I probably ABU but I think it's justified....

[Glitterknickaz]

.... well kind of.

We've lived here for four years now. Up until 18 months ago all was idyllic.

However, 18 months ago our neighbours found out we were living in social housing. Along with my house there are 12 other units of social housing in an estate of approximately 120 privately owned houses. Which is in line with the local council's policies - rather than building 'council' estates they prefer to mix social units in with private.

It didn't go down too well. Despite the fact there has not been a whimper of trouble - no fights, loud music or any other 'colourful' behaviour I have encountered in my previous social housing home - the neighbours were concerned that our very presence had devalued their properties.

They formed a 'residents association' which we in the social units were definitely not invited to. They've lodged complaints with our housing association about things such as my neighbour not having mowed her lawn for a few weeks back in the summer (she was undergoing treatment for cancer at the time), they complain when we park across the ends of our own driveways to avoid blocking the road when we have visitors then complain when we move the visitors' vehicles to a perfectly legal spot on the public highway.

Whatever we do we can't win.

SO..... AIBU to be planning a festive extravaganza this year? Last year we had two strands of rather tasteful icicle lights on our guttering, but apparently that was 'tacky'. So this year I've gone all out. I've begged and borrowed a ton of brightly coloured LED lights, christmas tree, star and snowman rope lights and I'm still sourcing more....

I'll give them tacky.

All new build estates have to include at least 30% social housing - they can't blame you if their solicitor failed to point this out. Otherwise developers have to pay for section 106's ( many millions of £'s)

Jeeeeeeeeeze - your neighbours sound a little dim

Either that or get a nice big noisy, smoky generator on the go and you can have them on all day and all night too

Do you have a caravan you could park in the drive instead? Or a couple of big barking dogs you could tether on the front lawn?

but actually ineedalifelaundry I may as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb iygwim....

if I restrict lighting to an hour or so an evening it'll be fine, a lot of it is led and low power consumption anyway

JAMM.... nah just two soppy labradors...

GlitterKnikaz - you sound lovely, your neighbours sound like twats.

I am in the position of your neighbour, one of the houses next door to me is social housing, the other one is fully owned like mine.

I see much more of my social housing neighbour (we often chat and her daughter has helped look after my ds when I'm working) than of my other neighbour! We do say hello if we happened to see each other, but they haven't gone out of the way to be friendly, unlike my social housing neighbour, who is a really kind and friendly person, kids are no trouble at all, and her hubby is a good sort.
Where as my other neighbours two boys are loud and raucous (fortunately not too often!).