and viewings with the estate agent average 20 minutes, unless it's a pre-arranged open viewing session. We're usually at work but if we weren't we'd sit in the car. OP's neighbour doesn't have that option.

Community Spirit is dead 💀

TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · 20/08/2022 09:30

Where in the U.K. was it too hot to walk a dog yesterday?

I'm in the SE, it was a lovely day, but certainly not too hot to walk a dog to the park.

I think it's a weird request unless there's a particular reason for it (maybe she frequently needs to use the toilet (owner, not dog) or is unsteady on her feet, medically not well & frightened to be out/at the park for so long.

Anyway, I'd make her welcome, show her where the bathroom is & have a drink in the garden with her. If she's nice enough, I'd tell her to come next time if she wants to.

if I'd had to be out the house, like that, last year after coming home from hospital (after an accident/surgery) I'd have had to ask neighbours as I couldn't have gone any further (physically or otherwise).

CrystalCoco · 20/08/2022 09:42

Bit strange that she wouldn't just take her dog for a walk.

I wouldn't want to do it incase it turned into 'every time' she has a viewing and that could go on long enough.

Also I would feel like I had to keep her company, be neighbourly and offer a cup of tea and a chat - which for some neighbours would be no problem, others, not so much.

I'm not one for asking favours though so I get peeved when people ask for ones from me - ones that they could probably easily sort themselves without involving me.

Goggin · 20/08/2022 09:43

I can't imagine saying no to this.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 20/08/2022 09:52

I'd say no but only because I've got a cat so the dog wouldn't be able to come in the garden (it's cat proofed so the cat can't get out). If I didn't have the cat I would say yes providing the dog was kept on a lead the whole time.

SirenSays · 20/08/2022 09:55

She has a dog she wants to bring round!? , you'll definitely have your garden ruined as dog will dog, poop and wee on your grass and flowerbeds

Why automatically assume she's such a bad dog owner who will allow this?

forrestgreen · 20/08/2022 09:59

Does she not like her actual neighbour?

If saying yes, add on if it's this time only and the dogs needs to stay on a lead

AlwaysLatte · 20/08/2022 10:00

Maybe she was concerned it was too hot to walk the dog to the park ?May be some shade once there, but the pavements can ger v hot for their paws.
I thought this too. It's strange to find it strange, tbh!

thereisonlyoneofme · 20/08/2022 10:02

Shes not Korean by any chance ?

stuntbubbles · 20/08/2022 10:03

Not a chance in hell I’d let a dog into my garden. She can go to the park, for a walk, to a friend’s house, etc etc – unless she’s a recluse who never normally ventures from her front door and has nowhere on Earth to go, there’s no need for her to inflict her dog on you.

thereisonlyoneofme · 20/08/2022 10:04

Sorry, bit late with the Korean suggestion. I usually do read all posts on a thread honest!

RainbowsMoonbeams · 20/08/2022 10:04

What if she has several viewings and expects this each time? What if it’s raining and you feel obliged for her and the dog to be inside for an hour each time?

Seems an odd request. Definitely depends on if you are friendly or not. Would be a bit awkward if you barely even say hello usually.

oopsfellover · 20/08/2022 10:06

Well if you don’t want her to say no, but it seems like a reasonable favour to ask. I wouldn’t have a problem with it.

LubaLuca · 20/08/2022 10:09

I'd think it was a strange way for someone to want to pass an hour, but it wouldn't cross my mind to refuse. I'd tell them I wouldn't be able to join them if I couldn't (out, working, whatever), but I'd have no issue with someone literally just sitting there.

Ethelfromnumber73 · 20/08/2022 10:28

I'm pretty unsociable but I'd do this for any of my neighbours and I know they would for me. I do live in The North though Wink

JudgeRindersMinder · 20/08/2022 10:31

Why would you not?

People complain about lack of community these days and people like you and some of the nutters on this thread are why it’s lacking

Campervangirl · 20/08/2022 10:34

I'd do it.
I let my ndn use my garden as additional outside seating when their DD was christened, their garden was a bit overgrown due to her pregnancy and her DH working away, we have a shared alley between us with gates leading to our gardens, we opened the gates and her guests wandered between the two gardens.
Did have to pick up a few glasses and beer cans in the morning 😉
We're not friends just good neighbours, check on each others house if we're away, feed pets, take in parcels etc