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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Greenhouse next to our garden

43 replies

Coffeeandcavaplease · 28/09/2023 14:47

AIBU to not offer to pay for breakages/damage

new neighbours have decided to erect a fairly large greenhouse on a raised platform next to our garden wall (think low set old stone wall) I have 3 young boys that play footy, basketball, ball sports etc in the garden. I can just see what’s going to happen. They have a fairly big garden and it could have been placed somewhere away from our strip of grass where the boys play. It used to be shielded by a large hedge which they’ve ripped out to make way for the greenhouse. Would I be unreasonable not to pay for breakages if/when they happen or just stop the boys playing with balls? It’s all well and good saying don’t aim the ball there but I know that accidents happen.

OP posts:
BrawnWild · 28/09/2023 14:50

Yabu.

ThatsMeTold · 28/09/2023 14:51

Yes you would be very unreasonable not to pay.
Get a high ‘stop that ball’ free standing net fence that prevents balls going over into their garden.

Laffinalltheway · 28/09/2023 14:51

I'd put a fairly sturdy mesh fence up on your side of the wall to cover an area a bit wider and higher than the greenhouse.

ErrolTheDragon · 28/09/2023 14:56

Laffinalltheway · 28/09/2023 14:51

I'd put a fairly sturdy mesh fence up on your side of the wall to cover an area a bit wider and higher than the greenhouse.

Or maybe suggest to the neighbours that they do this, as they've chosen to remove a hedge.

BigDahliaFan · 28/09/2023 14:58

ThatsMeTold · 28/09/2023 14:51

Yes you would be very unreasonable not to pay.
Get a high ‘stop that ball’ free standing net fence that prevents balls going over into their garden.

This. It's your children who will be causing the damage...

Original poster
Coffeeandcavaplease · 28/09/2023 15:01

Thanks all. I know I’m being unreasonable just peeved they’ve put it about 1m away from my sons basketball net 😩

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 28/09/2023 15:02

It's your children who will be causing the damage...

I think it's more 50:50 honestly. Pu tit in a stupid place, removed a hedge, raised it... all them. Balls, all OP.

I'd have a chat about prevention with them. Try to preempt the issue. Go halves on a mesh topper etc.

Freezingcoldinseptember · 28/09/2023 15:04

Plant shrubs there yourself.

FOJN · 28/09/2023 15:07

I don't think you are being unreasonable at all. Yes it would be your children causing the damage and I would hope they would try to be careful but what a stupid place to put a greenhouse.

Of course your neighbours can place their greenhouse wherever they like but if they are putting it 1m away from an existing basket ball net then they are asking for trouble.

tabulaisrasa · 28/09/2023 15:07

It's not a 50/50 issue at all. OP, it's your responsibility to ensure your children don't cause damage to anyone else's property. Yes, the change is a PITA, but there are simple solutions to stop the ball going over the wall and into the greenhouse.

londonrach · 28/09/2023 15:07

Yabu re damages but neighbours may not be aware your boys play football in that area. Pop over and chat to them so if you come to a solution eg a net

ohdamnitjanet · 28/09/2023 15:08

I’m with you to a certain extent. Of course they can put a greenhouse where they like, but if I were them I would have at least had a conversation with you about the change of circumstances, presuming they know your boys like playing with balls. If they can afford a big greenhouse perhaps they should have given some thought to protecting it. Guess a lot depends on how well you get on with them.

Flossflower · 28/09/2023 15:12

Is the greenhouse glass or polycarbonate?

Flopsythebunny · 28/09/2023 15:14

MrsTerryPratchett · 28/09/2023 15:02

It's your children who will be causing the damage...

I think it's more 50:50 honestly. Pu tit in a stupid place, removed a hedge, raised it... all them. Balls, all OP.

I'd have a chat about prevention with them. Try to preempt the issue. Go halves on a mesh topper etc.

The greenhouse is on their property so it isn't their responsibility to protect it against balls coming over from next door. it's op's responsibility to stop her children from kicking or throwing anything onto someone else's property.

MrsTerryPratchett · 28/09/2023 15:15

tabulaisrasa · 28/09/2023 15:07

It's not a 50/50 issue at all. OP, it's your responsibility to ensure your children don't cause damage to anyone else's property. Yes, the change is a PITA, but there are simple solutions to stop the ball going over the wall and into the greenhouse.

Who puts a greenhouse 1m away form a basketball hoop? An idiot, that's who.

Hummingbird89 · 28/09/2023 15:16

Really shocked at the responses here! The greenhouse position has been really poorly thought out. They can see it’s next to a bloody basketball hoop fgs, who is that obtuse? I honestly think it’s on them.
do you have a good relationship with these neighbours? If so, I would knock on and have a chat. They may decide to move the greenhouse, or maybe you could suggest going halves on a tall fence as a gesture of goodwill?

Freezingcoldinseptember · 28/09/2023 15:19

Shame if the hoop was nearer their home..

HeddaGarbled · 28/09/2023 15:19

It’s possible that’s the best place in their garden for sun and light.

ManateeFair · 28/09/2023 15:20

I can absolutely see why you're annoyed, and I think your neighbours sound like fools, but it's their garden and (I assume, if they ripped out a hedge) their barrier, so they can do what they like and if your children cause damage that would still be your fault. I know it sucks but I think your only option is to put up some sort of fencing/netting/shrubs on your side to screen it off.

I have a similar issue in reverse in my own garden. No greenhouse, but my neighbours recently put up a basketball hoop on a pole in their garden which is literally against the dividing fence, with the hoop sticking up about two feet above the top of the fence, so the ball just came to straight into our garden on about one in three attempts at scoring. As with your neighbours, they could have put it pretty much anywhere else, but no...

NeedToChangeName · 28/09/2023 15:21

I can see why this irritates you but they're entitled to put the greenhouse where they want

TerfTalking · 28/09/2023 15:27

Did they put the greenhouse there deliberately because they are fed up of balls going over. Not being goady but why is the basket ball hoop just 1 meter from the boundary?

Kids and balls in gardens are a pain in the arse. I say this as someone that has had two myself.

Ostryga · 28/09/2023 15:30

Pretty sure you’d manage to parent your children well enough to not break any expensive glass structures if they were you own.

Just teach them to not play near it, put a net up, or suck it up and pay.

Brefugee · 28/09/2023 15:33

MrsTerryPratchett · 28/09/2023 15:15

Who puts a greenhouse 1m away form a basketball hoop? An idiot, that's who.

Show quote history

Maybe that's the best place for it to go. OP needs to put up a net.

IncompleteSenten · 28/09/2023 15:34

Yup. As pp say, put a net up.

Flossflower · 28/09/2023 15:36

They probably took down the hedge so their greenhouse could get maximin sunshine. Put up your own hedge or net.
I don’t understand people complaining about balls coming over. I get quite a few. I just throw them back.