Neighbours seem to have turned funny

[bordellosboheme]

Last night dp was rearranging the garden to allow for more space and he moved the dog kennels (3 of them!) from one fence to another. The h from next door came out and said a warning that his wife was not going to be happy about it in case the dogs were going to jump up and bark at their kids. His tone was contained but somewhat threatening. We obviously don't want this to happen, and equally don't want them to dictate what they can / can't do in our garden. They also have a dog, who is always peering over our fence (I've no issues with this). Today his child let slip that the neighbour on the other side had complained to them (not to us rather directly), that sand from a pile on our driveway (used for filling in / toddler proofing our pond) was 'getting on to our windows'. She said nothing to us directly. Both have made clear they will object to planning for an extension we are planning, even though both of their houses are way, way larger than ours.

What is going on? Why have they turned against us?

On to 'her' windows that should read!

They haven't turned against you, they just don't agree with you!

Can you put the dog kennels back to their original place? And finish the sand job so that the sand can then be cleared away.

Maintaining civil relationships with your neighbours makes life a lot more pleasant in the long run.

I'd be pissed off if I had a neighbour with 3 dogs who kept them outside. Do they bark a lot?

Sounds like both sets of neighbours are busy winding each other up about your planned extension... I'm not an expert but I believe they can only object to your extension on certain specific grounds, not just because (for example) they won't like the look of it from their windows. How did they make it clear they would object - did you go round and show them the plans? Also, are your dogs the barky sort? Barking dogs cause a lot of low grade irritation to neighbours and this may be at the root of their grumpiness. Have you been round to the 'sand complainers' (?! ) to talk to them directly? Good neighbourly relations are valuable, but ultimately it's your house, your garden, and some neighbours can be very unreasonable..

If you've applied for an extension that they don't want, and they have made their intentions to object clear, it's natural that the relationship will now be a little frosty.

Moving your dog kennels closer to them and leaving a big pile of sand on your driveway isn't likely to improve things.

I get your point about civil relationships but it seems to be us having to make all the adjustments. They have sighted a flue spewing out toxic waste from their oil central heating right outside our kitchen window. My dp mentioned we couldn't open our window without the fumes coming in, but they have not resited it. There is also a massive oil drum of theirs dangerously close to our kitchen. None of this seems to bother them.

Look, if you've got toxic waste spewing into your home, ring the Environmental Health Department. If theres a dangerously close oil drum, ring the Fire Brigade.

If either of those things are dangerous, let the proper authorities deal with the neighbours.

Walk across the sand, it sounds like they are working themselves up, you're right.

My dogs can be a bit barky - I always shhhh them and bring them in the house if they are being a pain. They each have dogs either side too. We never meant to end up with three dogs! I had 2 and dp had one so when we got together we inherited three!

There are rules about the sitting of flues. If their flue is illegally sited then get planning involved.

TBH from your second post all sounds a bit tit for tat.

I think your neighbours were perfectly unreasonable to object to the dogs the sand and the extension.

It is reasonable of you to object to the flue and oil can siting.

But you all need to figure out a way to get along too
.

Extensions .= Privacy of surrounding windows
Loss of open space
over occupation of land ( habitable rooms per hactare)
Noise , smell, fumes
Design and layout
Effect on daylight

Tbh they do sound rather petty. Get the sand moved this weeekend and employ a professional architect re the extension.

You have shit stirring, drama loving neighbours by the sounds of it. 3 dogs would do my head in though, I must admit. And I'm a dog lover.

If my neighbour had three dogs, I'd move. Do you know how loud the dogs are when you're out at work? I bet dog noise is at the root of this.

Oh God, don't get me started on dogs. Seriously - are you sure that they don't bark during the day? Our neighbour does and I'm close to nipping round and letting the sodding animal out to run away (hopefully...) Were a truck involved... well, what can I tell you?

I'm totally with AgentP on the dogs being at the bottom of all this.

Sorry. My dog hating sort of took over just there...

I think living next to 3 dogs might have reduced their tolerance levels. Perhaps they only have a limited well of tolerance, and the burden of putting up with 3 dogs which are not theirs has used most of it up. It wouldn't be my sort of ideal neighbour.

Is your driveway large and secluded? Otherwise a pile of sand on it is a bit weird.