To try and block neighbours pool water from emptying into our garden?

[Udford]

We live in a terraced house on a hill; our neighbours sit higher than us. They have a huge, bouncy castle type pool for their kids and when they unplug the power it starts to deflate and a mass amount of water drains into our garden. This isn’t helped by the fact that our neighbours have completely concreted their garden, with artificial grass on top so the water literally slides off their land and into ours.

They emptied it once yesterday and so far, it’s been 3 times today. Our garden is completely water logged.

We have had loads of issues with them in the past so this is not one of those ‘talk to them as they might not know’ kind of instances and they do absolutely know that this is what happens and they don’t care.

We’ve recently had a new fence with concrete posts and gravel boards hoping that would at least slow the flow but sadly it hasn’t. Now thinking about taking future measures however, my husband seems to think it’s illegal to prevent the flow of water.

Does anyone know if this is the case and that we will just have to live this?

Sneak up there on a moonless night and pop that effing castle with a knife. God neighbors are the worst.

Why are they emptying it so much?

I don't know for a fact, but something tells me your husband is correct - I also think it's illegal

I wouldn’t worry about it being illegal - is anyone really going to do anything, even if they bother to report it?

I vote for the midnight knife option.

@Sauvblanctime We have no idea!

My DH says that they are causing damage to your land, so instruct a solicitor to send them a letter saying this must stop.

Sorry. Misread it. Thought you said bouncy castle not bouncy castle type pool. Yeah I would be having a word. They can’t keep doing that

I am seriously tempted by the knife option! It’s so heartbreaking as we’ve spent so much money out there trying to make a nice space and it kind of feels like it’s all going to waste.

Speak to your local council, environmental health. They maybe able to help. Otherwise I would pin up plastic sheeting on my side of the fence to try and stop the water coming through

That would make me absolutely furious!!! I'd be hugely tempted to build a small brick wall along the fence so the water pools on their side.

Link to site on how to build a water blocking wall

https://www.flowerpotman.com/how-to-stop-water-from-neighbours-garden-running-into-mine/

@EvilElsa So that’s exactly what I had in mind. My father is a bricklayer so this would be relatively easy to sort! Just worried about any repercussions.

Speak to the council, they can't just flood your garden repeatedly.

This is a really useful article! I’d try and clock it myself as it’s a swimming pool not natural rain water. https://www.flowerpotman.com/how-to-stop-water-from-neighbours-garden-running-into-mine/

I’d report it to council no matter what you decide

Sounds very much like it’s malicious, do they own, rent their house? If renting / council speak to landlord, if they own, solicitor?

Would something like this work? US Amazon but maybe you can find a local alternative. Bonus points that presumably the water would be stopped up in their garden

https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Dam-Water-Activated-6-Pack/dp/B0085S0612/ref=d_pd_day0_sccl_2_3/144-8290294-5729706?pd_rd_w=BsaSM&content-id=amzn1.sym.8ca997d7-1ea0-4c8f-9e14-a6d756b83e30&pf_rd_p=8ca997d7-1ea0-4c8f-9e14-a6d756b83e30&pf_rd_r=CRF76YJKZ6W0NHXPZZTP&pd_rd_wg=bKFyI&pd_rd_r=1ca9cb2f-d6c4-49a2-8525-2d8957bd60eb&pd_rd_i=B0085S0612&th=1&psc=1

Of course they're legally not allowed to do this! No one is allowed to do things that damage your property - it's criminal damage!
Ask them to stop or you'll give them a hefty bill for landscaping.

My neighbours would tip their massive water-butt towards my house, soking the lower walls, fence, flooding the path... In their own words - they didn't give a fuck. But their landlord very much did care and sorted the stupid tenants out. I suppose she was substantially worried at receiving the bill for repairs.

P.s.
My neighbours are those plastic grass and splash-pools people too. It's a type. 😐

It sounds extremely irritating.

I'm not really sure what else they could do though. Water flows downhill. You could spend a lot of time and money trying to block it from coming into your garden but then it'd pool against the wall you built and run along it until it finds a way through?

Presumably they turn the power off when they're not using it so it deflates then and the water runs out. Will prob be costing them a fortune in water and electric bills at least.

Have you spoken to them? Maybe there's an option to drain it into a flowerbed with a hose.

Maybe they keep emptying it due to children peeing in it but it's probably too to up with warmer water.
Nothing illegal about stopping water that's not supposed to be there!

@GreyBlackBay would you flood your own garden a few times a week?
Of course not. Those pools are to be drained via pump or hose pointed into the drain or gutter depending on the location of water goods.

Why do people comment without reading?

Yes, OP has talked it over with them and they don’t give a shit.
No, they they don’t have flower beds, it’s a plastic grass paradise.

Would there really be a law that says you arent allowed to stop your neighbour flooding your property? That doesn't sound reasonable

A low wall sounds a good option.

This also reminds me of my upstairs neighbour moons ago, who used to flood my flat due to a faulty washing machine. It would literally rain from the ceilings. Oh, but what can one do - the water flows downhill/downstairs... I could have taped lino to the ceiling and see if it helps?

Could you set up some sort of aqueduct system to channel the water around your garden? Leading to a pond or soakaway at the end. Maybe with tinkly bells which ring whenever they empty the pool just to annoy them.

Yes I know OP shouldn't have to but realistically if the neighbours won't stop then might as well make a feature of it.