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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Next door neighbour and they're business

212 replies

Psiaspops · 01/06/2023 14:36

My next door neighbour runs a business from his home. Usually evenings, 3 to 4 a week. Usually between 4pm and 9pm. We have the usual with his clients parking in front of our house and drive way, blocking us in etc and we usually just ask them to politely move or whatever
But last night, a woman was waiting on their child while they were in their lesson. She had two other children with her. They looked to be around 7 and 5. She decided she would let them play in our garden, pick flowers etc. I went out and she just spoke to me like it was normal. I asked could they please not pick our flowers and play in our garden. She was really taken aback but said okay. Then the youngest grabbed stones from the road and threw them onto our grass. I asked her could she please not let her child do that, and she said to me oh it's only some stones and then made a scene of how unreasonable I was being and how he was only a child etc. Now our neighbour has come over and said to leave his clients alone. I explained what happened and he said he already knew and they were doing no harm. Who's being unreasonable here as I just don't understand their logic, but then maybe I'm wrong, I don't know anymore

OP posts:
RandomMess · 01/06/2023 14:37

YANBU your garden isn't a play park and stones will damage the lawn mower!!

EnterFunnyNameHere · 01/06/2023 14:38

What have I just read?! If this is real and I've not slipped into a parallel unviserse, maybe put up a sign to remind people what trespass is?!

piedbeauty · 01/06/2023 14:40

Bloody hell, some people are nuts. YANBU at all!

I'd check with the Council if your neighbour is legally allowed to run a business from home with clients visiting. What a pain!

IggyAce · 01/06/2023 14:41

YANBU I’d ask your neighbour to remind his clients to be mindful of his neighbours and not to block access. If it continues I’d probably contact the council to ensure everything is in order, as I’m sure there are rules for home businesses.

Hoppinggreen · 01/06/2023 14:41

Tell your clients to stay the fuck of my property would be my response.
Followed by does your mortgage provider, home insurance company and The Council know you run a Business from here?

Elvis1956 · 01/06/2023 14:43

Go and sit in his garden, pick his flowers, have a picnic and see how he likes it. Twat

Couldyounot · 01/06/2023 14:43

Now our neighbour has come over and said to leave his clients alone.

"If your clients want to be left alone they need to stay the fuck off my property."

CC4712 · 01/06/2023 14:44

YANBU- I'd check with council that they are registered to be running a business from home, ask neighbour to make space for and have a sign for their clients parking are:
'CF Neighbour Enterprises parking here ONLY'

Then install large, moveable garden troughs, planters etc to deter their clients coming onto your lawn and using your drive/parking. Cactus to work to deter small children and sprinklers on timers😆

CC4712 · 01/06/2023 14:49

And- get a sign for your lawn:
'Private property, offenders will be shot' 😂

Or 'dangerous guard dogs patrol this garden'

Seainasive · 01/06/2023 14:50

Also check if he’s paying business rates. You can search the VOA’s website with the address details. If he’s receiving clients at home he’ll be liable and should be listed.

ODFODeary · 01/06/2023 15:04

Good God , is your neighbour mad? Of course it's not fine, and how fucking dare they tell you what should be acceptable on your property

Aquamarine1029 · 01/06/2023 15:07

Tell your neighbour to fuck off to the far side, and the next time someone trespasses you'll call the police.

Nanny0gg · 01/06/2023 15:20

Aquamarine1029 · 01/06/2023 15:07

Tell your neighbour to fuck off to the far side, and the next time someone trespasses you'll call the police.

Sadly pointless as trespass is a civil matter

LunaLula83 · 01/06/2023 15:22

Perhaps report him to the council. Pretty sure he needs permission to run a biz from home

SparklyBlackKitten · 01/06/2023 15:28

Check with council if they are allowed to run a business from their home
And get motion activated sprinklers
The client was a see you next Friday and your neighbour sounds like she is cut from the same cloth.....

Tidsleytiddy · 01/06/2023 15:47

Talk about go where you like and do what you like because you e got the backing of some moron. The fucking entitlement has enraged me. She looked shocked when you asked the kids not to pick the flowers? It’s actually unbelievable. Whatever happened to manners. Utter cunts. And the neighbour sounds off his fucking head

Yummymummy2020 · 01/06/2023 15:49

Op I cannot believe the cheek of them! I second the sprinklers and I would be happy to drown my lawn if it meant they got soaked! How dare they! The child of course is not to blame but the audacity of the parent and your neighbour!

Meeting · 01/06/2023 15:56

Mumsnet had made me realise that I'm obviously a very confrontational person. I wouldn't have been as nice as you if he came to me with that much cheek.

Yellowtowelsdear · 01/06/2023 16:09

I’d love to know why some people think OP is BU. So far 3% according to the vote but I can’t think of a reason someone might think she’s being unreasonable.

Alittlenonsensenowandthen · 01/06/2023 16:12

No you're not being unreasonable. Sounds like an instrumental lesson - I'm a piano teacher and would be mortified if I had parents turning up like that.
For those saying to report to business rates etc, you don't need to if the primary use of house is residential.

SchoolShenanigans · 01/06/2023 16:17

YANBU, you need to confront your neighbour, explaining that you won't have it, and if he wants to provide a play area, he should buy a house with a front garden. I would also let him know that you'll continue to ask people not to, so if they continue, it'll only look bad on his business.

Psiaspops · 01/06/2023 16:18

Thank you all for your comments. I was starting to doubt myself as honestly they made me feel like I was in the wrong. And yes it's instrumental lessons so we also have to put up with the damn noise of guitars and drums. Not only when there's lessons but he likes to practice himself in the very early hours of the morning

OP posts:
TheCreamTeaWasFromMe · 01/06/2023 16:18

If it comes up again you tell him that if his clients trespass in your garden then you are quite within your rights to tell them to stop. If he has an issue with you speaking to his clients then perhaps he ought to consider that it's inappropriate to tacitly approved the use of someone else's private garden as a waiting room for his business.

LadyDanburysHat · 01/06/2023 16:19

Your neighbour should have come over to apologise not give you grief. His clients would be getting way more grief if it was me.

mimbleandlittlemy · 01/06/2023 16:22

Seainasive · 01/06/2023 14:50

Also check if he’s paying business rates. You can search the VOA’s website with the address details. If he’s receiving clients at home he’ll be liable and should be listed.

For most businesses run from home you do not have to pay business rates:
https://www.gov.uk/introduction-to-business-rates/working-at-home

Business rates

Business rates are charged on most non-domestic properties - who has to pay, how your rates are calculated, getting a revaluation, what to do if your premises change.

https://www.gov.uk/introduction-to-business-rates/working-at-home