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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

RedToothBrush · 28/09/2023 15:40

Put up a massive fence which blocks light to the green house but stops it getting broken!

loislovesstewie · 28/09/2023 15:41

My first thought was that they placed the greenhouse in the best place for sunshine. Sometimes there is little choice about where to put items in the garden, even if the garden is big.

EvilElsa · 28/09/2023 15:43

YABU. I'd imagine they put the greenhouse in the place that suited them best just as you put the kids net where suited you best. The kids games should have no impact on their garden at all. If the kids smash anything of course you should pay. They shouldn't have to accommodate your kids games encroaching onto their garden space. Put up some screening and then it won't be an issue. Of course accidents happen, that's why you as the parent should take steps now to make sure their accidents don't impact others.

Dotjones · 28/09/2023 15:44

Really shocked by some of the replies blaming the neighbour for having the audacity to arrange their garden how they like. The OP is aware of the risk of balls going onto/damaging their property so must either take steps to avoid the damage occuring or at least pay for it if it does.

It's ludicrous to tell someone they have to arrange their garden in a particular way because the neighbour can't be arsed to stop balls coming over.

rainbowunicorn · 28/09/2023 15:47

YABU you are responsible for making sure your kids don't break stuff and if they do then of course you should pay.
some of the replies on here really show why some kids think they can do whatever they please and everyone should accommodate them.

ErrolTheDragon · 28/09/2023 15:47

loislovesstewie · 28/09/2023 15:41

My first thought was that they placed the greenhouse in the best place for sunshine. Sometimes there is little choice about where to put items in the garden, even if the garden is big.

Very likely, and also why they removed the hedge. If it was me, I'd put up something along the lines already suggested (mesh fence, trellis or suchlike) to protect it, rather than effectively inhibiting the neighbours kids from using their garden for fun and exercise or putting the neighbours to expense.

Ponderingwindow · 28/09/2023 15:51

you Are likely going to need to put in a tall fence and then possibly some mesh on top of that. It has the potential to block their light. so going and having a quick chat about that might be worthwhile. Starting with obviously we are going to take steps to prevent balls going over, but we realized those steps are going to put your new greenhouse in the shade. Before we put up a tall fence, should we brainstorm options together?

RedToothBrush · 28/09/2023 15:53

loislovesstewie · 28/09/2023 15:41

My first thought was that they placed the greenhouse in the best place for sunshine. Sometimes there is little choice about where to put items in the garden, even if the garden is big.

That was mine too. But they are also idiots for cutting down the fence and not discussing that with the neighbour who they know has young kids.

Precisely because the solution I'd make would be to put up a fence which would block their sunlight!

They have not thought it though.

spitefulandbadgrammar · 28/09/2023 15:58

RedToothBrush · 28/09/2023 15:53

That was mine too. But they are also idiots for cutting down the fence and not discussing that with the neighbour who they know has young kids.

Precisely because the solution I'd make would be to put up a fence which would block their sunlight!

They have not thought it though.

Show quote history

Why would you put up a fence and block light when you could put up ball mesh?

Jessforless · 28/09/2023 15:58

Can you not move the basketball hoop?

Poochypaws · 28/09/2023 15:59

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.

Edited

Yes that's what I thought actually - they are sick of the noise from the balls and trying to get the kids to play elsewhere. Could be wrong though

MrsTerryPratchett · 28/09/2023 16:02

Why would you put up a fence and block light when you could put up ball mesh?

Well everyone is saying you can organise your garden in a way that suits you, without caring if there's an issue. So...

Inertia · 28/09/2023 16:28

It’s your responsibility to stop balls going over. You need to put up your own fence on your side of the boundary, with netting on the top. You might want to plant your own fast-growing hedging plants on the other side of the fence, but still on your property, to provide an additional layer of protection.

Original poster

Coffeeandcavaplease · 28/09/2023 22:56

Thanks everyone for your comments. The basketball net is where it is as it’s the only strip of concrete we have. This is probably the furthest point from their house. Tbh they mostly play football and cricket so ball noise isn’t too much of an issue. The ball never previously went into their garden because of a massive laurel hedge that was on our side too.

We get on well and they are nice people, they know we have 3 children.

They asked if they could take the laurel hedge down to let in more light which I said was fine, but didn’t mention a greenhouse. They’ve now taken the whole hedge down across the full boundary so can see straight into our house, whereas previously we had privacy. They did this when we were away in the summer so it was all a bit of a shock when we came home.

I need to work out whether a fence or fast growing shrubs would be best and a net sounds good. I’ll look into that.

OP posts:

Kaill · 28/09/2023 23:09

YABU. Your kids balls shouldn’t be going into their garden anyway. It’s up to you to prevent that happening. The neighbours can put their greenhouse anywhere they like on their own property, you don’t get to dictate.

Brefugee · 29/09/2023 07:32

OP I'd go for shrubs and a net - your kids won't be there forever and so the hoop may go too. And a hedge often looks nicer than a fence (and is better at catching wayward balls)

LuluBlakey1 · 29/09/2023 09:31

Move your basketball net to the far end of the garden- the pounding of basketballs is one of the most awful noises a neighbour has to endure.

bellabasset · 29/09/2023 10:33

Sorry but my sympathies are with OP. A hedge has been removed meaning the neighbours can see into their house. There are several things you can do. Firstly you could install fence posts and put netting up. Then you could put trellis on say 4'6 top half and grow something like bamboo, be careful to put this into bins or big pots so it doesn't spread. I love the rustle it makes in the wind. But it doesn't compost. Or and this is what I would do is to erect a hit and miss fence with trellis at the top or posts with cloth sails. The kids and the hedge were there first so I think the neigbours didn't give any thought to the layout beyond their garden. But I love to hear the kids playing in their gardens. We never had use if our parents garden as they had sitting tenants and I think the rent was about 25 bob a week or £1.25p a week.

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