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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:
2bazookas · 01/06/2023 16:23

I'd have a word with your neighbour and explain that if his "business" and clients intrude on your property/enjoyment of your home you WILL raise a complaint with the local council, as this is a residential area.

Blocking you in or out of your property is a police and road safety issue

If his home is used for business he may be liable for business rate Council Tax; commercial enterprise may invalidate his domestic home insurance, and he may have to apply for planning consent for change of use.

KezzaMucklowe · 01/06/2023 16:24

Oh gosh what a twat. The neighbour and his clients.
The playing instruments in the early hours is unreasonable too.
What are you going to do?
I suggest motion sensor sprinklers for the next time someone tries to cheeky fuck in your garden.
I also think strategic booing when he is teaching might help scare off the customers.

PineappleLatte · 01/06/2023 16:24

mimbleandlittlemy · 01/06/2023 16:22

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

Errrr….

You may need to pay business rates as well as Council Tax if:

  • you sell goods or services to people who visit your property
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 01/06/2023 16:25

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!

My first thought too.

TheCreamTeaWasFromMe · 01/06/2023 16:25

Business rates aside, if the noise is unacceptable you can complain to the council. Lessons during the daytime are fair enough but if he's practising early in the morning that's pretty anti-social.

Private Eye have just written about a case where a council has put a noise abatement order on a musician even though they were only practising between 11am-3pm. I don't agree with it - music as a lesson is already on the decline. However if he's playing at anti-social times then he needs to stop.

2bazookas · 01/06/2023 16:29

If he is involved in a business with children, he probably needs a DBS certificate.

You could check if he's got one.. or ask the council...

Psiaspops · 01/06/2023 16:31

2bazookas · 01/06/2023 16:29

If he is involved in a business with children, he probably needs a DBS certificate.

You could check if he's got one.. or ask the council...

Are you able to check online for DBS?

OP posts:
SillyBilly1993 · 01/06/2023 16:33

That is outrageous, I think you’ve been very understanding to not complain up to now. How disrespectful of him to run think that it was okay for his clients to trespass on and damage your property.

I am an extraordinarily petty person so as well as checking whether his business is registered with the council, I would contact HMRC to report possible tax evasion. Many of these small business owners don’t pay any tax and can only be caught if someone notifies HMRC, so it’s worth flagging so that they can check if he’s sent in a return: https://www.gov.uk/report-tax-fraud

Report tax fraud or avoidance to HMRC

Report tax fraud by a person or business to HMRC - tax evasion, VAT fraud, false claim for Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, Child Benefit or Tax Credit fraud.

https://www.gov.uk/report-tax-fraud

Mischance · 01/06/2023 16:33

Are you able to ask him to tell his students not to play on your garden or would this result in a flea in the ear? I find it hard to believe that he does not understand that this is out of order.

Psiaspops · 01/06/2023 16:36

Mischance · 01/06/2023 16:33

Are you able to ask him to tell his students not to play on your garden or would this result in a flea in the ear? I find it hard to believe that he does not understand that this is out of order.

He honestly is the type of person who think he can do whatever he likes and if you say anything to him, he ramps up the noise etc

OP posts:
simbobs · 01/06/2023 16:36

Hosepipe? I would.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 01/06/2023 16:36

Can you put up a camera and some obvious signage saying "smile you're on camera" or whatever? I find most parents would object to their kids being filmed so will probably think twice before letting them on your lawn.

Psiaspops · 01/06/2023 16:37

simbobs · 01/06/2023 16:36

Hosepipe? I would.

Haha, so tempted

OP posts:
KezzaMucklowe · 01/06/2023 16:39

Psiaspops · 01/06/2023 16:31

Are you able to check online for DBS?

I don't think you can tbh.
I'm not even sure how yo check that sort of thing.
Unfortunately as far as I vcan remember if you're self employed you don't necessarily have to have a dbs check. Obviously most people would recommend it, but I don't think it's a requirement.

doodleZ1 · 01/06/2023 16:39

What is your neighbour like normally, do you feel you can go over and talk to them? Is it open plan at the front or did the child walk into an area that was obviously a separate garden? Either way they are in the wrong and your neighbour is an idiot of the highest standard, esp as there is plenty you could do to retaliate. Thats what these types dont understand, that waking up a sleeping lion is sometimes not worth it. They should be trying to keep you sweet due to the noise and car issues.

Psiaspops · 01/06/2023 16:41

doodleZ1 · 01/06/2023 16:39

What is your neighbour like normally, do you feel you can go over and talk to them? Is it open plan at the front or did the child walk into an area that was obviously a separate garden? Either way they are in the wrong and your neighbour is an idiot of the highest standard, esp as there is plenty you could do to retaliate. Thats what these types dont understand, that waking up a sleeping lion is sometimes not worth it. They should be trying to keep you sweet due to the noise and car issues.

Very difficult to talk to. Long back story of wife leaving with kids due to domestic abuse but that's a whole other story. Oh you can definitely tell it's a different garden. All fenced etc.

OP posts:
NowZeusHasLainWithLeda · 01/06/2023 16:42

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."

I'd go with this one.

KezzaMucklowe · 01/06/2023 16:43

Psiaspops · 01/06/2023 16:41

Very difficult to talk to. Long back story of wife leaving with kids due to domestic abuse but that's a whole other story. Oh you can definitely tell it's a different garden. All fenced etc.

OK if this is the case I would be concerned about the children in his care.
I definitely wouldn't want to sit on this information knowing that he is on his own with children.

FlamingoQueen · 01/06/2023 16:44

Psiaspops · 01/06/2023 16:41

Very difficult to talk to. Long back story of wife leaving with kids due to domestic abuse but that's a whole other story. Oh you can definitely tell it's a different garden. All fenced etc.

I would ring the council and check he has a DBS. Surely, if there’s DA issues, he wouldn’t have passed one.
And then put a sign out to say private property.

Psiaspops · 01/06/2023 16:45

KezzaMucklowe · 01/06/2023 16:43

OK if this is the case I would be concerned about the children in his care.
I definitely wouldn't want to sit on this information knowing that he is on his own with children.

What should I do? Who would be the best to contact?

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Psiaspops · 01/06/2023 16:47

FlamingoQueen · 01/06/2023 16:44

I would ring the council and check he has a DBS. Surely, if there’s DA issues, he wouldn’t have passed one.
And then put a sign out to say private property.

Thank you. Will do this. I know this is nothing to do with this but honestly I've never been so stressed in my whole life. I've recently been diagnosed with a very rare terminal illness and I just want a quiet life. I'm in bloody agony 24 hours a day and could just do without people acting like entitled twats on top of everything and then making me feel like I've done something wrong

OP posts:
KezzaMucklowe · 01/06/2023 16:48

Your local LADO or safeguarding team.
They'd be able to investigate if he is safe to work with children or not.

FlamingoQueen · 01/06/2023 16:50

Psiaspops · 01/06/2023 16:47

Thank you. Will do this. I know this is nothing to do with this but honestly I've never been so stressed in my whole life. I've recently been diagnosed with a very rare terminal illness and I just want a quiet life. I'm in bloody agony 24 hours a day and could just do without people acting like entitled twats on top of everything and then making me feel like I've done something wrong

I’m so sorry Flowers. You could even ring anonymously- if he says anything to you, you could say it may be a concerned parent that asked the question.

LlynTegid · 01/06/2023 16:50

Sorry to read of your illness. Contacting re the DBS is a step I agree with.

Psiaspops · 01/06/2023 16:51

Thank you all for your help

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