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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour complaining about my bins

41 replies

loulou0633 · 13/04/2025 17:43

I live in a terraced house and I have moved the bins from my back garden to the front of my house.

Firstly we have a small garden and the bins just obstruct the pathway and leave the kids with hardly any space to play.

Secondly we was getting fed up with next door’s visitors keep parking on our driveway so it was literally killing 2 birds with 1 stone.

Next door has a smallish window (not sure which room it is in the house) and there is nowhere else to put the bins (as cars would have nowhere to go) they are outside the small window.

Neighbour had a massive issue with this but it’s on our land and property.

Neighbour purposely planted a shrub which they knew would grow onto our footpath and front door so they aren’t exactly being considerate to us either.

AIBU?
Shall I move the bins? It wasn’t done purposely and the main reason is to free up space in the back garden, there is no where else to put them otherwise.

OP posts:
Dinosweetpea · 13/04/2025 17:48

No, ,I wouldn't move them. As long as they are clearly on your land.

Secondguess · 13/04/2025 17:51

Could you put a low fence beside the path to separate your front garden from theirs?

ScaredOfDinosaurs · 13/04/2025 17:52

Your land, your rules.

Are the unhappy ones also the ones having visitors park there?

Original poster
loulou0633 · 13/04/2025 17:52

Yes I was actually thinking of getting large trellis planet so separate the front garden.

OP posts:
Original poster
loulou0633 · 13/04/2025 17:53

Yes they were frequently having their visitors park here without even asking.
The bins have solved both problems.

OP posts:
Mirren22 · 13/04/2025 17:55

Similar set up, I see some neighbours with theirs out front on their drive way, it doesn’t bother me at all. Understandable too if you have kids playing out back, especially if there is not much space. I would leave them in front so long as they are on your property. How have they broached this with you? Seems quite cheeky

Original poster
loulou0633 · 13/04/2025 17:57

Yes the lady said the bins were an eye sore and infringed on her privacy.

Yet her or her husband will come onto my garden to water their plants.

OP posts:
BeyondMyWits · 13/04/2025 18:00

Right next to THEIR window? Which they won't be able to leave open in the nice weather because of smells from your bin. Doesn't sound that neighbourly. I'd hate that.

BethDuttonYeHaw · 13/04/2025 18:04

I get why you’ve done it but putting it in front of their window is a shitty thing to do.

why not use it to negotiate- no more parking in your driveway and you will move them?

stayathomegardener · 13/04/2025 18:12

I think we need a plan.

Whaleandsnail6 · 13/04/2025 18:12

I think its a bit crap to put your bins right by their window. It might be your land but its a bit harsh to put your rubbish right by their window, they won't be able to open them without smelling the bin.

You are legally right but it seems morally wrong.

Theoldwrinkley · 13/04/2025 18:17

If on your land then not particularly neighbourly (near their window) but sort of understandable if it means the parking issue is also alleviated. Where I live (mostly semi's with big gardens) the bins need to be roadside for collection on Mondays but the trend has started to never bring them in. I can't use pavement due to bin obstruction.

Americano75 · 13/04/2025 18:18

I've no sympathy for her, being neighbourly goes both ways.

LatteLady · 13/04/2025 18:21

Well obviously they are being unreasonable, you put the bins wherever suits you. As to the foliage, you can cut off whatever comes into your garden, ie over or through the fence... but you must give them first refusal on the cuttings!

WhatMe123 · 13/04/2025 18:22

Keep the bins op, put up small fence and trim the shrub they've planted on your side 😁

SpringIsSpringing25 · 13/04/2025 18:24

Can you explain how come their window happens to be above ground That is yours?

And what is the parking situation?? why do they feel entitled to park on your driveway? Is it shared?

I think it's a bit antisocial to place your bins under someone else's windows, but it does depend on the situation really.

Brefugee · 13/04/2025 18:24

Well, i think bins are ugly, so in your shoes i'd get something that covered them up - or build a kind of "bin port" with trellisses and climbing plants.

Would that suit?
Overhanging foliage, tell them you're cutting it and where do they want their cuttings? If it is damaging your path, you'll have to ask an expert there.

TheCurious0range · 13/04/2025 18:24

Can you get one of those wooden bin stores? That's what we keep our bins in on our drive.

TennesseeStella · 13/04/2025 18:25

BeyondMyWits · 13/04/2025 18:00

Right next to THEIR window? Which they won't be able to leave open in the nice weather because of smells from your bin. Doesn't sound that neighbourly. I'd hate that.

My bins are in front of my living room window (nowhere else at the front they can go) and smells are never an issue.

Eggsboxedandmelting · 13/04/2025 18:26

Build this...

Neighbour complaining about my bins
ItsUpToYou · 13/04/2025 18:26

Im going to need a diagram.

lovemycbf · 13/04/2025 18:34

It’s more likely they are pissed off as their visitors can’t park now.
No I wouldn’t move the bins-your property your rules
if they start again politely tell them no and to mind their own business and not enter your garden to water their plants

8misskitty8 · 13/04/2025 18:35

Cut the bush back to the boundary. Get a fence up between your gardens to stop them going on it.
We need a diagram regarding where your bin is in relation to the window and your land. Is it an upstairs window ?

Brefugee · 13/04/2025 18:36

or tell them that they're welcome to park on your drive for 30 quid an hour

CheeseCakeSunflowers · 13/04/2025 18:46

loulou0633 · 13/04/2025 17:57

Yes the lady said the bins were an eye sore and infringed on her privacy.

Yet her or her husband will come onto my garden to water their plants.

I'm wondering how the bins infringe their privacy. Do the bins sneak a cheeky look through their windows in which case train your bins to behave themselves.