Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

five years of nosy neighbours

80 replies

Angharadbach · 07/09/2024 19:52

We moved in to our home five years ago, a small cul de sac of about 15 houses. Directly across from us is a couple, late 70s, have a car etc, but spend a lot of time at home.
When we first moved in they would spend a lot of time at the window watching what we were doing. I didn't mind, as we renovated the property and there was a lot going on so obviously was going to draw attention.
My problem is, it has never stopped. FIVE YEARS!

Every time there's a workman at my home, they're both in the window.
I had a guy cutting a large hedge next to the house last week - he was here for about an hour and a half, and every time I checked on him one or both of them were in the window watching. At times they wouldn't have been able to see him, but they still waited for him to come back round to the front. The guy commented on it. "They're nosy, ain't they?"
I understand that they're bored (another neighbour has told me this), but I feel like I'm in a goldfish bowl. Every delivery I have they'll appear at the window, every workman, every visitor, even when I'm pottering about in the front garden they'll be there, just watching
I had an ambulance to my home late last year ... and yeah, you guessed it ...

I've put up and shut up for five years. I probably should have waved or something early on, but it feels too late now.
problem is, they don't speak to us, never have done. I have tried. They don't want to know, yet they do this.
They're also the biggest gossips in the street. They commented to another neighbour about how many deliveries I get (only a few a month!). That neighbour then told me what they'd said and I told her that they don't talk to us but watch our every move. It didn't solve anything, but I was glad someone else in the street knows what goes on.
AIBU for thinking this is abnormal, rude and, to be honest, downright bloomin creepy?

OP posts:
pinkgown · 08/09/2024 22:26

For heaven's sake they are probably just housebound and bored. Please just knock and invite them round. Show some kindness.

If that proves unhelpful, judge them as you will. But most people aren't malicious.

DottyLottieLou · 12/09/2024 07:30

Start holding up items from your shop and giving them thumbs up, or bit iffy signals. Tap your nose at them. They're being rude, be rude back. Can you grow large shrubs in your front garden to block their view. Get leaflets for local events or hobbies etc and keep posting them through their door. Invite male friends round at random times and get them to sneak out the back. You could have fun with this. Stand out front with a friend pointing and laughing. Old people do get like this with the window. I can see my husband starting to do it and he is the least nosey person I know. It's more security with him though as we live in a small cul de sac and rarely see strangers . We laugh about it.

GreatGardenstuff · 12/09/2024 08:59

Put a poster up in the front window; “hi, I can see you too! 👋’

EvelynBeatrice · 12/09/2024 10:41

That sounds annoying. We had a similar situation in previous house but not as bad. I did befriend them in the end in a somewhat distant manner. We had a small party one summer afternoon for the neighbours in street and I invited the couple across the road to come a little in advance of other people so that they could have a look round ‘as I knew they’d known the previous owner well and had seen the house as it was before’. It made their day and I was pleased to have cheered them up. Appreciate may not be your cup of tea.

Nosy neighbours do make your property more secure. We used to refer to them as ‘Big Brother’ and no burglaries in the street went undetected when they were ‘hivving a hang oot their windae’ as we say in Glasgow.

FckTheSchGateHuns · 13/09/2024 09:55

Mess with them!
Next time you take rubbish to recycling centre, shape it like a dead body and load it into car looking super suspicious.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread