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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU - neighbour wants us to pay

56 replies

guestofhonour · 19/05/2023 23:11

Last year we had our driveway redone which included putting small white stones along the fenced border to our neighbour. We are on a hill and the rain water has led to running off some of the white from the stone on to our neighbour’s driveway which is old red brick and it is now stained in parts.
He claims he has tried to remove the white staining but failed.
We have the same stones in our back garden and there is no staining so it must be due to living on a hill and the water flowing downwards
UABU - we should sort
UANBU - it’s their responsibility

OP posts:
UsingChangeofName · 20/05/2023 00:18

I'm with the 95%

You've made changes to your property that have damaged you neighbour's property. Of course it is down to you to sort it out. I can't understand why you would think otherwise.

honeylulu · 20/05/2023 00:26

Legally you aren't liable unless you were "on notice" that the stones could cause foreseeable damage of the type that occurred, which you probably didn't. Now you are "on notice" you should abate the nuisance by removing the stones so they can't cause further damage. However in the interest of good neighbourly relations offer to pressure wash the driveway.

user1492757084 · 20/05/2023 01:10

You should engage a proffessional to sort out the problem, once and for all.
If permanent damage is done then some compensation might help keep the neighbours friendly.

Womencanlift · 20/05/2023 01:17

Absolutely you should pay. You are a CF if you thought for a second that you shouldn’t. It’s your stones that have caused their issue so time to get the wallet out

eurochick · 20/05/2023 07:14

You should pay - morally and also legally. Something running off your property that affects your neighbour's property is legally a nuisance.

Equalitea · 20/05/2023 07:16

You should clean it or pay.

handydandynotebook · 20/05/2023 07:19

Why would you think you don't have to sort this out?

handydandynotebook · 20/05/2023 07:20

I really genuinely don't get your thought process if there is any doubt in your mind that you should be the one to sort this out.

Missingmyusername · 20/05/2023 07:24

Where did you source the stones? I don’t understand how the colour has come away? not enough to wreck someone’s driveway!

Will it continue to happen?

WaltzingWaters · 20/05/2023 07:25

Yes, it’s down to you to sort it. You have caused damage to his property.
But I’d be complaining to the company you got the stones from.

GabriellaMontez · 20/05/2023 07:26

You think the neighbours should be responsible for the mess your stones made?

GoodChat · 20/05/2023 07:27

I'm with everyone else. This is on you.

Wonnle · 20/05/2023 07:30

Well let's see , the stones you had placed there caused the damage to their driveway , if they weren't there there would be no damage would there .

It's up to you to get it fixed and get the stones sorted out so it doesn't happen again i'd say

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 20/05/2023 07:34

Of course you should pay (or clean it yourselves) - you've damaged his property!

TenoringBehind · 20/05/2023 08:04

Of course you must make good the damage to his drive and remove the stones so it can’t happen again. how could you think otherwise?

Dibbydoos · 20/05/2023 08:07

You should sort it, get a pressure cleaner on it :)

liverpoolgal82 · 20/05/2023 08:09

My husband soaked ours in a solution first, it stood this and prevents mould build up on them

TheKobayashiMaru · 20/05/2023 08:25

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 19/05/2023 23:14

Sorry, but I think you should pay.

Agree, you caused the staining.

olympicsrock · 20/05/2023 08:33

Question is - how bad is it?
you should get rid of the white stones if they are causing a problem that bothers him.

If it’s calcium deposits and not too bad then he just needs to clean it with the right product. Sounds an overreaction to me . I might offer to contribute to the cost in the name of good neighbourly relations.

Quveas · 20/05/2023 08:38

Malarandras · 19/05/2023 23:50

I’d want proof frankly that it won’t wash off and that it’s a significant enough amount of damage to warrant doing anything about. If it’s a tiny white mark somewhere then I’d not be doing anything.

The proof will be when the OP goes round and clears up what they have caused to happen - why should the neighbour have to prove anything? The white marks are there to see, the OP knows they have come from stones they placed on their own property, so it is their problem to resolve. If it comes up easily enough, then they are lucky.

HAF1119 · 20/05/2023 08:42

Yes you should sort/pay

SoupDragon · 20/05/2023 08:44

If someone had caused this damage to your driveway, what would you want them to do?

GoodChat · 20/05/2023 08:54

olympicsrock · 20/05/2023 08:33

Question is - how bad is it?
you should get rid of the white stones if they are causing a problem that bothers him.

If it’s calcium deposits and not too bad then he just needs to clean it with the right product. Sounds an overreaction to me . I might offer to contribute to the cost in the name of good neighbourly relations.

Why should the neighbour be out of pocket time wise or financially for something that's entirely the OP's fault?

Rupiduti · 20/05/2023 09:07

Of course you pay!

SkyandSurf · 20/05/2023 09:44

Rent a pressure cleaner and try that first.

But yes you need to rectify the damage you caused.