To complain about neighbour's BBQ...

[Ant1cs]

Currently sat indoors with all windows shut and extractor fan on full blast, yet neighbours charcoal BBQ smell is still coming to house.

They insist on lighting it and cooking close to our house, even though they could move it down the garden, somewhat.

I obviously don't want to stop them enjoying a BBQ, but I asked if they could move it away from our house (it's closer to ours than it is theirs). We settled on them telling us when they would be lighting the BBQ.

Anything practically I could do? A powerful fan to try and redirect the smoke, ha?

Maybe time to water your garden and accidentally spray the water over the fence??
I’m joking about that but it would be funny! I really don’t know what to say just that some people are so bloody selfish!

Not sure of what make fan but maybe a oscalating one with different speeds.
if you get one plug it into a extension lead and even stand it on something and direct it straight to where the smoke comes near yours it will help to blow back to them.
But saying that maybe this hot weather wont last much longer who knows but at least you will be prepared.

I love the smell of BBQs, is it really that much of a problem?

You really can't ask people not to have a BBQ in their own garden in the summer.

Bung some sausages over the fence and ask them to cook your tea 😀 🌭

I don't mind the smell, outside of my house.

On previous occasions where I've had windows open (due to the hot weather) and not realised they've lit the BBQ, my house has literally been full of smoke, to point where I've had to rewash clothes.

I've not asked them to stop having BBQ's, just move it away from my property, or closer to theirs. Or better still, at the bottom of the garden.

But that's all you can do - ask. If they don't want to, there's nothing you can really do about it. Just keep your windows closed if it bothers you.

Yeah and they would report if in an area with a hosepipe ban

They won’t want it on the dry grass though

Arguably not wanting your neighbours to bbq is also selfish though. Just playing devils advocate.

The neighbours are being selfish though because they must know it stinks hence they have it closer to OP's house than their own. So what's good for the goose and all that

Or they don't want it on the dry grass during a drought?

Your house is literally full of smoke?

Are they feeding 5000 people using only wet smoky wood or something? Even the fiercest event barbeques I've seen don't emit much more than wisps which vanishes into the atmosphere pdq. I don't see how your entire house is so full of smoke that you have had to rewash clothes (that are presumably in cupboards and drawers?)

I live in a place where the back gardens of about 15 hours are all in a sort of U, and families often cook outside. Never once has there been more than a waft on the air.

What's it like on 5 November? Do they have a large Wicker Man figurine set up?

We have the same problem. A neighbour’s garden backs onto ours. He’s obviously not very skilled at lighting it as smoke literally pours over our fence and into our house.
I’m asthmatic and have had 2 severe attacks when they’ve had a BBQ. Someone nearby has also been lighting a firepit or something and the house was full of smoke again. Had to close all the windows even though it was hot.
I don’t mind the BBQ smell but excessive smoke can be so dangerous.

My previous neighbours did this, positioned so all the smoke, of which there was lots, just blew straight in my house. I asked the man to move it away further down the garden but his partner got him to move it back.

The fact is it’s incredibly antisocial. Speak to the neighbours and ask them to move it. You shouldn’t be impacted by their smoker barbecue.

How often do people actually have bbqs? Ive only had 2 this year.

Selfish? To have a barbecue in your own garden in summer. Madness.

It's only on MN where I see people say it's selfish - IRL people love a BBQ!

I suppose the selfish aspect is having it closer to your neighbours house than your own

Go round with a plate and tell them if they make your house smoky etc, they have to feed you(joke).

But surely that depends on where they'd have to move it to?

To another patio at the end of the garden by a brick wall? Fine. But on dry grass near a dry fence? Maybe not some great.

It's positioned on dry grass anyway.

Moving it away from my property means it will also be on dry grass, but further away from my fence, property so is a safer option.

How do folks have bbqs thay fill peoples neighbours homes with smoke. In all my years I’ve never seen such a thing, but on mumsnet it’s rife and worse than bonfire night apparently

Not the ones that smell like paraffin.