Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Legal matters

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have any legal concerns we suggest you consult a solicitor.

Please help trampoline laws/rules?

145 replies

purpleme12 · 15/02/2023 14:32

Trampoline in garden.

Neighbours have been harassing is since we moved in, many different things (has been police involvement) but now trying to claim trampoline makes them uncomfortable as my child can see their garden/dining room (sincerely doubt she's looking at the dining room in the second she's bounced up). Threatening to sue us 'private nuisance and breach of privacy' if it's not respositioned.
I don't know what my rights are here?!
As far as I'm aware people are allowed trampolines in gardens?!
I'm also not sure if this letter is an empty threat or if they would do this?!
Can anyone please help

OP posts:
SheilaFentiman · 15/02/2023 17:13

IsItBedtimeYetNope · 15/02/2023 15:24

I'm sorry you're getting so many shit replies OP. You posted in Legal Matters and once upon a time this used to be a place to get sound advice but since they changed the way posts show up on "active" you just get bored people from AIBU looking to pick a fight with hapless posters who just want to know where they stand legally.
I hope you get what you need from the good advice you've had from a couple of knowledgable legally-trained posters and just ignore the ones who are trying to make this into a dramatic bunfight.

Oh god, this!

good luck, OP

purpleme12 · 15/02/2023 17:22

The screens won't work (to those suggesting screens) because it is only in that one second that she bounces up (and then only when she's facing that side) that she can see over

OP posts:
Fraaahnces · 15/02/2023 17:23

Is impersonating a legal professional illegal? I would assume so. Why don’t you Google the company, see if it’s real and if they are, suggest that your neighbours may have forged a fake letterhead from their company and sent it to you with the purpose of intimidation. You can only assume it’s a forgery as it’s full of spelling mistakes and is presented in an unprofessional manner. If the company has taken money from them with the intention of intimidating you with absolutely no legal grounds for doing so, THAT would be illegal too.

purpleme12 · 15/02/2023 17:24

Fraaahnces · 15/02/2023 17:23

Is impersonating a legal professional illegal? I would assume so. Why don’t you Google the company, see if it’s real and if they are, suggest that your neighbours may have forged a fake letterhead from their company and sent it to you with the purpose of intimidation. You can only assume it’s a forgery as it’s full of spelling mistakes and is presented in an unprofessional manner. If the company has taken money from them with the intention of intimidating you with absolutely no legal grounds for doing so, THAT would be illegal too.

It doesn't look like it was sent from a solicitor.
It looks like they did it

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 15/02/2023 17:31

What had caused all the aggravation with them to start with?

purpleme12 · 15/02/2023 17:58

Thinking about it I could save all the times she's on the trampoline from the CCTV camera.
If needed

OP posts:
FenghuangHoyan · 15/02/2023 18:12

Maybe think of ways to de-escalate and consider their side of things as well. You're sounding like you want to get back at them and that's not going to help end this.

As that who have been on the other side of this have said, trampolines can be very noisy and intrusive.

Can you move it or put up a screen as people have suggested, then you're both happy.

purpleme12 · 15/02/2023 18:14

FenghuangHoyan · 15/02/2023 18:12

Maybe think of ways to de-escalate and consider their side of things as well. You're sounding like you want to get back at them and that's not going to help end this.

As that who have been on the other side of this have said, trampolines can be very noisy and intrusive.

Can you move it or put up a screen as people have suggested, then you're both happy.

I'm unsure where you've got this idea from. Fortunately I know I've done thing to get back at them or escalate anything.

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 15/02/2023 18:17

*I've not done anything to get back at them or escalate...

OP posts:
BaconMassive · 15/02/2023 18:26

Either ignore them permanently or fight fire with fire.

Don't be anything in between, just ignore anything they say, wear headphones, no eye contact.

Or play them at their own games. Seeing as you are alone with a child, the ignore option is probably wiser.

purpleme12 · 15/02/2023 18:28

BaconMassive · 15/02/2023 18:26

Either ignore them permanently or fight fire with fire.

Don't be anything in between, just ignore anything they say, wear headphones, no eye contact.

Or play them at their own games. Seeing as you are alone with a child, the ignore option is probably wiser.

This is what I've been doing.
Mainly because as well as what you say, I think they want a reaction and they're trying to snare you that way.

It is so hard sometimes

OP posts:
FenghuangHoyan · 15/02/2023 18:43

Okay. I got the impression from you saying how you would like to respond and your opinion of them.

However, you can find out if the letter is from a genuine solicitor by asking either the SRA or the Law. Society (I can't recall which) if they are registered with them. If not, then it's a fake. I did this in past when someone pretended to be a solicitor with me

How close is the trampoline to their fence? I've known people who've put them right beside the fence and those on the other side have felt really threatened by them and found them very intrusive. I've seen those issues dealt with by the trampoline being moved away from the fence and if they are as unpleasant as you say, then that would probably be the best position. On grass, you can also anchor the thing.

You're probably going to be living next to them for a while and it sounds like they can make life difficult for you, so I'd be looking to try and not give them an excuse to do so.

That said, I'm a bit of a stroppy bugger and if I received that letter, I'd have been round to see them (after checking if it was legit). I'd also have done something after seeing them videoing because I am fairly sure that is an invasion of privacy, assuming your daughter was in your garden, which I think you said was the case.

By the way, citizens advice will help with things like this. They can report you to your local authority and you'll know best how likely your authority is going to be too do anything, but if they're making up solicitors (and spelling mistakes from solicitors are not as uncommon as you'd like to think they are (married to an ex legal)), then they don't seem to have a clue.

I would also say - easier said than done - try and step back and do something else and sleep on this. You will be able to make better decisions when less emotional and that will only help you.

Hope that helps.

purpleme12 · 15/02/2023 19:48

It is 80 cm from OUR fence - bear in mind this is OUR fence we had put up in OUR garden. Then there is a gap between our fence and the actual boundary fence between our gardens (because no way would I risk touching their fence). So it's actually more than 80cm from their fence

Apparently it is 'legal' to film.
The difference in law is if I was in a secluded house and someone had to actually climb my fence and then took a video, that would be different for example. But because they can see our garden from where they are it is apparently legal. Wrong but legal. I have reported this numerous times to the police.

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 15/02/2023 19:49

Hypothetically, if someone did go ahead with this in his situation, how much would it cost them to do that?

OP posts:
TeenLifeMum · 15/02/2023 19:59

God I love my neighbours. We cut a tree a bit and I apologised as it was shorter than planned and dc could bounce above and see over. Neighbour laughed and said he loved seeing their heads pop up, it’s hilarious. He waves at them. Mn is really odd about trampolines but I’ll take them over pot smoking any day. Never known anyone in real life hate trampolines except a couple of a&e doctors.

Smoothlines · 15/02/2023 20:01

NCTDN · 15/02/2023 17:00

I don't know about 6foot but surely they would want it higher as well?

No, you’re not allowed to add to your fence height with trellis or similar if it takes it over the maximum height permitted.

LlynTegid · 15/02/2023 20:08

I would suggest either ignore, or go to the police. A non-legal opinion.

CoffeeWithCheese · 15/02/2023 20:39

www.amazon.co.uk/Ft-Trampoline-Tent-Poles-Enclosure/dp/B004QPHTKE/ref=asc_df_B004QPHTKE/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309905793082&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16762378388308419541&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006507&hvtargid=pla-709521815223&psc=1 you can get this kind of thing to "mask" it - ideally pick a really ugly one for neighbour to look at. However I do think some of the trampoline/garden balance is gone in our area - we had a smaller than the kids would have loved one because a larger one would have fitted in the garden but would have swamped us and the nearby houses. I've also always been bloody hot on the kids not bothering the neighbours if they're on the climbing frame or trampoline (cos DD1 would chat to anyone given the chance) and I did check with our neighbour if he was OK with the trampoline being near the houses before we moved it there... but I get on very well with ours.

purpleme12 · 15/02/2023 21:07

It is one metre from their fence. Probably more but definitely not less. It's rectangular so I might see if I can turn it round if you see what I mean so if it fits that way it will be couple of feet further away from their fence I guess.
I feel I can't win here really.

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 15/02/2023 21:08

Even if there was a cover like above that fit, there's no point getting it. My child wouldn't want to go in it anymore as she'd be cut off from me and she hates that

OP posts:
itsgettingweird · 15/02/2023 21:13

Who owns the dense they are bothered by?

Any chance it can be extended higher or something?

If you can respond in writing with a compromise it'll show you are trying to be reasonable.

purpleme12 · 15/02/2023 21:17

But they are literally not people who understand reason.
They are people who will scare a child and not care.
There's no fence that's bothering them.
I've already put up a 6 foot fence. As far as I was aware you're not allowed higher than that.

OP posts:
Fraaahnces · 15/02/2023 22:14

Can you get cameras and video them filming your kids?

purpleme12 · 15/02/2023 22:21

I could film them on my phone videoing her but what's the point when it's legal anyway.
Then it'll get into a tit for tat thing and escalate even more!
It's a no win situation these people are hideous

OP posts:
itsgettingweird · 16/02/2023 07:30

purpleme12 · 15/02/2023 21:17

But they are literally not people who understand reason.
They are people who will scare a child and not care.
There's no fence that's bothering them.
I've already put up a 6 foot fence. As far as I was aware you're not allowed higher than that.

Yeah sorry meant the fence by the trampoline. Didn't word that well!

If it's already 6ft I think you're right you can go higher. But you maybe be able to add climbers or something or a screen?

Sometimes instead of arguing with unreasonable people it's easier to just make the problem go away. For your sake rather than theirs.

Swipe left for the next trending thread