Neighbour complains about EVERYTHING

[Wittsendargh]

Is it just me and my bad luck? Or is there a breed of people who complain about everything?

I live in a semi-detached house on a small estate near a seaside town. Never had any problems until the new neighbour moved in 18 months ago. Since then, she has complained about everything and it's really starting to get me down. For example, we have a hot tub so I put a pagoda around it. Neighbour complained it was spoiling her view (even though it was to the far left of our garden and out of her direct view), so we moved it. We have a large dog who until they moved in and their kids played in the garden, made little or no noise. But their constant banging of the football makes him bark and it is loud, I admit. When they're not in, he's quiet. So, we built him a kennel and a run at the back of our house so he's away from their fence. But they put a complaint in to the council that we had build a permentant fixture without planning consent. This was quickly dismissed, it's a kennel, not an extension.

Then there's the skitty Facebook remarks, which one of the other neighbours always comments on. We were having a BBQ at Easter and she put something on about not being able to enjoy her garden due to the smell. Other neighbour commented that she could smell it too, and hoped it would be over quickly. Surely I'm allowed a BBQ? I don't say anything when they have joint BBQs (with no invite for us), and I don't have anything to say?

It's making me not want to enjoy my garden, or even make niceties with them anymore. I know all of her skitty remarks are aimed at me, although when i challenged her she just denied it. I have to put up with her older children's garden parties (two younger kids, two late teens), which involves smoking and swearing. Again I don't say anything as it's their garden, they can do what they want. But should I start being an arse back? Even though this would most likely mean a complete fall out, and probable exclusion from other neighbours too? I really don't get what people like about her, and dislike about me?

God I hate people like this so miserable.

Just ignore her. Block her on Facebook and tell her you’re entitled to enjoy your home and garden as you wish.

Why the fuck did they buy a semi when they have no tolerance of other people doing normal stuff?

We had similar neighbours, you have my sympathies. Try not to let it get you down, they are the ones with the problem, not you. Make sure you act extra happy whenever they are in the vacinity though, it'll drive them crazy

I'd be out there singing all day.

Or whistling.

Whistling seems to annoy people ...

I've had no complaints about the dog barking

Our neighbour has a constantly barking dog. We are the only one who complains to them, other neighbours tell me how much it annoys them, just don’t tell the owner. And it is fucking annoying so stop your dog from barking. It isn’t the kids making your dog bark, it is you not training properly which makes the dog bark.

@Yabbers you have never met my very well trained dog, so how can you judge that he is 1) untrained 2) barking all day? As I have said previously, I have a camera on him and apart from when the postman comes, he doesn't bark. Quite the opposite, he is fast asleep. I have been home all day working, dog has been able to come and goes as he pleases and he hasn't made a sound. So how is he a dog who barks all day because he is "untrained". Such a ridiculous comment.

It isn’t the kids making your dog bark, it is you not training properly which makes the dog bark.

Or maybe the neighbours could train their kids not to bang the ball constantly and upset the dog? The dog doesn't bark unless they set him off.

@RatherBeRiding exactly. He used to have the run of the garden (big corner plot) but now he's around the side so that he isn't near their fence. The ball hitting the fence would startle him, and set him off. Dogs do bark, it's part of their nature. After I said I couldn't say 💯 if he barked more than I thought, I've made a conscious effort to work from home more. I also sit through hours of footage on the camera just to see what he gets up to. Most of the time he's asleep, he barely moves to greet the dog walker!

Of course dogs bark occasionally! Unfortunately people like Yabbers have no understanding of canine instinctive behaviours.

I quite like my dogs to bark at unexpected noises - it alerts me to the fact that something may be amiss. Like a burglar breaking in.

Sorry to hear this, it's very important for your sanity to have good neighbours you get on with, and it looks like you've pulled the short straw through no fault of your own.
I think you have to learn to manage the situation in a way that's constructive ie meets both your needs and your neighbours.
It could be that next door has some kind of anxiety or autism/ocd spectrum condition, so they could be more stressed then average about things they don't control. If you can provide an outlet for that stress which doesn't stress you out it might help.
Sorry I'm not an expert so i can't really be concrete.
I don't think doing something to escalate it would help you in the long term, but clear that pandering doesn't actually satisfy them.
Just don't imagine they will be satisfied by what would satisfy you, and maybe even get some advice on managing their complaints constructively.
Best of luck with it!