Previous owners of house keep coming round to "visit"

[sparklerain]

Can someone tell me AIBU?

Some context is that we bought a house October 2023 it's in a small cul de sac off the Main Street there is 6 houses in the cul de sac and we are right at the bottom (or top) with the other houses forming round us (does that make sense)?

The neighbours have mainly spoke bar 1 house who snubs us since we've moved in (we don't know why) since the nice weather has come in they host BBQs every weekend and the previous owners of our house are around every time - they don't host them in their back garden though, they are sat out on the road right infront of our front window and we never get an invite. We've quite often seen the snubby house and previous owners of ours talking and pointing at out front garden etc as we have changed some of it and removed some old bushes. They sit so far out into the cul de sac we couldn't actually reverse off our driveway if we needed to be out.

Is there anything I can do or do I just have to accept it? I don't want to cause anymore of an atmosphere but I do think maybe speaking to one of the neighbours who is more polite about it might help? We feel intimidated in our home as we feel constantly watched by the ex owners. They're out playing music laughing shouting etc and don't seem to have a care in the world. I should also add they've large back gardens too so don't understand why they sit on the tarmac at the front as they've not grass etc out there

We don't have an annoying barking dog or loads of guests round constantly for them to be annoyed at us it's definitely more a case of "you've bought our friends house how dare you" when it was for sale we didn't force them out so we could buy it 🤣

Is that your only takeaway from this post? 😄

Ask one of the friendlier neighbours about it - they might have all thought someone else was inviting you.

The couple we bought our house from 6 years ago are still invited to neighbours' parties, and are still in our street Facebook group. We do wonder why, but simply ignore them [the woman's always drunk, anyway!]. Weird fact: I bought my house in London from the same couple 20 years ago!

Are you a lot younger than them? Not that this should make any difference to the neighbour who ignores you!

It’s extremely odd to sit out front with a BBQ! Maybe it’s an open invite and neighbours know that when Snub Neighbour gets his BBQ out, everyone is welcome? Maybe? I would definitely have to go across next time, brazen it out! Take cake and speak to the friendly neighbours.

Have a party of your own, go round every neighbour and personally invite them all and to say if they are coming. Also invite your own friends in case some do not turn up. Killing them with kindness is also my motto.

Perhaps they think they should be able to use the OP’s facilities! 🤣

Love this

Love this too!
Also, it will be pissing down again in no time, not worth getting annoyed about, that's exactly what they want x

Why do you actually give a 💩?

Invest in mooning gnomes and line them up near where they sit.

“You need to learn the art of not giving a shit.“
best advice ever. I too need to learn this!

I’d mix a couple of huge Jugs of punch, or home made lemonade. Waltz out next time they set up outside YOUR home, and give them to them. Announcing with as much aplomb as you can muster “I noticed you looking thirsty the last four times you did this.” and full on Flounce back indoors.

OP you must throw your own party.
We moved last year and didn't get so much as a pot plant.
Re the racism, my DH is not white and we were assured the development had many local doctors living here. There is a high proportion of NHS staff who are from overseas at our hospital but they certainly don't live here. Nobody has been rude and that's great because we had so much racism at our last location (my husband was rumoured to be the local drug dealer) mad as he has never even smoked a fag!
I loved the pp who suggested an arsy friend should be invited around to join your party. Perhaps they could be heard saying I thought street parties were for national occasions.

You should join them next time. Bring out a few chairs and a drink and have sit with them for a whlie!

OP your diagram looks suspiciously like a close down my road, complete with cliquey neighbourly behaviour. You don't live in a town beginning with T do you...? DQC?

If so it's them not you.

If not, maybe it's a cul de sac thing.

sorry posted on wrong thread

Oh god you have me worried there but no the village doesn't start with T so must be cul de sac thing 🤣

I think you've posted on the wrong thread x

I bet they think you are travelers. Silly judgy people. Just showing their ignorance.

Ugh you have my sympathies - I hate my cul de sac. We moved in years ago and it used to be a friendly cul de sac with annual street parties etc. It all went sour between a few sets of neighbours and now everyone seems to hate each other 😬.

In a few years you might be very glad you weren't all buddies with your neighbours! We have a few I just ignore now after trying to have a nice, normal hello and goodbye type relationship with them.

I'm desperate to move tbh 😩

Ah well! This close has exactly the same configuration of houses, and they string up fairy lights between them at Christmas and bunting for royal events. They were always on the tarmac having street parties. It might have sound like fun to some but I felt stifled at the thought of being hemmed into my home, hiding from enforced neighbourly jollity and mandatory co-operative bunting.

I think it's just tribal. The old houseowners are scared of being forgotten and the snubby ones are being loyal and therefore bitching about the changes you have made. One of the couples are probably quite powerful and queen beeish.
They probably wish you were more objectionable to shore up their self esteem. Lucky the UK weather will be on your side most of the year. Also curious why they moved, maybe desperately trying to break free but can't!

You could call their bluff by organising a BBQ for your neighbours. Not sure whether you should use the street or your lovely garden though?

You need to learn the art of pressure washing your car, drive plus use snow foam. It's a damn shame when spray and foam wafts over.

May I ask why some might think you're travellers? Apart from a specific Irish accent, presumably you don't look/dress like a traveller lady? And my only knowledge would be from the TV shows...

I suspect that's it. And if so, then they're judgy weirdos!

Bright and breezy waves hello and head held high!

Ignore. If the previous owners start poking around just ask them who they are and what they are doing. When they declare "we used to own this house!" a simple "oh, ok, how nice" and have them leave. Act like they don't exist or you have no clue who they are.